Pontiac Vibe

squiredogs

How was the passenger room in the back seat? Room for 3 like they say? Can you compare the driver leg/headroom to anything else? Just in case I can't see one next week...

Thanks

Dan

Anakin

How was the cargo space? I might consider this vehicle when it's released, but only if it can hold two Lab-sized dogs in the cargo area.

teo

The Vibe will offer 57 Cubic Feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded down.

My wife and I are very interested in this vehicle but would like to get actual spec measurements. One very important requirement is the ability to place 2 child car seats in the rear seat and have a third person riding there. The car looks roomy in pictures but would like to get impressions of the few lucky ones that have been able to sit in them.

Is this vehicle as big or bigger than a Toyota RAV4?

Anakin

Maybe I should have been more specific. I want to know how much space is there with the seats up. I want to put a screen back there so I can carry my pups and passengers too.

For example, the Jetta Wagon and Ford Focus each have enough space with the seats up for my dogs, but other cars like the Mazda Protege5 or the Subaru Impreza do not.

Just wondering.... thanks.

corvette

I was there for the concert and didn't get the best look at the Vibe. I don't think the cargo area was large enough for two dogs with the seats up. Seats down, probably so.

coolguyky7

Go to www.toyota.com, click on the silver automobile called "Matrix." This is the Toyota version of the Vibe. A window should pop up. Click on "Specs". Then at the top of the page....it says something about download in pdf. Do that..it will have most of the specs and features available on the Matrix. I like the Matrix's tail lights better than the Vibe's. It will be a little longer than the RAV4....but will be a little shorter. I think the Matrix is a good alternative to ECHO's limited options and Corolla's blandness.

Anakin

So... it's going to be both longer and shorter?

;^)

squiredogs

A couple of things:

The Vibe looked a little small from the outside, but seemed to have decent cargo space. The seats folded down easliy. The front seat was a little cramped, but I drive a Pathfinder, so I'm sure I'll get used to it.

The plastic in the cargo area was all smashed up and cracked in a large area. I hope the plastic in the cargo area and the rear seatbacks is more durable in the production car!

I hope that pontiac doesn't shrink the wheels, or otherwise screw it up before launch. I'm definitely looking to get one, so I hope all options are available in January. (Although if anyone can screw up a good idea, it's GM)

I also think this car will be a PT cruiser smash hit. I hope there's no stupid mark-up above MSRP.

Dan

lindsey

Is this board really working? No posts in almost one month?

stever

Functional Schizophrenia

Steve
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ghulet

...in the October Car & Driver, I think this car will do well. The look is good, actually restrained but not at all boring, I guess Pontiac is finally going to phase out slowly the garish body cladding they've overused since the late 80s. The interior was also nice looking enough, replete with the trendy aluminum trim. According to C&D, powertrain choices are fairly comprehensive, with the following possible sales issues:
-AWD only available with 120hp base engine, though with either automatic or stick (FWD base engine is 130hp, either transmission)
-180hp VVTLi engine only comes with manual

I'm probably going to give consumers too much credit and say not many are gonna want AWD in this thing, or they'd probably go the small SUV route, and anyone who really wants the powerful engine can drive stick, or will learn. Prices seem reasonable. I think they'll sell more of these than Toyota does the Matrix, given most Toyotas are fairly conservative right now.

dindak

Saw it in C&D also. Very nice and more spacious than I thought. If the price is right, it may be a good alternative to a mini SUV also.

Anyone know when they are out? I think it said spring 2002.

dverespey

Yup spring 02, production starts in Jan.

raduga750

It's been awhile since someone has had some information about what the price will be for a Vibe. I've seen a few different figures, but in general, the price seems to go up with each new estimate. Is the consensus that it will be around $18k for a base model? (I hope it will be lower.)

ghulet

Car & Driver says 'popularly equipped' Vibes will be like $18-19k, I take that to mean a base vehicle with a power package (windows, locks, keyless entry) and automatic. Base car has standard air and a 200 watt CD, options will also include upgraded stereo w/6 CD changer, 17" wheels, sunroof and body colored lower cladding.

deliveryguy

Spotted a Pontiac Vibe this morning at the Atlanta General Motors offices!!!! Only had a second to look at it, as I was running extremely late. I deliver 5 USA TODAY newspapers to the GM offices, so it was dark, 5 AM, but spotted it immediately parked next to the building as I pulled into the parking lot. They get alot of GM vehicles here all the time, so I generally don't give them much attention. It had that kind of Aztek theme, gray lower cladding/ kind of jacked up with that mini sportute look.... Might take another look if I get by there again during the day.

kikaider

I saw a Focus wagon with deeply tinted glass on the road, and Toyota did a great job of copying its rear quarter window design...

