GT vs Base models.

[Brak]

Hi everyone. I'm looking to get a new vehicle in the spring and am seriously considering a Vibe but I have a few questions. How is the ride in the base models? 130 hp doesn't sound like much. Is it sluggish? I like the GT's but dont' know if I will be able to afford one. The dealership in my town has a black GT with monotone package, power package, moon and sound package. For $21,300. I was going to test drive it but it was in a showcase area and they would have had to move 4 other vehicles, why they do that I have no idea but anyway Another question. Is the engine a toyota or yamaha? I had read that yamaha makes it, do they make the toyota version as well? Just wondering how yamaha's quality is. Thanks for any help!

[Triton]

I am getting ready to order my Vibe GT in about a month. Yes the engine is made by Yamaha and it is the same engine that is in the Matrix as well as several other models of Toyota. I personally cannot give you a comparison on the base model and the GT. I have test drove two different GT's from my dealer and fell in love with it the first time I drove it. I know that the GT hadles great and rides really nice and has a lot of kick in the engine. Just take a look at the specs between the GT and base model. If you can afford the GT, definately get it. It is well worth the money for 50 more horses.

[DVDvibe]

I have the base Vibe because I personally would rather have an automatic because of the kids. It would be nice however if the base had the extra horsepower. If you have the money, go with the GT unless you are like me and get tired of changing gears in heavy traffic.

[old man winter]

Go for the GT, save up for the extra cost, you will have lots of time before spring. Try to drive both in a test drive, you will see.
[Modified by old man winter, 7:47 AM 9/13/2002]

[Done]

I have a base model. I love this car!! I test drove every new car available in the market, and decided on the Vibe. I first test drove the GT...NICE. Fun to drive, leather wraped wheel, etc...etc. Then I drove a base model and due to student loan payments decided on it. I can promise you it is not sluggish. I can smoke my tires from first and squeel into second. I have raced and won an older honda civic, won a focus ZX3 and I lost once to the new mustang gt. If you have the money go for the Vibe GT just cause you can, but nothing wrong with the base model Vibe.
[Modified by Jesse, 10:56 PM 9/13/2002]

[Turkster]

A base Vibe with a 5 speed manual has lotsa zip after the motor breaks in at about 5,000k. I am actualy surprised on the hi-way when i gear down to 3rd to pass how quick it gets by.

[d_m_kolb]

The 1ZZ-FE 130HP engine is a Toyota. The 2ZZ-GE 180 HP engine is a Yamaha. The difference in the two is first off the stroke is much longer in the 1ZZ. Toyota did this to really help with low end torque, which is where most small displacement engines have trouble. You'll also notice the funky header looking intake manifold on the 1ZZ. This was designed to help with low end torque also. There are a few other things they did when designing the engine to help with torque but this link will explain better than I could.1ZZ-FE engine infohttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4672ZZ-GE engine infohttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4681ZZ-FE and 2ZZ-GE engine infohttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=472 The 2ZZ was made with a shorter stroke so the higher RPMs could be reached. The 1ZZ torque peak is at 4,200 RPM as where the 2ZZ is at 6,500 RPM. The 1ZZ max HP is reached at 6,000 RPM as where the 2ZZ peak HP is reached at 7,400 RPM.The 1ZZ has much more real world power. You don't need the high RPM to get it moving and it has much more usable torque down in the lower RPMs unlike the 2ZZ. A 1ZZ will leave a 2ZZ at the line if racing but come second gear the 2ZZ will catch you do to the 50 HP more the other engine makes.The 1ZZ gets better gas mileage than the 2ZZ. Also the 1ZZ is better able to handle being turbo or supercharger dew to the fact the compression ratio is lower than that of the 2ZZ. The 1ZZ is 10.0:1 where the 2ZZ sits at 11.5:1. The 2ZZ can be turboed or superchargered but you wont be able to run as much boost safely like you could with the 1ZZ.Please all you GT owners don't think I'm slamming on the GT because I'm not. I love both cars. The 2ZZ will flat out walk away from a 1ZZ after it hits it's second cam profile and the 1ZZ will never catch it. The 2ZZ has a 0 to 60 time of around 7.2 where as the manual 1ZZ is sitting closer to 8.2 to 8.5. The auto from what members have said on here is around 8.8 to 9.0. Still very fast in my opinion for a 130HP engine. Toyota has a great design with moth engines.If your going to be racing your Vibe alot then the GT is the way to go. Realize insurance will be higher with a GT. If your looking for the low end torque to accelerate sharply through city traffic the base Vibe would be the way to go and you'll still have a great performing vehicle. Which ever vhicle you end up getting there are plenty of aftermarket mods you can do to get to the performance level you want.

[rasermon]

Test drive both the base and GT. I was very happy with the base, but I like the rush (2112) I get from the 2ZZ-GE 180 HP engine.

