GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

When I test drove the Vibe I thought it was a bit "jumpy" in terms of ability to provide a smooth ride over less than smooth roads. My experience over the past 6 months is that the Vibe does not ride as smooth as my PT Cruiser (PT Crapper to some here). I also prefer the PT power steering "feel". Now - I like the Vibe better for its gas mileage, and it seems a little better on the pickup. And of course I suspect that the Vibe (Toyota) will be mechanically superior in the long run.

I think the Vibe/Matrix gives a good balance between handling and ride smoothness. I've been in a PT Cruiser but haven't driven one, but I'd guess it doesn't handle as well. Just depends on how you drive and what you're looking for. I like to feel the road. I've added TRD springs, sway bars, and strut tower brace. It handles very well on turns and I love the feel.

Springs will greatly improve the steering, handling and overall ride quality

I went from a 2000 PY Integra Type-R to the Vibe GT (On my way to something else - yet undecided - maybe the GTO?). It handles very well in my opinion. Not anything like the R, but quite good. I also am used to pushing a car's limits - so I sort of know. For what the car is intended for, it's top rate.

Well, I went from a '99 Mercury Cougar V-6 (sports package as well) to my Vibe GT, and the ride of the Vibe (even with 17" wheels) is a LOT better than my Cougar ever thought of being.It can get a little harsh on frost-heaved roads..but it's acceptable.

My ex gf had a cougar...hated that thing more than anything...she was so happy to trash it for a stratus (though i'm not sure why she'd be that much happier with the stratus, lol)

I personally was not to impressed with the stock springs, but once i installed my TRD springs it was a world of difference.

Check your tire air pressure. I checked mine about a week after bringing the Vibe home and they were all at or near 40lbs pressure. Setting them back to the recommended pressure made an incredible difference in ride smoothness.KSNeptune

My Vibe definitely doesn't ride as smoothly as my old Accord did. But, it's a much more functional vehicle for me so I'm ok with that. However, my husband does complain about how 'jumpy' and 'loud' the Vibe is over frost cracks on the highway (compared to his Toyota Tundra I guess). Good thing he doesn't drive it very often! Should I think about buying new springs to improve the ride? What kind of cost would I be looking at? I really don't know anything about springs....

Don't get me wrong, raging, I liked my Cougar. Had done quite a bit of modding to it. It just sucked on long road trips (i.e. stopping every few hours to give my back and backside a rest lol)

quote:Don't get me wrong, raging, I liked my Cougar. Had done quite a bit of modding to it. It just sucked on long road trips (i.e. stopping every few hours to give my back and backside a rest lol)Vibe seats are very comfortable for long trips. My knee only hurt after while because my legs are long

Agreed, Yank. I've driven from here to Toronto twice and was comfortable.Only time I haven't been comfortable in the Vibe is after sitting in Chicago rush hour for two hours. Gets tiring on the clutch leg.

quote:When I test drove the Vibe I thought it was a bit "jumpy" in terms of ability to provide a smooth ride over less than smooth roads. My experience over the past 6 months is that the Vibe does not ride as smooth as my PT Cruiser (PT Crapper to some here). I also prefer the PT power steering "feel". Now - I like the Vibe better for its gas mileage, and it seems a little better on the pickup. And of course I suspect that the Vibe (Toyota) will be mechanically superior in the long run. I thought mine was a bit... "jumpy," is a good word... and after last night I know its not as smooth as some others out there. We drove in my bf's parents's new Honda CRV and that was so smooth and comfortable compared to our Vibe. It was a nice ride. Don't get me wrong, the seats in the Vibe are quite comfy, but the ride overall, going around corners and things, feels a bit sloppy.

Yeah, jumpy is an accurate way to describe the Vibe's ride when going over uneven surfaces. I have both the Grand Prix GTP and a Base Vibe, and while the GTP beats the Vibe in almost all respects - better ride, handling, comfort, acceleration, etc. - the Vibe is, in my opinion, more fun to drive.

I had a '00 Cougar w/ sport package and the Vibe GT handles better and with more power. Even though the Cougar had a V6, it only kicked out 176 hp and weighed alot more.I changed from a '01 Tundra (TRD Ivan Stewart) to my Vibe GT and it's not near as smooth and quiet as my Tundra. I test drove a stock Tundra and those Bilstein shocks make a huge difference. I suspect if I add springs and atleast a STB in the front, it will help.

