- hatchback 160,159
- Miami, FL
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- autoshopper.com
- hatchback 160,159 gasoline silver automatic
2003 pontiac vibe review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Slam poetry in motion. introductionwhen pontiac first revealed the vibe, it did it with slam poets describing the vehicle's appeal. So this five-door hatchback has a roomy interior, a creative cargo-carrying system and even a standard 110-watt electrical outlet so occupants can plug in a laptop computer or video game unit. However, for the japanese market, toyota simply sells right-hand-drive versions of the pontiac-styled vibe as the toyota voltz. See separate review of the toyota matrix at nctd. Com.). lineupthree models are available: the base vibe 16,900), the vibe gt 19. 900) and the vibe awd 20,100). the base vibe is amazingly well equipped with air conditioning, a cd player, a two-prong household-style power outlet (as well as two standard automotive power outlets), the rear cargo track system with adjustable tie-down anchors, a height-adjustable driver's seat and a rear hatch that features a glass window that can be opened without having to open the entire hatch. He succeeded. note: pontiac is having trouble breaking its habit of surrounding its vehicles with lower-body cladding. But at least the vibe's is relatively plain, and is available in either charcoal or body color (although the body color is a $500 option). We think the charcoal looks best on the all-wheel-drive version, giving it some visual elevation and an off-roady, 4x4 (dare we say outback) look. interiorpontiac vibe provides seating for five, and those seats are elevated for a good view of the road. The person at the wheel can enhance that vantage by taking advantage of the manual height-adjustment controls the driver's seat. the driver operates in a cockpit style environment, and should appreciate some of the nice touches that went into making that environment a pleasant place for driving or even for working. for example, the front passenger's seatback folds flat forward, so its back can serve as a table for the driver to rest a laptop computer or video game system plugged into the 110-volt outlet. Making this process easier are release levers on both sides of that passenger seatback, so the driver can do this operation one-handed; someone standing outside the car on the passenger's side can easily reach in and do the same thing. the rear seat has a 60/40 split (and room for at least two full-size adults) and either or both seatbacks can be folded down, providing a utah-shaped flat floor all the way from the rear hatch to the right half of the dashboard. The vibe can carry more than 57 cubic feet of cargo, which can be secured by using various tie-downs, including those that lock into position in a clever pair of tracks in the rear cargo floor. Those tracks also are built into the rear seatbacks, so they extend the full length of the rear cargo floor. Making the task of manipulating the manual gearbox easier is the way the shifter is mounted in an extension of the dashboard instead of in a center console. Even though the engine produces slightly less horsepower (because of changes in exhaust routing around the awd's independent rear suspension setup), the gearbox responded nicely when we needed it to kick down in passing situations or for pulling onto freeways. (the awd with the automatic gets a smaller fuel tank, poorer fuel economy, and isn't as quick as the five-speed two-wheel drive.) the vibe's engine was a little noisy under acceleration, but the drivetrain quieted nicely at cruising speeds. With a solid chassis, engineers are able to do a good job at sound insulation and ride control. We spent a full day in the vibe and were always comfortable. enhancing the experience are easy to reach and use controls, with the audio system controls at the top of the center stack and with three big dials to control the heat-a/c-ventilation system. the all-wheel-drive system uses lightweight, aluminum components and has a viscous coupling. It usually sends its torque to the front wheels, but can split it 50/50 front/rear when it detects wheel slippage. Pontiac says the vibe gt will rocket from a standing stop to 60 mph in less than 8. 5 seconds (compared to around 9 or 10 seconds for the base car and 11. 5 for the vibe awd). the vibe gt's engine also displaces 1. 8 liters, but has been massaged by yamaha, which shortened the stroke but bored out its cylinders and increased the compression ratio to 11. 5:1 (compared to 10. 0:1 for the version in the vibe and vibe awd). The vibe gt engine needs 92-octane fuel, but the payback is 180 horsepower at 7600 rpm. (ford's much-heralded svt focus has only 170 horsepower.) coupled to the gt's engine is a six-speed manu. Cruise Control✔ Power Locks✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ CD Changer✔ CD Player✔ Navigation System✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
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