Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT

Aprime · 04-25-2008, 03:25 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/i...-pontiac-vibe/

EldoFan · 04-25-2008, 03:32 PM

Pretty decent review I'd say......I'd hesitate to call that 158hp engine anemic though when one looks under the hood of the Saturn Astra however. His points about the interior were spot on IMO.

Aprime · 04-25-2008, 03:47 PM

138HP is plenty of power, the issue with the Astra is the automatic.

steinravnik · 04-25-2008, 03:48 PM

I think this is a nice update for this car.

KIDDIESEL79 · 04-25-2008, 03:58 PM

I really like this car but the tailights and the too Toyota-ish dash kills it for me.

Aprime · 04-25-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIDDIESEL79

I really like this car but the tailights and the too Toyota-ish dash kills it for me.

I wish they'd have used chrome for the... Erm, I think you know what I mean (rather than the matte white thing they used).

Sorry for the lack of clarity but I don't remember what it's called... I'm just going to say cluster moldings.

But they're going with a new new exterior design theme for Pontiac it seems ('fogged'/black head and tail lamps).

I think the dash is attractive and bears no resemblance to any other Toyota products (with the exception of the Matrix, duh). I'm glad it's not a carbon-copy of the Corolla's cluster since it's probably the least attractive one in any car to date (basically an evolution of the outgoing one).

FenwickHockey65 · 04-25-2008, 06:00 PM

I find the interior extremely lacking...there's...nothing.

F14CRAZY · 04-25-2008, 08:40 PM

The seats and door panels look good but the dash and steering wheel don't look attractive

I-Love-Pontiac · 04-25-2008, 09:49 PM

The more I look at this thing the more I want it. As many others have said though... it really needs more power. There's nothing exciting about 158 Toyota HP.

How much do superchargers cost?

TriShield · 04-26-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

How much do superchargers cost?

Look through the TRD catalog for the answer.

autofan · 04-28-2008, 09:44 AM

I think the exterior styling, while a little bug-eyed, looks pretty decent, especially with 17" or 18" wheels. The interior styling is even more toy-like and cliche' (can we EVER get over cheap painted silver trim?!) than ever. There are also carryover cost-cutting tricks like no cloth inserts on rear door panels to match those on the front. I hope NVH has improved greatly because my 2003 buzzed (engine) and roared (wind noise) like crazy.

Blair1118 · 04-28-2008, 10:28 AM

I just noticed something, the steering wheel has 3 different stalks on it.....thats alot! I personally like my "smart stalk" that has everything all in one.

1. Lighting
2. Wipers
3. Cruise Control

FierySolstice · 04-28-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIDDIESEL79

I really like this car but the tailights and the too Toyota-ish dash kills it for me.

I totally agree! The Altezza craze is over and they NEVER look good on American cars! This car needs to come in a 3 door also. There should be a GXP version of just a 3 door to compete with the GTI. Oh and the interior sucks!!!

**paul8488** · 04-28-2008, 12:44 PM

I love it! I'd take another in a second. I'll buy one someday.

They should do a RHD version as a Holden for Australia.

**paul8488** · 04-28-2008, 12:47 PM

Pontiac should find a way to graft this nose and basic rear-end design onto the G5 coupe and sedan. They could offer the 2.2L as an efficient entry-level model, the 2.4L as the mid-level model, and the 2.0L turbo as the hot GXP versions.

04-25-2008, 03:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Aprime 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gatineau, QC Drives: 2007 Pontiac Wave Posts: 292	Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/i...-pontiac-vibe/

04-25-2008, 03:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
EldoFan 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Drives: '94 Plymouth Voyager 3.0 Posts: 4,377	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT Pretty decent review I'd say......I'd hesitate to call that 158hp engine anemic though when one looks under the hood of the Saturn Astra however. His points about the interior were spot on IMO. __________________ When you turn your car on....does it return the favor?

04-25-2008, 03:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aprime 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gatineau, QC Drives: 2007 Pontiac Wave Posts: 292	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT 138HP is plenty of power, the issue with the Astra is the automatic.

04-25-2008, 03:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
steinravnik 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eckington, Washington, DC Drives: 2007 Nissan XTerra Offroad Posts: 1,520	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT I think this is a nice update for this car. __________________ You call yourself the Moral Majority We call ourselves the people in the real world You say, 'God loves you. Come and buy the Good News' Then you buy the president and swimming pools If Jesus don't save 'til we're lining your pockets God must be dead if you're alive Circus-tent con-men and Southern belle bunnies Milk your emotions then they steal your money It's the new dark ages with the fascists toting bibles Cheap nostalgia for the Salem Witch Trials Dead Kennedys

04-25-2008, 03:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
KIDDIESEL79 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 804	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT I really like this car but the tailights and the too Toyota-ish dash kills it for me.

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04-25-2008, 06:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 4,853	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT I find the interior extremely lacking...there's...nothing. __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6

04-25-2008, 08:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
F14CRAZY 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dimondale, MI Drives: '89 Buick Reatta Posts: 3,948	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT The seats and door panels look good but the dash and steering wheel don't look attractive __________________ '07 Subaru Forester: my do-everything everyday driver and first new vehicle. Manual trans. 23k miles as of 3/19/08, 24,2xxk miles as of 3/30/08 '89 Buick Reatta: "Project GS"...3800 SII S/C, 6 speed manual '94 Buick Century wagon: 3100 V6, business vehicle Past: '92 and '93 Ford Explorers, '03 Mercury Mountaineer

04-25-2008, 09:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
I-Love-Pontiac 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,737	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT The more I look at this thing the more I want it. As many others have said though... it really needs more power. There's nothing exciting about 158 Toyota HP. How much do superchargers cost? __________________

04-28-2008, 09:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
autofan 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: May 2005 Drives: 2008 Saturn Sky 2007 Saturn Aura XR Posts: 833	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT I think the exterior styling, while a little bug-eyed, looks pretty decent, especially with 17" or 18" wheels. The interior styling is even more toy-like and cliche' (can we EVER get over cheap painted silver trim?!) than ever. There are also carryover cost-cutting tricks like no cloth inserts on rear door panels to match those on the front. I hope NVH has improved greatly because my 2003 buzzed (engine) and roared (wind noise) like crazy.

04-28-2008, 10:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
Blair1118 2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Simons Island, GA Drives: 2001 GMC JimVoy II Posts: 176	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT I just noticed something, the steering wheel has 3 different stalks on it.....thats alot! I personally like my "smart stalk" that has everything all in one. 1. Lighting 2. Wipers 3. Cruise Control Last edited by Blair1118 : 04-28-2008 at 10:30 AM. Reason: clarification

04-28-2008, 12:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
paul8488 GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: France Drives: 2007 MBK Flipper Scooter Posts: 12,701	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT I love it! I'd take another in a second. I'll buy one someday. They should do a RHD version as a Holden for Australia. __________________ *The department of redundancy department.*

04-28-2008, 12:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
paul8488 GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: France Drives: 2007 MBK Flipper Scooter Posts: 12,701	Re: Autoblog's Chris Shunk reviews the Pontiac Vibe GT Pontiac should find a way to graft this nose and basic rear-end design onto the G5 coupe and sedan. They could offer the 2.2L as an efficient entry-level model, the 2.4L as the mid-level model, and the 2.0L turbo as the hot GXP versions. __________________ *The department of redundancy department.*

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