Pontiac Vibe

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Comments

  • n8magicn8magic Member Posts: 15
    Thanks for the link.

    I'll be first in line to get one of these babies, if I enjoy the test drive. :)
  • ecarmackecarmack Member Posts: 161
    Two dealers I spoke with said it would be the end of February or beginning of March.

    One called tonight and said he received brochures on Friday. I'll see tomorrow, but it may just be some type of informational pamphlet.

    I am interested in seeing the additional pictures in the brochure. Especially ones with the production wheel covers, and the 16 and 17 inch alloys. I have seen several different styles of wheels between the prototype photos and the latest previews. The wheels in the latest pictures don't look as sharp as the ones on the prototypes (as usual). I hope that for $800, GM can at least put on something decent. Spare us any overstyled Pontiac leftovers.
  • n8magicn8magic Member Posts: 15
    ... I must say the car looks impressive.

    One thing I don't understand is, the 17" alloys cannot be ordered with the power sunroof. Maybe the cars with 17" alloys have an extra roll-bar type thing for extra chassis rigidity, a la Subaru WRX?
  • clyde2000clyde2000 Member Posts: 38
    Say what you will but I don't think the gray cladding on the Vibe looks all that bad. Maybe it looks bad in person but in the photos I've seen -- and I've seen tonnes -- it gives the Vibe a nice rugged look. Okay, not really off road rugged but myabe just a little bit. I think without it, the Vibe looks more like a station wagon.


    It looks like the Aztek gave body-side cladding a bad name but arguably when use sparingly it does complement the look. A nice comparison is on GM Canada's Vibe showroom page ( http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehicles/pontiac/vibe/vibe_showroom.html )


    So everyone else can fight over the body coloured cladding while I save $500 and get the ugly looking cladding.

  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    From the bore, stroke and compression ratio specs, it looks like the 180hp version is not just a 2nd cam-lobe different from the base engine. I don't know how much difference you'll feel with the old butt-dyno under 5000RPM but there is more there than previous articles led me to believe. If my sales rep will let me wind it up on a test drive I might at least take a GT for a spin...

    Looks good overall.
  • leafguy2727leafguy2727 Member Posts: 83
    I'm guessing cdn pricing will be out any day given what we are seeing on the web page. I think one area that GM will beat Toyota on price is the Financing interest rate.
  • ecarmackecarmack Member Posts: 161
    The brochures are in at the dealers. All three styles for the wheels have the swirl look to them. For those wanting steel wheels, the wheel cover actually looks decent. The 17 inch wheel does not look like anything special for the premium charged.

    IMO, the Graphite cloth looks better than the Slate cloth. Both are available for all exterior colors.

    I can't tell from the brochure if the door handles will be body colored or not. One picture with the gray cladding shows body colored handles, yet others show black handles. ??
  • dillydilldillydill Member Posts: 118
    Hello everyone. I am new here and am looking into buying a Vibe within the next year or so. Does anyone know why one cannot get 17" Aluminum wheels or the Navigation with the Moon & tunes package? Thanks.
  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    I heard that the sunroof is 'incompatible' with the NAV system as it makes it difficult to read the LCD screen with sun on it, and sunlight can damage the screen over the years. This is just a rumour.

    As for the wheels, I don't know. Of course, you can always get aftermarket wheels, roofs and audio and your dealer may be able to set up your vehicle just how you like it prior to delivery.
  • dillydilldillydill Member Posts: 118
    I wouldn't think that it would be difficult to read because then cars like Lexus' and Acuras would not offer navigation with Moonroof's.
  • zircon2zircon2 Member Posts: 94
    the cladding is ugly in person. i suspect it was planned before the still-birth Aztek arrived. They may have toned it down a bit, but I doubt it.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I usually hate it as I like cars/trucks with clean lines. In the case of the Vibe, I think it looks pretty good. It's proof that there is a place and a correct way to use it on a vehicle.

    Still no CDN pricing. Ugg!

    Thinking of ordering a VUE (zero risk as they have a full $$ back guarantee), but if the Vibe comes in cheaper and I like it, I may go for a Vibe.
  • cayennered1cayennered1 Member Posts: 193
    Sorry, but with the possible exception of black, I think there is no way the Vibe looks good with cladding. the short overall length just can't handle all that gray decorating the wheel wells.

