Good Pontiac Vibe-rations

Author's Rating:

Pros: Toyota reliability with Pontiac styling.

Cons: High demand + Low availability = Wait for delivery & Little price flexibility.

The Bottom Line: 
Sturdy feel. Import level engineering and quality. Definitely a winner... if GM gets them out en masse to dealerships. The Vibe should be on top of your short list.

Author's Review
I received my Vibe on March 22, 2002. It took the dealer here in Jackson, MS a full week to find one with the features I wanted (more below) and one in the color I wanted (Envy - lime green) has yet to be manufactured with the features I was requesting.

What I Got:
Vibe 2003
Color: Satellite (silver)
Model: Base w/ 4cyl 130 HP automatic
Options: Moon & Tunes Package, Power Group Package, ABS, Side impact air-bags, full featured alarm system and 16" cast aluminum wheels.

Package Explanations:
- Moon and Tunes Value Package = power glass moonroof, and 200-watt premium audio system with 6 speakers
- Power Group Value Package = power door locks with remote keyless entry system, power windows, power rear hatch release, and cruise control

[Go to end for the latest updates.]

Basically, I got the vehicle fully-loaded. The only options I didn't get were the 17" wheels (which would have meant giving up the moonroof due to some hairball EPA regulation), the DVD navigation system and the 6 disc cd changer.

Initial Impressions:
In the first week, I logged close to 600 miles. I don't usually drive that much but we were in the middle of a big press push at the office and I wanted to break the vehicle in so I ended up driving a lot. Plus, it's just a fun vehicle to drive.

Most of the folks in my office have nice cars... and I was the only hold out. I was still driving my 100% debt free Chevy Corsica - but at 120,000 miles it was time for a replacement. So far everyone has been thoroughly impressed. (No small feat considering these guys drive Toyota Camry's, Volvos, Lexuses and SUVs.) In fact, the afternoon I brought it back to the office from the dealer, everyone in the office was trying to figure out "who bought the cool new car". (I had slyly left my old one sitting in the parking lot since the dealer came and picked me up, so no one suspected me!)

One particular comment from a Ford Escape owner stands out... she was praising how easily the rear hatch and liftgate operate. She told me that the handle (built into the molding) that opens the liftgate was much easier to operate and didn't hurt her sensitive hands like the one on her Escape does.

To date (April 7), I have logged 3,000 trouble free miles. 1,900 of those miles were logged driving home to NC for Easter.

The Annoying Stuff:
The only bad things I have to say revolve around vehicle availability.

- This is a new car... in its very first year of production. So, you won't find many on dealer lots. And if you want a specific color, with specific options, be prepared to wait.

- I wanted the lime green on (called Envy) but after 3 days of searching the nation, the dealer learned that no vehicle in the color I wanted had yet been manufactured with the feature combination I was requesting. They were expecting it to be about 3 months before they could get specifically what I wanted... so when they found one in silver with all the options, I settled for it instead.

- Of further note is the lack of pricing flexibility. The margins on this line of vehicles are pretty slim. Couple that with low availability and you lose ability to negotiate price. The best you'll probably be able to rate is buying the (overpriced) accessories like cargo nets, seatback storage, etc at half price. I was able to get them to throw in the rear bumper guard ($80) at no charge.

There has been a minor "inspection advisory" posted by GM to the dealers on this model. Basically the dealers are being asked to check the torque on certain rear axle bolts. Not an unusual or major problem... but do make sure you dealer does it before you buy it lest your real axle fall off while you're driving due to bolts that weren't screwed down tight enough. My dealer's service manager was nice enough to call me the week after I bought mine to let me know they had just gotten the advisory. Mine was fine.

On the Nit-Picky Side of Things:
- The lower cup holder is slightly smaller than the upper one. Not a major issue unless you have 2 people who want to put big bottles of water (or fast food soft drinks) in both holders.

- The storage compartment below the shifter can be hard to open due to the way the latch was designed... you push in to open it out.

- Lastly is the "afterthought" of a cover for the rear. Once in place it's very hard to remove... and it's hard to get in place to start with. I'm sure someone will develop a better one for the after-market... and I'll be first in line to buy one. Until then if you have something in the back you want to cover from prying eyes, I recommend a beach towel.

Other than that, it's been perfect so far. It holds 4 people very well... and 5 on short hops for lunch to local restaurants. Everyone so far has remarked about the exceptionally large amount of leg and headroom in the rear seat. No one expects such a small vehicle to have such a roomy interior. More than one person has compared the interior's spaciousness to the that of the new VW Beetle.


Update April 9, 2002

Today was my first oil change... 3000 miles to the exact mile. Now that the car is officially broken in, I'll detail my driving experiences so far.

(I have to say that Paul-Moak Pontiac here Jackson has been great. The sale was excellent and their attention to service hasn't tapered off. Today was the first time their shop had ever serviced a Vibe. Mine is only the 2nd one ever sold in Mississippi. My oil change was a teaching lesson for the techs and took about 10 minutes longer than normal.)

Things I Left Out of the Specs:
The Vibe has only has 2 engine options - 1 for each model. My base got the 130 HP Toyota VVTi engine - the only option on the base and AWD models and the only choice if you want automatic transmission. The GT gets a hi-rev 180 HP VVTi with manual only.

I got the automatic transmission since I do mostly city driving and like to drive while yakking.