That depends on what each one of us is looking for in "ride quality". I drive mine mostly on the X-way to and from work and it seems to handle the bumps/dips in the road fairly well for how light of a vehicle it is. Now if someone asked me about "steering quality", I'd say it sucks. Cross winds seem to toss this thing around terribly. In some instances, I'm glad there wasn't someone in the lane next to me....Around town it seems to be fine, but at 80 mph on I-75 I have to constantly keep fighting it to keep it going straight.

x

What we think is Quality is a relative thing.For example I have am '86 nissan pickup, a 2003 Vibe, and a 2002 Nissan Altima. My Mother-in-law drives a crown vic. Relative to my Vibe, the pickup is jumpy. It bounces. There ARE shocks in it, but they seem to have lost their effect. Relative to my Altima, the Vibe (with shorter wheelbase) is a jouncy ride. But relative to MIL's Crown Vic, the Altima is a rough ride. The trick, I've discovered, is to stay in one vehicle. I didn't think my truck's ride was rough UNTIL I bought the Vibe to compare it to. I don't THINK my Vibe is a jouncy ride until I take a drive in my Wife's Altima. And I think the Altima is a luxury drive UNTIL we take her mother out and drive the Crown Vic.So our perception of QUALITY RIDE is a relative thing. And in my case it is caused by relatives. Because if I didn't have any, I'd probably still be driving the pickup all the time.KSNeptune

Click on thishttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4583

TIRES....tires are the key....many of you are complaining about the ride in the vibe and so forth....if you put the vibe on touring tires with a 60 or 65 series sidewall you would probably find a very smooth ride...i actually have no complaints whatsoever with the vibes ride...im comparing it to a 1986 volvo 2401993 jeep grand cherokee1996 Acura 3.2 TL1997 Grand AM2002 Audi allroad2003 Audi A42001 Celica1986 Ford Ranger1993 CivicI think this is quite a wide and varied background of cars to compare the vibe to and it is much nicer than some and not as nice as others but i dont think anybody should have a problem with the ride....if your looking for a crown vic type of ride then obviously the vibe is not ideal. I did have steering issues with the continental tires but those have been replaced and i now experience a very responsive feel but one that on a straight highway i can let go of the steering wheel for about 30 seconds to a minute before having to correct the vehicles direction...this is very nice because of course it means that even when you are holding the wheel (driving in straight line) your are not having to fight the car or even think about steering at all! The original post in this thread was comparing the vibe to an ES300...well of the cars i have spent time in, the Acura TL would be very close in ride and performance to an ES300 and I would say the vibe is definately not that luxo smooth ride and in those cars the sound-deadening is extensive so the interior has very little road noise...the engines are extremely quiet and you wouldnt know it is even on unless you open the throttle up. These are things the vibe doenst have...the vibe is louder and buzzier and is a more taught ride...you will feel more road cracks in the vibe for sure....but on the flip side the vibe is definaltely more fun to drive and is a more tossable car the the two previously mentioned....those softer rides are nice on the highway but get a little more sloppy when either tossing, weaving and pouncing around city traffic or just spirited driving on the twisties! I think as you are a teenager, the vibes ride quality shouldnt be any problem....maybe an older person would need softer but the vibe is leaps and bounds ahead of many cars in a teenage budget.Just my input.....-Phil

i find the ride to be very reactive to bumps,patches and other blemishes in the road, but compared to our '86 k-5 blazer with the hd 4 shock front end its very smooth! funny, i tested a crv and found it to be harsh riding and noisy, maybe weight has something to do with the ride quality on these lil' rigs? my riviera rides like a cloud and as long as you are going in a straight line, its the best ride going..how much do you think the aspect of noise quality effects one's perception of ride? there are references between the amount of noise and ride quality mentioned in the replies posted..a possible link?

well silver....if you look at most cars designed for comfort cruising you will usually find tires with larger sidewalls than the vibes stock 55. And in most cases it really does transmit a different ride. cornering and responsiveness will sufer however. Depends what is most important to you.....and of course there is that middle ground like the 55s.

Oops....just realized i mixed the posts up....it wasnt actually this thread that somebody was comparing to ES300 but still fitting to the topic so its ok!

I think that the Vibe has a better than average ride quality compared to cars around the purchase price. It sits taller than most of them too, so that can cause some movement when moving at highway speed.

quote:55 is the height of the tread right?I guess having P245/75/R16's on a few of my trucks and them being 4 wheel drive. I just thought a 60 inch was tall for a car tire. Oh well. yeah 55 is our stock height.....75 is pretty standard on trucks and suvs i think....or about 75, some are taller.

Yep, the tires, esp with the 55 profile, not much flex there to absorb the minor imperfections in the road. I notice it is very good at transmitting the feel of the exposed aggregate in the concrete pavement around here. Not a bad thing though, ride and handling are great for a wagon.

with my added TRD springs, my Vibe drives awesome! It's so much fun and much smoother. Now, not anything like my tundra, but that's just a different drive altogether. but for a car, it rides very well. i just need to get my alignment now... keep drifting to the right..