GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hi Everyone

Before I leave I wanted to say how much i have enjoyed this group. It is an informative and group with a great group of members. Even though I have never owned a Vibe/Matrx, I have enjoyed reading (and helping out when I can) posts on here. Reason I'm leaving, I am really leaning toward either a Suzuki SX4 or Scion XD. Both cars offer what I'm looking for, plus I don't care for GM at all (made my piece with them). Best of luck to all of you and your Vibes/Matrixes and I hope they give you many years of reliable dependable service. This really is a great group and I'll miss it, but it is time to move on. Take care and I hope this group is around for many years So long

Sorry to see you're leaving. Good luck with your next vehicle .

Good luck, man!
You may want to steer clear of the Suzi, they have pulled out of the USA.
chiadog

Sorry to see you go! I would guess that the forums for SX4's and Xb's will be just about as fun as here! Best wishes.

Kincaid wrote:Sorry to see you go! I would guess that the forums for SX4's and Xb's will be just about as fun as here! Best wishes.

I think it was xD. Isn't 2013 the last year for the boxy xB? Of course the Kia Soul and Nissan Cube remain.

I may be coming to the end of my Vibe road. If my son's 1999 Caravan 3.3L motor is shot I may give him my 2009 and get something different. Looking for something a bit more comfortable - a CRV, Mazda 5, Rav-4, Forrester etc. Might also sell my low mileage 2007 T&C SWB while used car prices are in the stratosphere and try getting by with one car.

As we lose Vibe owners, and we will since Vibes aren't made any more... I really hope that if you go the small SUV route that you also consider the new Ford Escape and the Chevy Equinox. These new American versions compete extremely well with CRV, RAV 4, Mazda 5, Forrester and other small SUVs on the market.

None of the other's come from US based companies. Quality is up, and in most cases, you get better interior materials and content compared to the foreign competition. Check them out, they are not the poorly sorted out pieces of old. Things have changed... and even fuel efficiency is much better now.

vibolista wrote:I really hope that if you go the small SUV route that you also consider the new Ford Escape and the Chevy Equinox. These new American versions compete extremely well with CRV, RAV 4, Mazda 5, Forrester and other small SUVs on the market.

We have the GMC equivalent of the Chevy Equinox, and we love it (for what it's worth)

We really liked the Escape, looked at one at the car show which was as basic as you could get and it was still quite nice. It would be nice to buy something locally built too! But it was too much money, and Ford's tendency to be recalled for spontaneous combustion wasn't very appealing.

The XD is done also.

As for the warning about Suzi pulling out and not supporting the cars, look out for Toyota also as they pretend the Scion brand don't exist when it comes time to repair it under warranty.

Oh and the Scion forums are not as nice as Genvibe
Good luck with your choices

vibolista wrote:As we lose Vibe owners, and we will since Vibes aren't made any more... I really hope that if you go the small SUV route that you also consider the new Ford Escape and the Chevy Equinox. These new American versions compete extremely well with CRV, RAV 4, Mazda 5, Forrester and other small SUVs on the market.

None of the other's come from US based companies. Quality is up, and in most cases, you get better interior materials and content compared to the foreign competition. Check them out, they are not the poorly sorted out pieces of old. Things have changed... and even fuel efficiency is much better now.

I thought Subaru's, made in Lafayette, Indiana, were the official motor vehicle of Maine. The new GM and Ford small SUV's are very good out of the gate, but I still have a concern about long term reliability. [Question - is it better to buy a car made in the US by a non-US company, or a car made in Mexico by a US based company?]

jake75 wrote: [Question - is it better to buy a car made in the US by a non-US company, or a car made in Mexico by a US based company?]

It's a moot point anyway because parts and resources come from all over the world. Final assembly is the main thing people watch, though. But to answer the question given, it is better for the workers to buy American-built/foreign brand (eg, NUMMI built Corollas/Tacomas) but it is better for the US economy as a whole to buy an American brand (eg, Camaro built in Canada).


I have found that GenVibers go one of two ways when departing from the Vibe: small crossovers, or hatchbacks. The Vibe is a tall wagon/hatchbacks with little bits of every category thrown in. The hatch camp enjoys the driving feels, the body style, and doesn't like sedans, nor do they want anything bigger (me). The crossover crowd enjoys the SUV-like abilities of the Vibe, but just want something bigger, which is fine.

Actually Kitt, you had it right the first time. The best we can do is to buy products here in the US from buildings staffed by US citizens. Waving the GM or Ford flag does little to nothing for the US economy when US companies don't reinvest their profits (as we have seen the past two years) to hire more workers, nor does it help the US economy when they move their money off shore to maximize their bottom line. Anyone concerned about "buying American" should focus on the US based workers who bring in a paycheck, pay taxes, and spend their money thereby fueling local merchants and their local economies. Don't get caught up in who the nameplate is; if it is Subaru or Honda or Toyota or GM or Ford, buy the vehicle assembled here in the US. The reason why we have ANY manufacturers here in the US in the year 2013 is because companies know that our workers assemble the best product end to end with the fewest defects per salary paid.