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My 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT


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2009 PONTIAC VIBE GT

Body Style: Wagon

Color: Liquid Platinum Metallic

Engine: 2.4L VVT-i (2AZ-FE)

Transmission: 5-Speed Shiftable Automatic

Interior: Ebony Cloth with Ebony Leather Accents

Purchase Date: April 11, 2009

Purchased From: Gjovik Auto Megaplex of Sandwich, Illinois

Build Date: November 17, 2008

Accomplishments:

• 3rd place in the "Stock Class" at the 3rd annual WI GM-Tuner Gathering (05.22.10)

• GenVibe.com's April 2011 Vibe of the Month

Manufacturer Options:

• 5-Speed Shiftable Automatic Transmission (MVD)

• Power Sunroof (CF5)

• Theft-Deterrent Alarm System (UA6)

Modifications:

Engine:

• exhaust manifold heat shield painted black

• Grafx Werks metallic silver "VVT-i 16V" engine cover overlay

• K&N Typhoon metallic silver powder coated cold air intake (#69-8613TS) with an AEM Brute Force Dryflow air filter (#21-203BF)

Wheels:

• summer: chrome valve caps

• winter: 2009-2010 Vibe 2.4L Base 16" steel wheels (#19184107)

• 205/55/16 Kelly Explorer tires

• 2003-2010 Vibe Base lug nuts (#88972746)

Brakes:

• calipers painted black

• centers of rotors painted black

Exterior:

• Sylvania SilverStar bulbs (9145) in the fog lights

• front license plate replaced with color matched plugs

• Sylvania SilverStar Ultra bulbs (9006/9005) in the headlights

• Stealth Auto chrome amber bulbs (3457) in the front marker lights

• 35% tinted windows

• Honda 7" antenna (#39151-STK-A01)

• Grafx Werks metallic silver "genvibe.com" decal on the lower passenger side of the hatch glass

• Stealth Auto chrome amber bulbs (7440) in the rear marker lights

• Sylvania SilverStar bulbs (921) in the reverse lights

• "PONTIAC VIBE GT" badges removed from the hatch

• Sylvania SilverStar bulb (168) in the license marker

Interior:

GM chrome shift knob overlay (#19171212)

• 2010 Vibe silver shift indicator bezel (#19205020)

GM premium all weather front and rear floor mats (#19170829) [discontinued]

GM rear cargo security shade (#19171208)

GM premium all weather cargo mat (#19170827)

Miscellaneous:

• independent fog lights

• AHLs disabled

• DRLs disabled

• hard wired Cobra 10 band extra sensory detection radar/laser detector (#ESD-9115)

Future:

Engine:

• TRD forged aluminum oil filler cap with blacked out decal (#PTR35-00070)

• Optima Red Top battery (35 - #8020-164)

Wheels:

• summer: Toyota chrome wheel locks (#00276-00901)

Exterior:

• Sylvania SilverStar zXe bulbs (9006/9005) in the headlights

Interior:

• Husky Liners WeatherBeater black front and rear floor liners (#98531)

• Husky Liners WeatherBeater black cargo liner (#25021)

First Day Home - 04.11.09

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First Photoshoot - 04.12.09

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Dealer License Plate Frame & Sticker Removed - 04.17.09

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35% Tinted Windows - 04.24.09

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De-Badged Hatch & Metallic Silver GenVibe.com Decal - 04.26.09

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Hard Wired Cobra Radar Detector - 05.03.09

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GM Premium All Weather Floor & Cargo Mats - 05.06.09

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Sylvania SilverStar Bulbs In The Fog Lights & SilverStar Ultra Bulbs In The Headlights - 05.11.09

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K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake & AEM Brute Force Dryflow Air Filter - 07.09.09

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AHLs & DRLs Disabled + Independent Fog Lights - 09.24.09

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Winter Wheels & Tires - 11.07.09

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Winter Mode - 12.12.09

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Lots of attention to detail here.

Ever thought to going to HIDs? They'll make you wonder why you bought SilverStars. :bowdown:

Also...TAKE OFF THE CHROME VALVE CAPS! Those are a big no-no with the aluminum TPMS sensors. They'll fuse to the valve stem, and 80% of the time will snap the stem while getting them off. Plastic caps only with those. I've lost count on how many people ruin those TPMS sensors due to ignorance.

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Hey Carrie! It's good to see you :)

Not much new it looks like, but she's looking fine I'm sure! Hopefully I'll get to see you at a meet in 2012?!

Hey Sadie! Nothing new until income tax time. Needless to say I am anxiously awaiting the end of January! I definitely hope to make it to at least one meet in 2012.

Nice Vibe.

Thanks :)!

]Lots of attention to detail here.

Ever thought to going to HIDs? They'll make you wonder why you bought SilverStars. :picard:

Also...TAKE OFF THE CHROME VALVE CAPS! Those are a big no-no with the aluminum TPMS sensors. They'll fuse to the valve stem, and 80% of the time will snap the stem while getting them off. Plastic caps only with those. I've lost count on how many people ruin those TPMS sensors due to ignorance.

Yep. To me it's the little things that really count.

I have considered going with HIDs, but decided against it because I don't believe in using them in non-projector housings. I have used SilverStars for years in multiple vehicles and have never had a problem with them burning out prematurely, etc.

I had someone else tell me the same thing about the valve caps. They've been on since April of 2010 and I haven't had any problems with them yet. I check the air pressure once a week and the 18s come off for winter, so I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for the heads up though.

Nice Toyota! wait...

lol @ all the TRD stuff you have. Seriously though, nice Vibe. I like the newer body styles over the older much more.

LOL! Thanks! I prefer to call it a Poyota :woot:!

