Haha....wow people sure flip-flopped when they heard it was a Toyota! King5...that's what I used to watch the most when I lived in Seattle. I LOVE Almost Live!

 

Almost live is still airing (albeit reruns) every week here after SNL
Also, you should see Jean Enerson in HD, YIKES

 

I saw a red Vibe GT at the Mall of America today. I gotta say...that's a damn nice vehicle. It's got a really nice look at all angles, though its a bit stumpy from the rear 3/4 view.

Still...lightyears better than that horrid Matrix redo.

 

Vibe doesn't really fit with Pontiac and should have been sold through a more appropriate brand: Saturn seem like it would have been a good fit. Maybe Chevy.

BTW, you gotta shake your head at: "I wouldn't buy this car"... "Oh, its a Toyota? Where do I sign?"

 

You're probably right about Saturn having it. But it would be a pain for GM.....there are folks out there who know what a Pontiac Vibe is (now in its 2nd generation). So to switch make badges (and probably model monikers) would be a real hassle and confusing to the consumer. And let's be honest, the "average" consumer doesn't know a whole heck of a lot....proven by the video!

 

Can't get it to load.

Lemme guess it sucks, has a bad interior and gas mileage is horrible, until it it revealed it's a Toyota, and then they were just joking?

*Never mind, loads in FF. Nice to see the testers being honest, but it makes me mad to see how god damn stupid every day people are. Regardless of who makes it, when you see a vehicle, you either like it or you don't. I wouldn't buy a Pontiac, but I'll buy the Japanese version? WTF?

I think it's safe to say...the general public dun be unedumacated.

 

I think it's safe to say...the general public dun be unedumacated.

Actually it illustrates the success of what I refer to as Toyota's Spin and Misinformation network.

Also their above ground programs - Public Relations and Brand perception management etc.

Don't forget Toyota is the pioneer of the advertorial - which is just a fancy name for - 'here, I'll do business with you and or pay you to write an advertising piece - as long as you make it appear to the public as regular 'journalism'.

From both, the public (for decades) has been pounded full of incomplete and misleading information concerning Toyota - much like they have concerning things like the so called ( misnamed) 'Free Trade' issue.

The negative side of things is not presented and the positive gets spun up.

Then, the exact opposite is done concerning GM, Ford, and Chrysler - and the European makes as well.

Net result is really no surprise.

The blitz of BS from Mr T is funded thru the Yen subsidy - that's why Toyota can spend the 'extra' money behind all this.

 

To be real honest, those people just pissed me off. I don't know what it is really, but their reactions when they found out it was built by toyota and then their sudden approval of the car just pissed me off to the max. Especially that one idiot who was all, "Doesn't toyota have rights to it or something?" As if GM copies off toyota with every car or something.
Really makes me lose faith in the people of this country. So easily manipulated.
And doesn't the Vibe have the same GM 5 year/100,000 mile warranty?

 

See, that is the difference between us enthusiasts and ............. regulars.

 

He did mention the better (than the Matrix) warranty guys. I think he was going to go into more detail about it, but the jerky at the end was trying to "wrap up" his segment and cut him off. And he also mentioned it was cheaper too.

 

I believe that the vibe is the perfect car for Pontiac. The vibe is a life style car, active individuals that are looking for something a little bit more fun to drive and to look the part. The vibe does both. The g5 and doesn't really meet this requirement, the rest of the Pontiac lineup does. I'm not sure what market Saturn tries to meet, its not focused on anyone in particular, maybe that's why they doesn't sell. Too bad it's based on a Toyota.

 

Why is Pontiac or GM for that matter, screwing around with Toyota for the Vibe in the first place? Note to management: Take the HHR, design a DECENT looking modern body for it, drop in the Solstice GXP powertrain, add AWD, Brembos and Recaros. Presto! An American WRX! Now you're talking!

 

I kinda agree.. There is no reason why GM cant do the Vibe on their one. Cobalt platform with the more powerful engine chocies from GM. But I would MUCH rather see a WRX STi/Evo fighter in the next-gen G6 Sedan GXP - with Saabs XWD.