    As for the Vue, I like the fact that it is longer and the styling is kind of nice (also would look much better imho with body colored bumpers). However, I think the interior is abysmally cheap looking, particularly the door trim. I just can't get past that awful cheap looking arm rest and hard plastic door decor. Vibe interior is light years better. VUE 4cyl.,fwd, auto well equipped is about the same price as a comparably equipped
    Vibe.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    What amazes me is this. Comparably equipped, it appears the Matrix is about $1500 or so cheaper than is the Vibe. And this does not include the fact the Vibe has the cladding that you have to pay $500 to have painted the same colour as the car. Depreciation will be faster on the Vibe, too, if history is any teacher. Finally, the warranty on the powertrain is 5/60 at Toyota in the US, 3/36 at GM.

    Hmmmmm.....

    (sigh)
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    johnclineii : It will be interesting to see how much negotiating the Pontiac dealers will do though, especially if you price out a Matrix and show them. GM always builds more negotiating room in their prices.

    cayennered1 : I think the V6 VUE is not a great value. I do think the 4 cyl models are though, and the interior was ok with me, no worse than Tribute or CR-V IMO. Exterior of the VUE is excellent from every angle and the dealership service is always good at Saturn. Still waiting on CDN Vibe pricing though. Still like the cladding!
  • n8magicn8magic Member Posts: 15
    GM called me back today, and told me that the Vibe is shipping now (albeit slowly), and should arrive at your dealer in limited quantities soon.

    The dealer should have a full stock of them by early March.

    Pricing should be announced early next week.
  • zircon2zircon2 Member Posts: 94
  • montanafanmontanafan Member Posts: 945
    http://media.gm.com/ says we will see the first Ads for the Vibe during the Super Bowl Pontiac Post Game Show. I know I will be watching to set the wrap up of the Patriots win! Another click away at http://www.pontiac.com and we see the Vibe site is updated. My dealer expects their first Vibe by the 8th of February. Going in for some repairs on the Bonneville on Wendesday and will ask some questions.
  • montanafanmontanafan Member Posts: 945
    http://media.gm.com/ has January sales info, and shows 33 Vibes were sold.
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    A local dealer in my area says he expects his first ones to arrive on 25 February. I'm not in the market for one, but I'm interesting in looking at one close up.

    To n8magic- I look forward to hearing about your test drive. Do you have a deposit down on one, or are you just checking it out...? Thanks for your participation. ;-)

    Revka
    Host
    Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
  • n8magicn8magic Member Posts: 15
    I don't have a deposit down on one just yet, but I am in the market for a new car. I'm holding off on buying one (very painful) until I can get a Vibe out for a test drive. If I like it, i'll buy it.

    What I am probably going to end up doing is taking out a Matrix (local dealer is a stones throw from the Cambridge plant) and seeing if I like it's drivability, etc., just to get a feel of how the Vibe will handle.

    I have to wait for the Pontiac, no matter how much I like the Matrix, because my company gets a fleet volume discount on all GM products. My local Pontiac dealer has already said he would honor the discount the first day he gets a Vibe in stock. :D
  • dayeedayee Member Posts: 6
    I went by a local (SF Bay Area) Pontiac dealership today to pick up a brochure and was somewhat surprised to see an AWD Vibe there. According to a salesperson, they had just received it on Tuesday. It did not yet have a sticker on it and he told us that it was not for sale just yet. He did offer us a test drive and we, of course, accepted.

    We were quite impressed.

    Despite only having 123hp and being the heaviest of the models, I found that it had pretty decent acceleration (even with an automatic transmission). The car felt pretty good on the curves although I didn't really try to "push it". It felt quite solid and had a relatively quiet ride despite a somewhat buzzy sounding engine. Overall, it was a fun little car to drive.

    Even though we like the looks of the Matrix better, we're considering the Vibe primarily due to the prospects of getting a supplier discount through my company. Now that I think about it, I should have asked to talk to a manager about it since the salesperson we spoke to was new and did not know much about the program. He did mention that he expected there to be a markup on the car since they are not expecting any in high volumes for sometime (ironic since the NUMI plant is just a few miles away.)

    Anyway, we'll probably test drive a Matrix as well before making any decisions...
  • mpgmanmpgman Member Posts: 723
    Elantra sedan, Saturns, Focus, VWs, Subarus, and the new 03 Corolla to name a few allow ABS without the hole in the roof. The first 4 also offer optional traction control without the roof as well.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Anyone see the Vibe ads during last night? I thought they were ok, but the Matrix ads were better with the chase scene.
  • montanafanmontanafan Member Posts: 945
    Here in Boston, we only saw one Vibe ad. The one with the guy playing guitar.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    That's the Vibe ad I saw. It was on twice I believe.