[Triton]

I think the GT model has plenty of low end torque, not as much as the base but as was mentioned earlier, the car that you may be racing will have to let off to shift approximately the time you are hitting the peak horsepower in your GT. Another thing to consider is the type of fuel you must run. The GT requires premium (92 octane) gas so it is a little more espensive to drive. When I get mine, I plan on using full synthetic oil also which will cost more. Just things you might want to consider. And d_m_kolb is right about the gas mileage and the manufacture of the motors.

[d_m_kolb]

The synthetic will probably end up saving you some money in the long run. You'll be happy with it I think.

[Kirby]

I have a Black Monotone Base Vibe with an Auto Tran, Power, Sport Pkg & Tinted Windows. Saying that the GT has 50 more horse that the base just is not a fair comparison. The GT and the Base have almost an identical power curve until you get above 6000 Rpm. If you want to race, get the GT...if you want a car for everyday driving and can't afford the GT, the Base Vibe is a very capable car and no, it's not sluggish.

[Frosty]

Hey D_M!Is the 2ZZ made in a Yamaha factory or was it just designed by Yamaha?http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... =2751#2751 http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... =2670#2670 Thanks.

[Flip-Side]

Gotta say though guys. The GT is lively as heck...above 5500 rpm. Being DE-STROKED means less low end torque than the base vibe, but it redeams itself in the high rpms. Fact is, the GT vin# will get you higher insurance costs, higher sticker price, and have to use premium gas to boot! But, that GT 6-speed manual is much nicer than the 5. Remember, there is no replacement for displacement. Upgrade your base with the money you save, and a GT will stand still.

[d_m_kolb]

quote:I have a Black Monotone Base Vibe with an Auto Tran, Power, Sport Pkg & Tinted Windows. Saying that the GT has 50 more horse that the base just is not a fair comparison. The GT and the Base have almost an identical power curve until you get above 6000 Rpm. If you want to race, get the GT...if you want a car for everyday driving and can't afford the GT, the Base Vibe is a very capable car and no, it's not sluggish.The 1ZZ and 2ZZ are very different and don't have any where near the same power curve. The 1ZZ was designed for low end torque as where the 2ZZ was designed for high end HP. As for the 2ZZ being a Yamaha I don't know if Yamaha makes them then ships them to Toyota and Pontiac to be installed or if Toyota just got the plans from Yamaha and makes it themselfs.

[mu_ohio]

quote:The 1ZZ and 2ZZ are very different and don't have any where near the same power curve. The 1ZZ was designed for low end torque as where the 2ZZ was designed for high end HP. As for the 2ZZ being a Yamaha I don't know if Yamaha makes them then ships them to Toyota and Pontiac to be installed or if Toyota just got the plans from Yamaha and makes it themselfs.If you compare the dynos from both engines, the typical driving ranges vary very little from 800rpm up to 4k rpm. The torque on the 2ZZ falls behind from 3 to 5 lb/ft at the wheels which IMO is unnoticeable. After that, the 1ZZ does gain a bigger advantage up to 6k where all things change. That being said, too really see the extra power, you do have to run the 2ZZ engine very high. I probably do it too much and I'm not sure what that will mean in the future. Yamaha has always made and designed great engines. Their motorcycle engines are capable of 16k+ rpm so they have had plenty of experience with this type of engine.

[d_m_kolb]

Run a good oil, good oil filter and keep up on maintainance and I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. So drive it like you stole it!

[Flip-Side]

found this on http://www.corollaperformance.com/techi ... e.html"The 2ZZ-GE is a 1.8L (1796cc) all-aluminum in-line 4 equipped with Toyota's VVTL-i technology and a refreshing peformance G head design, developed once again in collaboration with Yamaha. The 2ZZ block is bored out from the 1ZZ's 79mm to 82mm, and the bores, instead of using thin-wall iron liners, use a metal matrix composite (MMC) with bonded-in ceramic fibers. The stroke is shortened from the 1ZZ's 91.5mm to a more rev-friendly 85mm. Next, the compression is pushed up to 11.5:1, and the piston skirts are coated with iron and tin for wear resistance. The end result is only 2cc's extra displacement but a whole different world in performance."

[Brak]

Thanks for the reply guys. I don't race so I'm not worried about how fast it is off the line. But I just dont want to run out of power when I'm getting on the freeway with a semi breathing down my neck. Also don't want to lose all power when I have the air conditioner on. Guess I'll just have to test drive them. I could probably afford the GT but would rather spend money on other things. Too bad the price's aren't the same on the Vibe and Matrix. Like the Vibes lookes better but the Matrix is cheaper. On the XS you get power windows standard. But on the Vibe you have to spend $1000 more for the base model plus $1000 for the power package. I though the Pontiac would be cheaper than the Toyota. Oh well, guess I'll have to do some dealin'. Thanks!