 

Just goes to show how ill informed the American consumer is. You can sell them anything just because it's been printed in the newspaper or magazines.
That makes it correct....

 

worst kept secret? i didnt know that they were trying to keep it secret. and this just shows that most of american doesnt know crap about cars. and i have seen a few vibes on the road, they are alot better looking in person. i have seen the new corolla, ugly, but not one matrix

 

And the job of the US automakers (and foreign ones) is to build and sell cars to people who don't know, and don't care, about cars, an appliance you don't have to think about.

 

Pictures do the Vibe no justice. It actually looks pretty nice in person.

 

Pontiac Vibe: Toyota mediocrity held back by a Pontiac badge.

Same thing with the G6..A nice Chevrolet when it came out, but the brand name and lack of smarter features and updates combined with the Pontiac badge really hurt it.

Pontiac raises images of muscle cars, mullets, and crummy re-badged (heavily cladded) Chevrolets. It goes totally against the "fuel efficiency" image that Pontiac should be.

The reality is that Saturn is better at being sporty than Pontiac is and it's probably going to be better at being upscale than Buick will be. I honestly believe that with better dealer access, Saturn would be the 2nd best selling brand easily. It already has an arguably better Vibe in the Astra. The Aura is a bit better than the G6, the Vue is a great product that registers well with consumers despite the weight problem and lack of dealers. The Sky IS the Solsice.

Pontiac needs some kind of clear focus. I really don't know what they are trying to be now. Should they flood the lineup with cars like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Scion TC, and the Solstice or should they offer simply sporty versions of cars that are or should be Chevrolets or Buicks? (Pontiac G6, G8, and G8 ST).

The Vibe is a good example of a decent product that follows the Mitsubishi/Scion school of thought. I don't see it registering with may people since it's not terribly fuel efficient, though it does look better than the Matrix.



Uncertain times....not sure what to think about Pontiac. Cars like the Vibe make Pontiac seem less focused. The only brands that seem to stick to their intendend marketing segment is Chevrolet, Hummer, and to a lesser extent, Cadillac. Saturn is staring to move towards the Acura/VW/Audi segment but I am sure GM will change plans 10 times this week alone...which I think leaves Pontiac to go against girly sporty products and Buick to fight Mercury, Lincoln, and lower end Lexuses.

GM's brand focus changes faster than they can put new products on the market. It's in a perpetual state of chaos.

 

It goes totally against the "fuel efficiency" image that Pontiac should be.

Why, of all brands, should Pontiac's image be about "fuel efficiency"?

The reality is that Saturn is better at being sporty than Pontiac is and it's probably going to be better at being upscale than Buick will be.

Pardon?

I honestly believe that with better dealer access, Saturn would be the 2nd best selling brand easily.

This is pure speculation, IMHO. Toyota has fewfold less dealerships in the US than GM and manages to get more retail sales. Moreover, let us compare apples to apples and check Mazda. But for a few fringe models (compact minivan, fossil pickup truck), their NA lineup is comparable to Saturn's, even if their imported compact is vastly more appealing to the American customer. How many dealerships do Mazda and Saturn have and how much does each sell p.a.?

It already has an arguably better Vibe in the Astra.

Fasho - let's try to pack all he stuff you can put in the Vibe in the 3-door Astra, preferably the universally-available AWD version...

The Aura is a bit better than the G6, the Vue is a great product that registers well with consumers despite the weight problem and lack of dealers.

The Aura is leaps and bounds better than the G6 - for one, it has an interior!!! The VUE, actually, is at the centre of the Saturn brand, and it is of course both a better Pontiac than Pontiacs and a better Buick than Buicks... COME ON!

Pontiac needs some kind of clear focus. I really don't know what they are trying to be now. Should they flood the lineup with cars like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Scion TC, and the Solstice or should they offer simply sporty versions of cars that are or should be Chevrolets or Buicks? (Pontiac G6, G8, and G8 ST).

Pontiac does need a clear focus, for sure. The G8 is an example - it should NOT be either a Chevrolet or Buick - it is a perfect Pontiac. Let Chevrolet stick to bread and butter, even if it gladly had swallowed "performance" too. You can't be Fiat and Alfa Romeo in one and, let's face it, Chevrolet hasn't even got the emotion or styling to be Fiat. Not to mention serious small cars.