    I was watching FOX from NYC via satellite.
  • montanafanmontanafan Member Posts: 945
    http://www.autonews.com in a story on the dealer's convention is reporting that Pontiac Dealers are unhappy that the Vibe was priced so low, and that it dosen't provide enough margin. That should answer some of the toughts about how the dealers will negotiate. (It is in the GMC make meeting story).
  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    but I can't find that article. Please post a direct link if possible. Otherwise, I'll just have to trust you ;-)
  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    That article lists the starting Vibe sticker at $16,900 (USD I assume) while the Matrix starts at $14,670 USD. That seems like quite a difference! It will be interesting to see where the CND$ price falls compared to the cheap low Matrix prices.
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    Just curious, has anyone compared the standard features on the Vibe and Matrix base models to see what may be accounting for the 2k difference? Please excuse, if this has already been discussed in detail.

    Also, does anyone here think it would be helpful to also have "Toyota Matrix vs. Pontiac Vibe" discussion for those considering one over the other...? Let me know, I will start one up on the Station Wagons boards if people are interested. Talk later.

    Revka
    Host
    Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
  • TupTup Member Posts: 200
    Microsoft carpoint now has the Matrix online and you can compare it to the Vibe. If you compare a Matrix XR to a base Vibe.....you will see that the matrix is I think around $300 less but has several features that Vibe lacks...such as power windows keyless entry (I think). You will also notice that there are a few errors where it looks like the Vibe or matrix has something the other doesn't...but which isn't correct.
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    I wonder how much of the price difference could be attributed to where the vehicles are made - the Vibe in California and the Matrix in Ontario. In other words, how much does the currency differences, general economy and local wages influence the cost to make the vehicles?

    All I know is that it was cheaper for me to buy my snowshoes in Smithers, B.C. than in California!
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Because the C$ has depreciated against the U$ so much in the past few years, there is a large difference in price between the two countries now. Actually the US$ has risen against every currency, but that's another story.

    Companies basically subsidize the price in Canada with the labor used to build cars shipped to the US. A car imported from the U.S. is sold for less here, but offset by a car that cost less to build here and is shipped to the U.S. All the car companies do it, they have to as they can't charge 5% more here just because the currency has fallen 5% in a year. People won't buy.
  • rfruthrfruth Member Posts: 630
    I bought a `00 Civic hatchback a couple years ago, if the Vibe had been out then things might be a lot different. Saw the Pontiac Vibe commercial on super bowl sunday (local FOX station) - imagine that Pontiac dealers wanted a high dollar station wagon (aka SUV) to sell, not a sub 20 grand Vibe. Rob (Houston) Fruth
  • zircon2zircon2 Member Posts: 94
    I trust that was a CRTC-sanctioned satellte dish you watched the superbowl on? Nyet. Hello directv. Good on ya lad.

    We got a new CR-V 5-speed for my wife. It scoots. I may trade my car for a Vibe if GM ever brings 'em to market. Saw a few car carriers on the weekend headed down the 401 toward Detroit with Toyo Matrix. Anyone near the NuMMI plant see Vibe leave the place? I don't unerstand or like the baiting GM did on this car - advertising it for a year before it comes out. IMO, too much marketing, too little product.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Too much marketing, too little product. Sounds like GM for, oh, about the last ten years. Well, Ron Zarella and his minions are gone now, and Bob Lutz is screaming PRODUCT, PRODUCT, PRODUCT!

    I would LOVE to know what he really thinks about the Vibe (and its DUMB marketing to young twenty-somethings). I would also love to know if his thoughts will influence the future of this car.

    As for me, I am still trying to recover from the fact that comparably equipped Matrices (IF they existed, which they probably won't--Toyota likes to build cars only about four ways at any given time and sell options ONLY in packages) are 1500 to 2000 US dollars less than the Vibe.
  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    With those option packages, they are going to price themselves out of contention. The base Matrix price looks good but the car is a real stripper, which doesn't even have AC and to get that you have to get their 'B' package which makes it almost as much as the XR version -- there are no 'a la carte' options that I can see. The base Vibe is still pretty stripped, with no power features or anything though it does have AC and the 115volt plug (though I already have a DC inverter in my car so that isn't really exciting to me) -- the Matrix XR is better equipped for close to the same price. The '95 Geo Metro I'm still driving has no AC and power nothing but I'm tired of sweating in traffic in July so I'm not getting a car without AC. By the time you make either of them useful, they are not price competitive.