They did it with the Toyota Opa in Japan, too.

vonnyvonce

From Vibe brochure " comes from a viscous coupling integrated into the rear differential. This compact unit automatically sends power from the front wheels to the rear and splits it from side to side."
Sounds like limited slip across the rear plus vc front to back. Not bad if true.

jas28

I just looked at the Toyota Matrix web site - if Pontiac specs the same transmission as the Matrix, there WILL be an auto for the 180 hp GT - the XRS Matrix (GT equivalent) is listed as having an "available" 4 speed automatic transmission in addition to the "available" 6 speed manual.

I may just get one after all...

swampwiz

As I am a faithful purchaser one way or another of GM products {got to do something with the $500/yr GM credit card rebate :-)}, and someone who is looking for a wagon type vehicle that can carry a cargo box to fit skis and other stuff, and also someone doesn't care for a really tall vehicle (don't like riding that high, and am rather short so that putting stuff in a cargo box on top of a tall vehicle would be a pain), I am interested in the Vibe. I'd like to know how long of a cargo box I could put on top. I suppose that 80" would be enough.

orangelebaron

Do you think their will be a woody edition?

Will it be called
"Country Vibe"
"Vista Vibe"
"VibeMaster"
"Vibe Estate"
"Vibe Park"
"VibeWood"

...wait...

"Town and Vibe"

esto

I could go for "Good Viberations"...

tidester

How about Pontiac Revibal! ;-)

tidester
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carman30

Hey Guys,

I wanted to let you know I drove a Vibe GT with the 6-speed that my buddy From Saturn had. WOW, what a fun car! It is cool, because you sit up a little higher than in other cars.

The Vibe really moves, and is a BLAST to drive. It revvs freely, and likes to be driven hard. The gauges light up in a cool RED at night, and the CD player really kicks.

The vehicle handles much like a small sedan, and has good compsure on our rough Michigan roads. We got ALOT of looks, especially from Asian vehicle owners!

revka

Hi carman30- Wow, that's really exciting! Thanks for the review.

So does anyone here have one of these on order yet? Looking forward to hearing more.... ;-)

Revka
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sandhurst

dindak

Very cool indeed!

How would you rate the size of the back? Wondering if it would be a good alterative to a small SUV like the Vue/Escape.

dverespey

From what I hear when the managers take them on the road for the weekend they attract quite a bit of attention.

teo

cargo room on the new 2003 Vibe:

With the back seats in the "up" position:

20cuft

With the back seats folded:

57cuft

That looks pretty good for a vehicle this compact.

dindak

Ya it does sound good. My concern with Vibe is that it seems to be aimed at the younger crown and being 33, I'm not sure I want to look like I'm clinging on to my youth. I will definitely take a look that the Vibe though.

;-)

dudleyr

For comparison - a Jetta wagon has 36 cuft with the rear seats up and 70 cuft with the rear seats folded. A Focus wagon has 38 cuft with rear seats up - can't remember with rear down. Even a Golf has 18 cuft with seats up and 42 with seats down.

motormind

The Vibe/Saturn VUE article in Car & Driver mentions GM offering a dealer installed supercharger for the Vibe's base engine, raising hp to around 180 with a "more substantial increase in torque". It's supposed to be available within 12 months of the introduction. Wonder how much that would go for?

I would seriously consider the Vibe GT if it was available with an automatic, especially since it comes standard with gray cladding (don't like the body-colored cladding). I love shifting the gears myself, except when stuck in big city traffic.

tommy_roe

I hope Pontiac puts in an automatic version of the 180hp VVTi engine. Driving a stick sucks in traffic. I guess I'm spoiled too considering I've owned a Firebird for the last 5 years and I'm used to having a ton of horsepower and torque on my side. But I want to trade it in for a more practical vehicle, and I didn't really like SUVs until the Vibe was presented. Hopefully a big automatic engine can be thrown into one of those. I know they're talking about it, but it doesn't look like the 3800 engine is going into it.

johnclineii

toyota, as it looks that Toyota and only Toyota WILL offer an auto with the 180 hp engine. Pontiac isn't going to, at least at first...

moparbad

not much difference when you are comparing the VIBE and MATRIX. Same mechanicals and different styling.

orangelebaron

Dindak, you are so old... 33. :@(

I'm 37... I guess I should buy a Century!

dindak

Maybe I just feel old these days with a kid and a mortgage.

odman

I'm also 33 years old, w/wife, 2 kids, suburban house with a killer mortgage, and I earn Canadian dollars. I also drive a minivan.

The Vibe is about as much excitement as I am going to see for quite some time, so let us 33 year olds have at least this to hang on to.

dindak

You may be right. I only have 1 kid at this time, but another can't be too far off and affordablity is key for us also. Amazing how little money I have left at the end of the month these days.

squiredogs

When can a Vibe be ordered?

