2009 Pontiac Vibe GT ( vibe car )

 vibe car

Brief Take street take a look at

It’s not going that Pontiac, an Ottawa Indian leader, ever predicted a GM division to be named after him, although he might have had desirable vibes approximately the pink arrowhead that serves as its emblem. He wouldn’t have regarded what a vibe was, but that’s ok, because he wouldn’t have known what a matrix was, both. In this case, a Toyota Matrix is the Pontiac Vibe’s progenitor and 2nd-gen mechanical twin, both descended from the today's Corolla. Corolla, of direction, changed into chief Pontiac’s third mistress.  There are three Vibe-rations on tap: the bottom 1.8-liter (starting at $15,895), an all-wheel-power version ($19,495), and the GT we sampled here ($19,895). The AWD and the GT gain from a 158-horse, 2.Four-liter four, lending them a 26-hp facet over the starter kit.

The GT is extremely good for its stiffer suspension, chrome strut-tower brace, and aggressive 18-inch rubber. Stability manage, ABS, and traction manage are popular.

What you first word approximately the Vibe is that it's miles quiet and gratifyingly clean at step-off, even though it idles at so few revs—probably to keep fuel—that some embarrassing stall-outs transpire before you get the hold of it. Power flows effortlessly from 2000 rpm to redline, however the engine turns into a tad raucous above 4500 revs, in which your ear suggests an upshift. Full throttle within the decrease gears exhibits minor torque steer. With so few ponies in harness, why? Sixty mph comes in 7.9 seconds, zero.6 second behind, say, a Mazda three s visiting.

You sit down high and upright in the Vibe, as if in a minivan. The IP and the center stack are simple and ergonomically bang on. The large HVAC controls may be operated even as you’re wearing gloves, and the Toyota-derived wiper and signal stalks circulate with silky precision. The pedals are arrayed for heel-and-toeing, seize takeup is predictable, and the manual five-pace moves from gate to gate with first-rate heft and accuracy, even though reverse is frequently tough to discover.

Inside the hills, the GT’s trip is company, occasionally choppy over sincerely scabrous tarmac. Frame motions are masterfully managed, and the platform feels reassuringly stable. With an inclination toward a small amount of raise-throttle oversteer, the Vibe’s tail may even be turned around. The GT’s chief disadvantage is its electric powered strength guidance, that's leaden and numb in any respect speeds. Strangely, the base Vibe’s rack was less difficult to spin at parking-lot speeds. A few engineers reputedly nevertheless equate heaviness with sportiness.

The rear seats are tremendous and roomy. Fold them flat and also you’re rewarded with 49 cubic toes of shipment space, and the ground is finished in clean-to-wipe-down plastic. With minor cursing, we stowed a bike lower back there. Plus, the right-the front seatback folds flat, creating even greater valuable space.

The Vibe is a practical and justifiable small wagon a good way to face the likes of the steer clear of caliber (which it will trounce) and 5-door Mazda 3 (which it might not). However “GT,” in this case, stands much less for “grand journeying” than “general shipping.” all of the Vibe’s moves are admirable. None is spectacular. End result? Sensible footwear.