2003 PONTIAC VIBE Pontiac had an idea for a car. Then they presented their concept to Toyota, asking them to build the Vibe at the Fremont, California factory where General Motors and Toyota have assembled cars together for many moons. Thus, the Vibe was born, using the Corolla platform and mechanical parts. Toyota so liked the concept that it asked GM if they could produce their own model—the Matrix—with different lines, to which the American automotive giant agreed. The Vibe is available in the Base, All-Wheel Drive, and GT models. The latter is characterized by its 180 h.p. engine and six-speed manual transmission. Interior and trunk Easily accessed, the Vibe invites front occupants to sit back into very comfortable seats equipped with height adjustment, good lateral supports, and with fabric that appears to be quite sturdy. Unfortunately, there is no adjustable lumbar support, and the driving position is far from perfect. A telescoping steering wheel would be necessary to allow arms and legs to be, simultaneously, a good distance from the pedals and the steering wheel. Additionally, with the belt line being quite high, some people may feel claustrophobic. The rear bench comfortably seats two adults, who will also enjoy the very good head and leg clearance. The fold-down seatback is split 60/40, and both sections have a track in the back with an adjustable tie-down. This is good since the plastic on the seatback and floor makes for a slippery surface. Note that once folded down, the seatback becomes a flat surface level with the trunk floor. Easily accessed thanks to a liftgate that opens wide, loading space is limited when the seatbacks are upright. Once the seatbacks are folded down, space options become more worthwhile, especially since the front passenger seat is also equipped with the fold-down feature, giving that much more loading space—up to 8 ft. (or 2.44 m) on the right-hand side. Convenience and safety Though very well-finished, the cabin has some soundproofing gaps when it comes to engine noise at mid-speeds, and even more so when it comes to road noise from the rear, especially when the rear seatbacks are folded down. The cheap cargo-cover found in one of the compartments won’t help much in this matter! Storage spaces are plentiful, but the cup-holder should be able to fit more container sizes, especially in a car that wants to attract people who are on the move. Instruments and controls are well laid out and the heating system produces enough heat, but it is poorly distributed in the “Heat/Defrost” position, with which the majority of the air blows at the windshield. The Vibe features a new 115-volt household-type power outlet into which you can plug a computer. From a safety standpoint, the Vibe features two front airbags, two side airbags (available as an option in the Base model), large mirrors, ABS brakes (optional or standard depending on the model), and four head restraints. Unfortunately they don’t raise high enough for tall people, particularly the ones in the rear. Visibility is good in all directions except toward the back due to the rear head restraints. The headlights lack power in low beam position. Engine and transmission The four cylinder 1.8L engine has 130 h.p. and 125 lb.-ft. of torque. Note that for the All- Wheel Drive model, those numbers change to 123 and 118 respectively. At 130 horses, accelerations are sufficient, though passing requires a little planning because the power doesn’t go very far. At medium speed and higher, the engine is noisy, and between 2,500 and 3,000 rpm there is a distinct vibration perceptible through the accelerator. The engine meets ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) standards. The automatic gearbox works with a great degree of smoothness the vast majority of the time. The well-geared manual gearbox is smooth, precise and easy to handle, but emits a cheap sound when changing gears. On the road The fully independent suspension is firm enough to bounce fairly briskly over some bumps. In other situations, it provides genuine comfort and good road handling with little lean. When carrying a load, the stiff brisk bounce is somewhat tempered. The Vibe requires frequent steering wheel correction in windy conditions. The power steering is nicely weighted and proves stable, precise, and fairly quick. While the turning circle is normal, few sensations are transmitted to the driver. The brakes prove to be very good overall. At the CAA-Quebec Technical Inspection Center, the Vibe appeared to us to be well- built, with the exception of a few elements. For instance, there were small holes in the front inner fender liners, the gas tank filler pipe could be better protected, and some joints beneath the car were not sealed. Conclusion The Vibe is a modern, and successful, twist on the station wagon. The eminently practical side of this type of car, paired with unwavering contemporary styling, ensure that the Vibe won’t have any trouble finding takers. In addition to versatility, this car can rely on comfortable seating and pleasant road handling. One must, however, make sure that the driving position is well-suited to the driver. FOR AGAINST Seat comfort Engine vibration Handling Weak headlights Storage space Rear visibility Smooth automatic transmission Just adequate power Versatility Heat/defrost air distribution Good braking Driving position 2003 PONTIAC VIBE Engine: 16-valve, 1.8-litre 4 cylinder Horsepower: 123 h.p. @ 6,000 rpm; 130 h.p. @ 6,000 rpm; 180 h.p. @ 7,600 rpm Torque: 118 lb.-ft. @ 4,200 rpm; 125 lb.-ft. @ 4,200 rpm; 130 lb.-ft.@ 6,8900 rpm Transmission: 5-speed man.; 4-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: disc/drum (GT: 4-wheel disc) Length: 435.1 cm Width: 177.5 cm Height: 153.9 cm Wheelbase: 260 cm Weight: 1,225 - 1,261 kg Tires: P205/55R16; P215/50R17 Towing capacity: 680 kg Air bags: standard front and side. Side air bags optional on base model. Fuel consumption with automatic transmission: - Transport Canada rating: city: 8.3 L/100 km (34 mpg); highway: 6.5 L/100 km (43 mpg) - Test result: 9.5 L/100 (30 mpg) Fuel tank capacity: 50 litres; 4X4: 45 litres Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 10 seconds 60-100 km/h: 6.2 seconds Competition: Chevrolet Cavalier, Chrysler Neon, Daewoo Nubira, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, Mazda Protegé, Nissan Sentra, Pontiac Sunfire, Saturn SL, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki Aerio, Toyota Corolla and Matrix, Volkswagen Golf and Jetta Maintenance (amount may vary from dealer to dealer): Frequency: 3 months/5,000 km; Total cost to 100,000 km: $2,118 Warranty: - Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km - Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km - Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 - Perforation damage: 6 years/160,000 - Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter and electronic control module) Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $927 Front brake disk: $235 Brake pads: $122 Muffler: n.a. Front fender: $354 Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim- free insurance record, female driver or male driver 30 to 40 years old): $691 to $898 Price according to trim line: Base: $19,150 AWD: $26,150 GT: $26,550 Main options: Convenience package: $1,350 Automatic transmission: $1,080 Aluminum wheels: $540 Sunroof: $810 Price as tested: $22,100 Freight and preparation: $845 Dealers: Quebec: 173; Canada: 697 Ó CAA-Quebec, March 2002.