My Driving Experience:
Previously, I owned a 6 cyl Chevy Corsica... so I was little worried about the 4 cyl lacking power. So far, I have been plesantly surprised. When I first test drove the car, I was up the on-ramp and cruising at 80mph before I knew it. While driving home for Easter, I found myself lead-footing at 95 mph with no strain whatsoever. (E-gad... hope no highway patrol guys read this.)

There is no difference in handling from 45 to 95. In fact, if I thought I was doing around 60 when I was doing 95. Acceleration is surprisingly smooth and quiet; it will sneak up on you. Though if you gun it the 4 banger complains by being a bit loud.

I have been quite impressed with the punch Toyota packed into such a small engine. Passing at highway speed is handled uneventfully. I have found the sweet spot to be from 55-80. Hit the gas between those speeds and you'll speed up 5-10 mph without even noticing.

Now... that said cruise control on moderate hills can be a little unnerving. When the engine kicks in full boar, this small car is going to move. I think it would attempt to climb a wall if given the opportunity. But the "jet fuel" boost doesn't disengage quickly enough after cresting a hill. This can create a sort of roller-coaster sensation. Once you know what to expect, it's not a problem... but the first time it can be a little eye popping. My understanding is that this tends to be a general issue with 4 cyl engines... so I'm guessing this is not too odd.

I do have to admit drooling at the thought of Toyota Racing Engineering designing a 220 HP supercharger for the Vibe/Matrix family. (In case you don't know, the Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix are the exact same vehicle - just with different body cladding.) More speed off the line from 0 wouldn't hurt.

Mississippi = Pothole Country, USA:
I have thoroughly tested the suspension in the short month I've owned the Vibe. The road to my townhouse has been under construction for quite some time. To call pavement rough would be like calling the flu a minor annoyance. So far, so good. It rides like the Toyota it is - moderately firm while still being supportive. You know when you've hit a bump, but it doesn't jar your teeth... and the car does not bounce. The best description I have would be "solid and nimble". It feels like you have a much more substantial vehicle under you than is actually the case.

As for ride quality... honestly, I prefer the Vibe over all the larger SUVs represented at our office. It hugs the road and is a very predictable car to drive. Plus it fits in the small spaces at the mall and grocery store.

Learn to Use ABS Properly:
I will warn folks who have never driven current ABS equipped cars that the newer anti-lock (ABS) systems work a little differently than the older ones on domestics. Just remember "stomp, stay and steer".

I had 2 panic stops while driving at Easter. The first I treated like I was driving my Corsica (which also has ABS) and nearly made a mess. On the second one, I remembered to hold the brake to the floor instead of letting go. Much better... but do wear your seatbelt... the brakes work exceptionally well. When you hit the brakes, this car *will* stop.

Where's the Bass?
Tonight driving home, I discovered a minor complaint about the 200 watt "premium" Monsoon stereo while listening to a new cd. It has almost no bass - especially at lower volumes. I'm sure the designers intentionally left a separate subwoofer out of the equation. Sure the system can do loud... but the factory speakers don't have much, if any, bass response. If you listen to music at normal levels (i.e. where you can still hear yourself think), you will probably want to add a separate powered sub-woofer.

Closing Thoughts:
So far, so good. No major problems to speak of and nothing out of the ordinary. The Vibe is a joy to drive. And as much as I love the Pontiac exterior... I have to hand it to Toyota for engineering this car's good mechanicals. If only more companies would hook up for synergy like this.

Update April 13, 2002

Gas Mileage
In my previous update, I forgot to post my gas mileage so far... so let me rectify that. Driving in the city 50/50 AC on/off - 29.5 mpg (recalculated today with a full tank having been exhausted in city only driving to get the truest result). Driving highway AC on - 30 mpg. Driving highway AC off - 31 mpg.

I'm no car buff... but that seems good to me. I've gone from filling up the Corsica weekly to filling up the VIbe every other week. Not bad. Not up to the 36mpg estimate yet... but I'm sure time will help. Keeping the AC running to combat the summer heat and humidity in Mississippi will be the real test.

Cool = Frozen, Warm = Boiling
Speaking of the AC and heat in this vehicle... like every other Toyota I've been in, when they mark "cool" on the air system, you should read it as "frozen solid in half an hour if you let this AC run full blast" and when they mark warm, you should read "every hair on your legs and ankles fried off and the turkey in the back seat full cooked in only 15 minutes on the way home from the market". There is a nice white square in the middle of the temperature setting that should be labeled "normal people leave their air set here all year long"; it's pretty dead on to what I call comfortable.

For those in colder climates, be sure to NOT set the defroster all the way to "Hot" if you want to melt some snow or ice off the windshield. That is unless you enjoy explaining to your insurance guy that you have never seen a windshield crack due extreme temperature differential.

Adding Some Bass to the Tunes
Having endured enough 200 watt loudness with mediocre base response, I called the local car audio guys and ordered a powered subwoofer for my Vibe. I'm still sort of surprised a car intended for a younger "hip" audience has such little bass in the stereo. The old AC Delco stereo in my former Corsica had more base than the 200 watt stereo in the Vibe. Oh well... if you like lots of highs and mids in your eq, you'll be in melodical heaven.

As always, updates to follow if anything changes.

Daniel in Metro Jackson, MS.