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New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report

66 messages,  Last post on Nov 06, 2009 at 4:47 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Vibe, Car Buying, Wagon


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#6 of 66
Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [pf_flyer] by goodvibrations
Jul 21, 2006 (6:37 pm)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jul 16, 2006 4:31 pm)

Well I have a 2005 base Vibe auto/power package which I purchased new in August of 2005. It has more then lived up to my expectations. Besides a few paint chips on the hood it has run like a fine oiled machine. Presently it has 16,000km. I had it to the dealer for routine service only. No repairs no adjustments. Averaging 35km highway/ city. Use it like a truck. Sure can carry a lot of stuff. Carry 8 ft plus pieces of 2x4 and you can still close the hatch. Carried a 14ft ladder no problem opened the hatch window and viola, two piece hatch what a great idea. Pretty hard to find a more versatile vehicle. It does everything well and looks good doing it. Would I buy another one? Yes indeed. Only thing I would add would be the sunroof. A steering wheel that really tilts and telescopes would be handy as well.
#7 of 66
Re: Mirror Problems [pdrake] by goodvibrations
Jul 21, 2006 (6:47 pm)
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Replying to: pdrake (Jul 21, 2006 5:22 pm)

Try adding some little stick on convex mirrors. I did, made a world of difference.
#8 of 66
Problem with the "recirculation" button by skimberlya
Aug 16, 2006 (2:32 pm)
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I bought a 2006 fully loaded Vibe with a manual transmission, which evidently is unheard of in California. I had to wait 12 weeks for one to be built. I absolutely love it. I bought a new 87 Nova (another GM/Toyota car) 19 years ago and with 230,000 miles it still runs. Hopefully this one will hang on the same. One complaint though, the recirculation button can be turned on easily enough but can only be turned off when the direction of the airflow is set to floor or lap. Is this normal? Shouldn't I be able to control recirculation or not at any time (except when the AC is on)?
#9 of 66
2006 Vibe by nhollins
Aug 20, 2006 (8:06 am)
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I purchased a new 06 in Dec 05.
It has had an oil & filter change every month ; & a K&N Air Filter at 20,000kms.
I put Molyslip Anti-Seize compound on the sparkplug threads. Mileage;36,000 kms in 7 months.
 
This 1.8l, 16 valve engine is excellent.
The biggest surprise was the variable timing V-tec. The revs only climb to 3300 to attain 145km/hr. I thought this car would be noisy from high revs on the highway, but its perfectly quiet at 120-130km/hr !
 
Complaints:
 
+ body sheetmetal too thin....caves in during waxing.
+ 'A' pillars far too wide, creating severe blindspots during intersection left turns. You have to make sure of crossing pedestrians by moving your head to each side of the left side of the windshield.
+ Noise levels from back cargo area too loud. Bought 2 mats to fix it.
+ Doors & hinges far too light duty.
+ Foam doorseals instead of rubber.
+Tilt steering doen't tilt: only adjusts heighth.
+ Can't easily replace fog lamps....have top dismantle shields. And the light is only held insecurely in a pressfit notch.
+ The engine doesn't start quickly after the 1st start. Once past warmup, it takes too much cranking.
+ NightVision not available as an option.
+ VERY HARD RIDE DUE TO LOUSY SIDEWALLS OF ONLY 55mm.
+ gaspedal too short.
+ Too much wind noise with rear windows down.
+ Green emerald paint color not available.
 
Commendations:
 
+ Good looks !
+ Amber rear safety signal lights!
+ Excellent drivers seat adjustable heighth !
+ Fog Lights !
+ Manual disconnect button for O/D !
+ Excellent transmission !
+ Excellent rear seatingroom !
+ Plug in adapter for household current !
 