Will GM give the 0% financing, even though this is ridiculously called a 2003?

Opinions: I'm stuck between Silver with the standard cladding, black with the standard grey cladding, or black w/ black painted cladding. Is painted cladding a bad idea? does it fade or otherwise not look right?

Can't wait

leafguy2727

Hi all. Well I'm in Toronto waiting not so patiently to hear about pricing. My wife and I are expecting our first child in late Feb and consequently we'll need a second car. The vibe has really grabbed my attention but in all honesty not sure if we'll be able to afford a "new" car. Has anyone heard what pricing should be in CANADIAN funds?

Thanks

dindak

Pricing has not been released yet. I would guess it will happen in the next 2-3 weeks. Car will not be out until January though.

odman

In terms of pricing, I'd expect to see it start around $23K Cdn. I've heard that it may dip into the $21-$22 range, but I doubt it, given the strength of our Cdn Peso lately.

By way of MSRP comparison, a Sunfire GT (don't bother comparing base models since weird de-contenting on both sides of the border makes this difficult) currently goes for US$16,300. In Canada, a Sunfire GT goes for CDN$22,000. (at 62.5 cents on the dollar, it should actually be CDN$26,000, so straight currency conversions are useless).

US pricing for the Vibe is estimated to be in the US$18-$23 range depending on trim line, so the range in Canada should be about CAN$23,000 to CAN$27,000. A Protege5 can be had for about $25,000 as well, so this seems to be the right range. Don't expect pricing to be released until January-February 2002. They're being tight lipped on this one. Look for Toyota Matrix pricing as a benchmark too.

artdecho

Mazda P5's list for about 19,800 cdn and the only options are air, auto & sunroof so would max out at 24 tops.....Subaru TS wagon with AWD is 22,900
with a manual and 23,900 with automatic & comes with air, power locks, windows etc.....Ford Focus wagon is in the low 20's and regular Corollas are mid-teens to low 20's. They'd better not price the Vibe and Matrix too high or they won't be competitive. Even FWD versions of the much larger Escape, Tribute, Santa Fe and VUE all start around 21-22 and change.

dindak

Vue starts at C$22500 for a 5-speed with A/C. $23800 for an automatic. Those prices include destination (delivery). I can't imagine Vibe being too far off those prices.

odman

Artdecho/dindak:

Good points -- Vibe must be priced competively against Vue. The US prices on Vue are $16,325 for a 4 cylinder fwd, and $22,575 for a V6 AWD. In Canada, they are $22,500 and $30,155 respectively. I've seen US$18-$23 quoted for the Vibe, so by this token the Canadian prices will be in the $23-$30,000 range for the Vibe. The top-end seems too high, so I'd expect $27CDN for the AWD version.

The Vue and the Vibe are going after different markets, and it will be interesting to see which prevails. My money's on the Vibe due to a) possibly better engineering (it's a Toyota, afterall), b) better distribution (i.e. more Pontiac dealerships than Saturn), and c) it is replacing something else in the showroom, rather than being a new model outright.

dindak

I suspect there will be some cross shopping of the Vue and the Vibe for people are looking for cheaper utility type vehicles. Younger individuals and families could use either IMO, and I will certainly be cross shopping.

How is the Vibe not an all new vehicle? For the most part it is. It's no less new than the Vue.

artdecho

Think 27K for AWD is too steep.....an Impreza TS automatic is only 23K and has 61.5 cu ft. of cargo room vs. 57.5 for Matrix/Vibe, not to mention a 42 hp advantage. AWD VUE is just over 26K with CVT and also has a size and horsepower advantage. CRV is HUGE compared to Matrix/Vibe and starts under 27 K. I figure a base AWD had better be in the low 20's (that doesn't even include air) with the 'B' option package (I'm talking Matrix here) that has air and alloys etc
no more than 25K.

odman

I didn't mean that the Vibe is not all new, of course it is. What I meant was that the Vibe is replacing something else that exists in the showroom already (the Sunfire). That tends to make it easier to sell since walk-ins will be pointed to the Vibe when they come in and ask "where's the Sunfire."

Saturn's got to get the word out that there's a new SUV in their line up. Not impossible, but they DID have trouble getting the word out that they had a mid-size sedan, the L-Series, which has never lived up to sales expectations.

I suspect we'll see cross-shopping of the fwd Vibe with the Focus wagon, Focus ZX5, Protege5, and Golf.

montanafan

Sunfire gets a mild redesign for 2003 and will still be available beside the Vibe. I would think the Vibe hurts the Grand Am / Aztek more then the Sunfire. Guess on pricing would be around Dec 17th, so everyone can get out of town by weeks end for the holiday