    The base Matrix 4WD costs the same as an automatic Subaru Impreza TS wagon, except that the Impreza has AC, power windows and doors, etc. and most importantly 165hp compared to 123hp. and of course it is a proven design. The Vibe AWD is almost the price of a base Legacy! I can't believe the Pontiac dealers think they are too cheap.

    Matrix and Vibe are new so there probably won't be any good incentives to buy them until next year either.

    If the Suzuki Aerio SX comes out equipped as listed (AC, CD/AM/FM, power, RKE, tilt, cruise, 141hp, 135ft.-lbs) for under $15000USD as they say on the web page, then I don't think I'll be getting a Vibe or Matrix. I guess we'll see in a month when Suzuki announces the real prices.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    What's the CRTC? LOL DirecTV rules! I get FOX Buffalo OTA anyway so either way..

    Local dealer told me Vibes will be in with in the next 2 weeks. We shall see.

    New CR-V is nice. I wish they had the 2WD available up here.
  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    Canadian Radio and Television Commission. The folks that brought us simulcasting and CanCon.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I was joking. I know all about the CRTC and their pinko ways.
  • rfruthrfruth Member Posts: 630
    Is a VVTL-I engine Pontiac speak for some kind of variable valve timing ? Am glad to see GM competing in this market even if they are a few years late.
  • montanafanmontanafan Member Posts: 945
    This has all been confusing for those of us following these cars as we get closer to them becoming available. Especially the 36 hours since the advertising started for the Vibe. Toyota has a pricing section on their web page, but it dosen't show ABS, Side Bags, Radio Upgrades or Nav system as options, so excluding them I have come up with the following:

    XR Automatic w/B Package, Mats, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $18,399 / Vibe w/Power Group, Auto, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $18,770.

    XR Automatic w/C Package, Mats, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $19,829 / Vibe w/Power Group, Auto, Moon & Tunes, Alloy Wheels, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $19,670.

    XR AWD Automatic w/B Package, Mats, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $20,954/ Vibe AWD w/Power Group, Moon & Tunes, Alloy Wheels, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $21,970.

    XRS w/B Group, Mats, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $21,599 / Vibe GT w/ Power Group, Side Bags, Alloy Wheels, Moon & Tunes, First Aid Kit, Bumper Protector, Cargo Mat, and Security $22,170.

    Hope this helps. Also keep in mind the GM Card rebate of $1,000 max for the Vibe.
  • hpulley4hpulley4 Member Posts: 591
    VVTL-i is variable valve timing and lift with intelligence, VVT-i in the base engine is variable valve timing with intelligence (computer-control).

    GM isn't innovating. These are just Toyota engines from the Celica. I don't know if there is technology sharing here that will show up in future products or just engine supply sharing for this car and its twin.
  • ecarmackecarmack Member Posts: 161
    The $1,000 max GM Card Rebate is just for the "New" GM Card isn't it? I hope GM does not apply additional limits on the old card.
  • montanafanmontanafan Member Posts: 945
    Right, the $1,000 max is for the new card. So if someone was thinking Vibe, they may want to get the card and earn rebate dollars. The old card is till unlimited use, earn at $500 per year for up to 7years. I have $2,600 on my card so my Vibe would be down to around $16,000. I may go this route to replace my Bonneville (1992 235,000) instead of my Voyager (1994 122,000). I may have to change my name to vibefan.
  • petlpetl Member Posts: 610
    The base price of the 4WD Matrix is not the same as a Subaru Impreza. The price of an automatic Subaru Impreza TS wagon is $22,995.00 (with options). The price of the base Matrix 4WD (auto) is $20,345.00, the XR 4WD is $24,100.00. A similarly equipped Matrix may (or may not) cost a little more. Only until you compare feature for feature can anyone determine which vehicle costs more or best suits their needs.
  • clyde2000clyde2000 Member Posts: 38
    Has anyone heard anything from their local Pontiac dealer about Canadian pricing? Considering Toyota released their CDN pricing in early January, I think GM is taking way to long in coming up with a price. And I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Hopefully they will have released the CDN pricing before the Toronto Autoshow, which is only a week and a half away...
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Actually, the high revving engine in the Vibe/Matrix appears to be the only thing about the vehicle getting negative press. This is one case where a good old high torque GM engine really would have fit the bill.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    I heard this week for CDN pricing.
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