I really love the new body style too, especially the GT!

nice Vibe :bowdown: where is that Forest preserve at?

Thanks :)! The Forest Preserve is a few minutes from my house. It's in between Sandwich and Somonauk.

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I used HIDs in my normal housings for over three years, key is aim and bulb wattage. If you stick with a 35W HID bulb, and don't go higher than 6000K, aim them slightly lower than normal, you'll have no issues with glare. I never did. :woot:

When my HIDs burned out (ballast let go, and water go into the right side socket :picard: ) and I switched to my set of SilverStars...gah, how do you see at night?! :bowdown:

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Okay, for some reason I went to edit the original post and a bunch of the pictures disappeared, so I'm going to re-post them here...

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Stealth Auto Chrome Amber Bulbs In The Front & Rear Marker Lights And Sylvania SilverStar Bulbs In The Reverse Lights - 02.20.10

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Calipers Painted Black - 04.02.10

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Chrome Valve Caps - 04.06.10

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Flat Tire & Majorly Damaged Wheel :-( - 04.17.10

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Front License Plate Replaced With Color Matched Plugs - 07.01.10

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2" Blind Spot Mirrors - 09.26.10

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Sylvania SilverStar Bulb In The License Marker - 10.24.10

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GM Rear Cargo Security Shade - 02.11.11

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Honda 7" Antenna - 02.12.11

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Exhaust Manifold Heat Shield Painted Black - 03.29.11

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GM Chrome Shift Knob Overlay - 07.20.11

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2010 Vibe Silver Shift Indicator Bezel - 08.23.11

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Thanks for looking!

Many more pictures and information can be found on my Car Domain page and in my GenVibe Garage.

Also, track my gas mileage on MPG Tune.

]I used HIDs in my normal housings for over three years, key is aim and bulb wattage. If you stick with a 35W HID bulb, and don't go higher than 6000K, aim them slightly lower than normal, you'll have no issues with glare. I never did. ;)

When my HIDs burned out (ballast let go, and water go into the right side socket :( ) and I switched to my set of SilverStars...gah, how do you see at night? :)

I'm just not a fan of HIDs. I am perfectly happy with my SilverStars and I can see just fine with them as well ;).

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I'm just not a fan of HIDs. I am perfectly happy with my SilverStars and I can see just fine with them as well :(.

:) Im so not a fan of HIDs and I hate getting blinded by them. I find them to be obnoxious.

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:) Im so not a fan of HIDs and I hate getting blinded by them. I find them to be obnoxious.

Me too. There is no way to avoid it when I drive because the Phoenix is low. Anything above a certain height is blinding. Since I have blue eyes, it feels like they are burning out of my skull.

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I really like this generation of Vibe.

Thanks! Me too, especially the GT :D!

i'm have to look for it one of these days

It's really nothing special. Silver Springs is much nicer, bigger and offers many more trails, places to fish, grill, etc. :P.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't care for HIDs. Too many people around here have them and they are very blue and look absolutely ridiculous. I have encountered quite a few vehicles that have factory HIDs and projector headlights and the light is still blinding. Also, call me crazy, but I prefer to install a bulb and be done with it. I don't want to be searching around for somewhere to mount ballasts, etc. I will continue to use regular bulbs as long as they're available. Soon I am actually going to be getting a pair of Sylvania's latest "high performance" bulbs, the SilverStar zXe to try out. They make them for the lows and highs (9006 & 9005) for the 2009-2010 Vibe, but not the fogs ;). I'm going to get one pair for the lows on eBay for cheap and see if they're worth it or not before I shell out the money for the high beam bulbs too.

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Don't dismiss HIDs due to other doucheknobs not knowing what the hell they're doing. Halogens can blind people as well. ;)

Most retro fit HID kits have ultra slim ballasts, that only weigh a few ounces. With that compact lightweight ballast, just velcro can keep it secure. Also, the average lifespan of HIDs is double or triple of the average halogen. Most factory ones are known to last 6-8 years, and the ballast is built into the bottom of the headlight housing, so it's no different than replacing a halogen. And for retro fitted, the ballasts rarely burn out, and new HID bulbs can be used with them, so the same plug and play feature there.

The issue with Silverstars, after selling them for +3 years, and using them myself, they seem to have a lifespan of a year or so. Halogen filaments can only burn so hot, a basic halogen burns at 3200K. Silverstars are at 4000K. Most factory HID bulbs are 4600K, which is a pure white light.

The ones you see, and don't like are kits running 8000K, 10,000K and 12,000K, and are more than likely using a 55W bulb. The higher the Kelvin temp, the bluer the light appears. Ironically, your visibility lessens with the higher temps too, so that also shows you the user's ignorance to the basic knowledge of HID useage.

The perfect temp is 5000K, and 6000K has a hint of blue, and hardly any visibility loss. And used with a 35W bulb, glare is reduced nicely enough for oncoming traffic.

So don't scoff at HIDs without knowing the basics. :D

HIDs > Halogens.

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Trust me, I know all the basics of HIDs. I have done plenty of reading on the subject. They're just not for me. End of story ;).

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I'm telling you Mike, if you were to make a set of retro fitted housings with Projectors from a TSX, FX45 or the like, the visibility is astounding. Plus, the projectors have a cutoff, so it keeps glare out of oncoming traffic, and the projector lens focuses the light, rather than a reflector housing refracting the light everywhere.

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Oh I know. I believe you, maybe in the future I will try them in the Phoenix, at a lower temp obviously because blue on a 1978 would look wacko. For now though, I have like a billion sets of working sets of incandescents because my grandfather stockpiled them (Don't ask me why haha) So until I run out of these babies, I'm not gonna look too far into it. I don't drive often at night in the Phoenix (especially in the winter) so I don't mind it that much.

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