Pontiac's reliable Vibe hatchback returns with a new facelift for 2009 and it doesn't disappoint. From what I enjoyed about the first generation smartly carried over to the newer body style. The Vibe also shared many attributes with its sibling, the Toyota Matrix. And it is with this similar familiarity, that both the Vibe and Matrix have enjoyed brisk sales, great reliability, and swift performance in this SUV alternative. So what exactly did Pontiac and Toyota do to further enhance the hatchback to appeal to the repeat faithfuls, I drive and pick apart the new 09 to find out.
Easily one of the more taller of hatchbacks (put Scion Xa, Mazda 3 hatch, and Suburu's Legacy wagon), it was about the most roomiest and versatile in it's interior appointments as well. But lets start outside first of all, the body was stout, if not a little bit more cutting edge than its bubbly predecessor. Toyota's craftsmanship showed itself in tight fitting body panels, crystal clear lighting, and aerodynamics with a purpose. In addition, it was easy to enter and exit the vehicle as it did not sit too low nor is it like jumping into a Hummer. Doors closed with a solid thump, and there was little in the way of road noise or rattles as I took it down I-80. I made sure I flogged the bumps and bruises on the road just to make sure, and it was more than pleasurable. Acceleration is very good and placed the perfect mix of passing power, and yet knew where to limit it's power in the sake of good gas mileage. Pontiac certainly did it's homework in Japanese ingenuity, it's an all around good driver.
Second, the interior went a little bit more angular, and less ho-hum with nicer instrument gauges. Fit and finish carried over from the exterior with pleasing to the touch materials and low gloss facing to inhibit sun glare. This in turn, aimed to make future wear and tear less of an issue because build quality is way above average. My test model was a base automatic with a/c, power package, c/d player with MP3 input jack, and comfortable seating with a little bit wider seat bottom than the last generation. I especially loved the folding rear seats with the cleanable plastic covers which made this more of the utility car and a great alternative to the broad SUV. I'm glad they carried this feature over without hesitation. As a result, interior appointments held up its end of the bargain with sturdy features and durability.
Problems were few, but consumers would know that I would bring up the cheesy wheel caps. Especially a car hovering around the $17k mark, I would of expected better, even if it was just a base alloy wheel. The transmission did the job to advance the car quickly, the lag between gears were a little bit longer however, making the engine hum to higher octaves. Also, expect about $800-1000 between invoice and MSRP, a little room but will hopefully make a difference in your shopping choices.
In closing, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe returned with more cutting edge handsomeness and a couple extras to better it's market share as one of the more appealing choices. The great thing is that Pontiac/Toyota used that age old philosophy "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude and will sell lots of these little cars in a gasoline turbulent market.
If you enjoyed this article and would like more information on other reviews on some of the newest cars, please feel free to visit: http://kookoox10thereviewspot.blogspot.com
Gasoline prices are an ever price changing commodity, for tips and advice on how to conserve and save money, please visit my blog at: http://kookoox10-rulestosaveatthepump.blogspot.com
Shaun Davidson-Automotive and Finance Consultant-2008.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaun_Patrick_Davidson
Easily one of the more taller of hatchbacks (put Scion Xa, Mazda 3 hatch, and Suburu's Legacy wagon), it was about the most roomiest and versatile in it's interior appointments as well. But lets start outside first of all, the body was stout, if not a little bit more cutting edge than its bubbly predecessor. Toyota's craftsmanship showed itself in tight fitting body panels, crystal clear lighting, and aerodynamics with a purpose. In addition, it was easy to enter and exit the vehicle as it did not sit too low nor is it like jumping into a Hummer. Doors closed with a solid thump, and there was little in the way of road noise or rattles as I took it down I-80. I made sure I flogged the bumps and bruises on the road just to make sure, and it was more than pleasurable. Acceleration is very good and placed the perfect mix of passing power, and yet knew where to limit it's power in the sake of good gas mileage. Pontiac certainly did it's homework in Japanese ingenuity, it's an all around good driver.
Second, the interior went a little bit more angular, and less ho-hum with nicer instrument gauges. Fit and finish carried over from the exterior with pleasing to the touch materials and low gloss facing to inhibit sun glare. This in turn, aimed to make future wear and tear less of an issue because build quality is way above average. My test model was a base automatic with a/c, power package, c/d player with MP3 input jack, and comfortable seating with a little bit wider seat bottom than the last generation. I especially loved the folding rear seats with the cleanable plastic covers which made this more of the utility car and a great alternative to the broad SUV. I'm glad they carried this feature over without hesitation. As a result, interior appointments held up its end of the bargain with sturdy features and durability.
Problems were few, but consumers would know that I would bring up the cheesy wheel caps. Especially a car hovering around the $17k mark, I would of expected better, even if it was just a base alloy wheel. The transmission did the job to advance the car quickly, the lag between gears were a little bit longer however, making the engine hum to higher octaves. Also, expect about $800-1000 between invoice and MSRP, a little room but will hopefully make a difference in your shopping choices.
In closing, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe returned with more cutting edge handsomeness and a couple extras to better it's market share as one of the more appealing choices. The great thing is that Pontiac/Toyota used that age old philosophy "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude and will sell lots of these little cars in a gasoline turbulent market.
If you enjoyed this article and would like more information on other reviews on some of the newest cars, please feel free to visit: http://kookoox10thereviewspot.blogspot.com
Gasoline prices are an ever price changing commodity, for tips and advice on how to conserve and save money, please visit my blog at: http://kookoox10-rulestosaveatthepump.blogspot.com
Shaun Davidson-Automotive and Finance Consultant-2008.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaun_Patrick_Davidson
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