Looking forward to the next Vibe 08-2010, or as soon as Green paint is available !
#10 of 66
Good Vibrations by atlvibe
Sep 07, 2006 (4:20 pm)
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Got 1,600 miles on my '06 vibe and no complaints. It's good on fuel, cold A/C, and never been back to the shop. Parking is a breeze and I can drive it without any effort at highway speeds. My only complaint is my own fault. I bought one with the non color keyed disco cladding on the side. Sometimes, I think it looks dated. other than that... Good..GOOD...GOOD Vibrations. per the Beach boys.
#11 of 66
Re: New Vibe Owners - Give Us Your Report [pf_flyer] by pevitts
Sep 08, 2006 (6:46 am)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jul 16, 2006 4:31 pm)

Looking to buy a GM Pontiac Vibe? DON’T! Go with your gut and buy a Toyota Matrix- same drivetrain and basically the same car but remember why GM cars suck so bad and have such a terrible reputation: reliability and customer service. My wife and I just traded in our 2004 Kia Sorrento for a smaller car with better gas mileage. We looked at Mazda 3 wagon (sporty but too small for two dogs and a child), Toyota Matrix (around same price but no roof rack), and the Vibe. The Vibe seemed like a good deal – support America and all and it does have a Toyota drivetrain so we took a gamble. Well, we owned the car for 10 days, didn’t make a payment yet, and it was in the shop twice for a total of 5 of those first 10 days. The mechanics first accused my wife of driving in third gear while doing 75 on Interstate 95 but then finally found the problem. Now, you would think that GM and the dealership (NU Car in Newark Deleware) would want to do something but so far two sales managers have mysteriously disappeared off the face of the planet or have lost their ability to return or take a phone call AND the service manager couldn’t understand my fear that the life of my braking system was shortened due to the emergency brake being applied sporadically at all speeds causing the wheels and engine to smoke and overheat. My wife had to pull over twice because of the smoke. Common sense tells me that I’m not going to get the full life out of the braking system and that come 36, 001 miles, I’m going to be replacing most of the braking system. Also just as frustrating is to get pushed off by service to the national GM customer service people. I’m not sure what country they’re in but it must be in a country where when you say that you’re going to get back to someone and work to resolve a problem, YOU ACTUALLY DO. Three people so far have not called back and it just keeps getting worse. So, thinking about going with a GM car? Don’t do it- your gut tells you ‘no’ and it’s right. Once you sign on the line they don’t care what happens to you and that’s how they have the reputation that they have.
#12 of 66
Vibe vs Matrix by roy15
Sep 08, 2006 (8:27 pm)
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I bought my vibe new two and a half years ago: I must agree with pevitts. The dealership has given me an awful time about warantee work; I went against my gut never again. I have had trouble with A/C they replaced the compressor, gas tank fills slowly= they tried a quick fix after telling me I didn't know how to pump gas, it still fills very slowly. The worst is the uneven tire wear. They told me the bushings needed to align the wheels were back ordered nationally. They found the bushings but car is still pulling to the right. I am not surprised GM is failing. RoyNC
#13 of 66
mine is almost perfect by nanc3
Sep 10, 2006 (7:34 am)
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I've had mine not quite 4 months and have put 5500 miles on it and it's been almost perfect. The AC is not as cold as I would like on really hot days, but it does cool off the car eventually, and it's fine on not so hot days.
 
With any car dealer, your satisfaction with the service department will be proportional to how clearly and calmly you communicate with them.
#14 of 66
backseat comfort issues by patvizina
Sep 16, 2006 (6:44 pm)
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Does anyone have experience with long road trips with children or adults in the backseat? I am concerned about taking my 3 kids on 2000 miles road trips like we do a couple times a year, on that flat bench seat. I would have a 12 and 9 year old in the back and 16 year old in the front with me. Any feedback?
thanks, Pat
#15 of 66
Re: backseat comfort issues [patvizina] by jstant01
Sep 18, 2006 (7:17 am)
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Replying to: patvizina (Sep 16, 2006 6:44 pm)

Pat:
 
I would not worry at all. The Vibe has the roomiest and most comfortable back seat of any car I've owned. In fact, I like it so much, that on long trips, I often surrender the driving to someone else in my family and hop in back.
 
In terms of kids, I took my 3 nieces and nephews and my mother on a road trip. My oldest niece sat in the front with me, and my mom sat in back with the two others. No problems at all.
 
I've taken road trips of more than 200 miles with 3 full-size adults in back and have heard no complaints. The Vibe's back seat is larger and more comfortable than cars twice its size. My dad has a Buick LeSabre. It's back seat is much more cramped.
 
Happy motoring!

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