Yes, Pontiac could surely use something like the Scion tC or Eclipse in lieu of the G5, and the G6 is better served as the Aura or Malibu. The coupe and convertible could've stayed on the SWB though, which would've allowed them to be lighter, nimbler and better-looking.

The Vibe is a good example of a decent product that follows the Mitsubishi/Scion school of thought. I don't see it registering with may people since it's not terribly fuel efficient, though it does look better than the Matrix

The "Scion school of thought" is not a bad path to follow for Pontiac, given that they have the lowest average customer age of North American GM brands, IIRC. The fact that the Vibe is not terribly fuel-efficient is just an engineering fault on GM/Toyota's side, doesn't render the whole model useless. The VUE is a gas hog too, but what gives?

I also prefer the Matrix to the anonymous, old-looking Vibe, and I personally believe the Matrix looks more like a Pontiac and Vibe like a Toyota, but that's jusy me.

Cars like the Vibe make Pontiac seem less focused. The only brands that seem to stick to their intendend marketing segment is Chevrolet, Hummer, and to a lesser extent, Cadillac.

It depends on what you want Pontiac to be focused on. As concerns Chevrolet, they are still all over the place, and Cadillac is straying from the core business into competing with SAAB (BLS, BRX/SRX).

 

This only goes to prove what we have been saying here all along. There is a public hysteria around Honda and Toyota. What nobody mentioned is that he said it was Toyota and opinions changed but everyone failed to see a Toyota plant can make a car with loose fabric, flimsy plastic and all. And the guy even mentions, just like the Corolla. So much for the quality myth. Another very good point the guy says is that people really need to do their research as all cars have good quality these days. But these news people are not heard.

 

At my job, I am known as "the car guy"....been there 15 years. When people buy a new car, or something is wrong with theirs, they all come ask me. What I have found is, it is even harder now than ever in the past to get people to consider a GM (or any American) car. They just turn their nose up, and ask what else I would recommend. A lot of it is PURE image. Example.....Nobody wants to be at a party, and tell a group of people, "Hey, I just bought a new Buick today!". They want to say, "Hey, I just bought a new Acura today!". America has become so hung up on brand names....How else can you account for women paying $1,200 for a freaking PURSE, just because it has a "Coach" logo on the tag. Pontiac and Buick are the most damaged. I own a Solstice, but I can't find many people who don't think of Pontiac as making Bonnevilles and Grand Ams. Buick is even harder.

After people make it clear they won't listen to me, I ALWAYS tell them, "So, you really came into my office wanting me to tell you to go buy a Camry. Why did you waste both our time if your mind was made up before you got here?".....

 

This is spot on. It's my fondest wish that all such people lose their jobs to outsourcing, and then starve.

 

You know it's funny most people have no clue where their cars and trucks are being made its pretty sad.

While working a car show for GM I noticed that there was two Tahoe's on the floor one from mexico and the other from janesville plant. The one from janesville showed much better tighter fits and stuff. The Mexi one had inside trim falling off of it.

Avalanche:made in Mexico
Vibe: Toyota
Aveo: Korea
Lots of the buick's are in Mexico
I know someone out there has the full list so lets see it

 

You know it's funny most people have no clue where their cars and trucks are being made its pretty sad.

While working a car show for GM I noticed that there was two Tahoe's on the floor one from mexico and the other from janesville plant. The one from janesville showed much better tighter fits and stuff. The Mexi one had inside trim falling off of it.

Avalanche:made in Mexico
Vibe: Toyota
Aveo: Korea
Lots of the buick's are in Mexico
I know someone out there has the full list so lets see it

Is Toyota a place? hehe, just busting your chops!

 

Vibe: Toyota
Aveo: Korea
Lots of the buick's are in Mexico

I don't know if there ARE many Buicks in Mexico, FWIK the brand has been pulled from that market long ago. If you mean "ARE MADE", Buick currently consists of three models:

LaCrosse - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Lucerne - Hamtramck, Michigan, USA
Enclave - Delta Township, Michigan, USA