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American sourced Compact Crossover starts under $16k! (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/in-the-news/t-all-new-2009-pontiac-vibe-adds-excitement-to-the-hatch-7609.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Pontiac_Vibe.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (www.cleanmpg.com) – Dec. 5, 2007

GM today released pricing and basic specifications for the all-new 2009 Pontiac Vibe.

Although not due to arrive onto dealership lots until February 2008, with a starting price of only $15,895 plus $585 dest., it should make for an excellent cargo carrier. With the recently upgraded Toyota Matrix underpinnings and standard equipment that includes four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, Front, side and side curtain airbags and OnStar, it may actually turn some to an American brand for their next value conscious purchase.

“Our goal with the new Vibe was to enhance its style and performance without sacrificing functionality and fuel economy,” said Craig Bierley, Pontiac marketing director. “Every Vibe model now comes with a bold new look, increased engine power and a host of standard safety features, but still gets up to 32 miles per gallon.”

Using the upcoming Toyota Corolla/Matrix twins 16-valve, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 132 HP at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, it will be both lively and relatively fuel efficient. The engine will feature Toyota’s infamous Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) on both the intake and exhaust camshafts that help achieve both good performance and economy.

Estimated EPA fuel economy ratings are 26/32 city/highway mpg (08 EPA specs) for manual transmission models powered by a 1.8-liter engine. This should be compared to the new 2009 Corolla with a 27/35 EPA rating (also 08 EPA specs) using the same engine, transmission including ratios but with the Vibe’s less aerodynamic profile and approximately 150 pounds of additional weight.

Base equipment on the Vibe will include power outside rearview mirrors, power steering, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, daytime running lights, heavy duty rear window defogger, intermittent windshield wipers, 115V 3-prong power outlet, front center console box and an engine immobilizer.

Exact and complete dimensions have yet to be released other than its included 49 cu-ft of cargo space (rear seats folded down). That alone should be enough for most along with a $1,500 price drop from the previous generation 08’s with less standard features.

Not only is the base price very attractive considering all the safety features included, expect to see this small wagon pulling in the mid 40’s, low 50’s by many here without breaking a sweat ;)

If you are considering an upcoming 2009 Corolla, you may also want to place the upcoming Vibe on your short list as well.

Always been a sweet car along with its Vibe twin. Has been near the top of our short lost for potential Subie replacement (when that day comes -- not here yet). I'm pretty sure this is the highest mpg vehicle available with substantially more space than the Prius, other than the Fit (which is smaller) and possibly the FEH (which costs almost $10k more).

In other words, it would be pretty hard to find a better family car for my family.

Until the day comes that Toyota offers it with the Prius' drivetrain.

In print it sounds like a really great car.


tilt and telescopic steering wheel


Ahhhhhh.......:cool:

I'm not sure I could get over the feeling of being a fraud. I'd have to get the Matrix.

This would be something for my wife to consider in a year or two. She has a Protege 5 now, which is relatively FE and has enough room to put her bicycle in the back. The Vibe/Matrix would be something to compare to the Mazda 3 Hatch I'm sure she'll be considering then.

I'm pretty sure this is the highest mpg vehicle available with substantially more space than the Prius, other than the Fit (which is smaller) and possibly the FEH (which costs almost $10k more).

You basically summed up why I bought my Matrix.

It's sharp. I always thought the 1st Generation Vibe was always better looking than the Matrix, and this one is too.

This version has nice, clean, uncluttered body panels. When the 1st generation came out, hatches were in the beginning of their renaissance, so it was tarted up with the cladding to fool people into thinking it was a mini-SUV. Now it is "out of the closet" so to speak. A hatchback is a hatchback, and there's no shame in that.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the optional 2.4 Toyota-supplied engine is less FE than the 2.4 GM engine used in other GM cars.

Also nice to see the return of the AWD option. Subarus are gas pigs and they need some competition.

Pumaman, the Matrix/Vibe should below away the Mazda3 hatch (especially since it's only available with the 2.3) in terms of FE. I could be tempted by the 3, but more space and 20% better FE makes the Matrix/Vibe a slam dunk.

I'm always amazed how many Vibes I see around here. Since this part of the country has a strong preference for imports (even within the same class, American cars are still perceived as more junky and less stylish), I assumed I see Vibes so often because they're cheaper. But turns out there's virtually no price difference between the two. Maybe GMAC comes through with better financing deals though.

In any event, there is one thing about the Vibe (at least in its current generation) that makes it more attractive to me than the Matrix: it's available with sensible gray plain plastic bumpers rather than the foolish painted ones that are on 97% of today's cars. Painted bumpers show scuffs, and the paint can flake off after flexing from even minor impacts with other objects. I learned this from the $500 paint bill on my first Subaru after someone bounced off its rear bumper at 5mph. Needless to say I didn't bother fixing it, but it would have been nice to have been driving a car that didn't show the outline of another vehicle's license plate in the form of paint missing off my bumper.

Hi WriConsult:

___Given the Corolla is scheduled for HSD in mid to late 2010, wouldn’t the Vibe platform be perfect for E-Flex ;) Since this is mostly a Toyota with a slight hint of Pontiac sheet metal, this will not be that vehicle … although it should be!

___Hi Noflash. I am starting to become a fan of GM. Not because of the large SUV based 2-Modes but more along the lines of this: Clean Vehicles (http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/vsearch/cleansearch_result.asp?vehicletypeid=16). Notice how many GM vehicles are on the list vs. Honda and Toyota?

___Daox, because of the Pontiac’s aggressive pricing, it entered my radar. What worries me is GM will pull a GM and strip it to the basics and start charging an arm and a leg for 37 different options and option packages and such. Given the large 2-Modes come equipped with everything other than NAVI and a sunroof (those two options are off the top of my head so do not bank that statement), maybe they (GM) are really turning the corner.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Not only is the base price very attractive considering all the safety features included, expect to see this small wagon pulling in the mid 40’s, low 50’s by many here without breaking a sweat

This sounds perfect.. I'll check them out as soon as they show up @ the dealer.Thanks
xcel for the info.

I think they did a nice job on the 2nd Gen Vibe.

I've always had the perception that it is hard to get a Toyota dealer to come down on price for their cars..With that in my mind, I would go after the Vibe, thinking I could get a better price.

I love hatchbacks.They are always worth the 100 or so lb weight penalty over the non hatch version.It adds so much to the versatility,and road trip capability.
The Vibes always sell for less than the Matrix despite being nearly identical and having good QC and CR reports.
Buy it.It could get 40 mpg on the Highway if they gear it tall enough.The cheapest Prius and the biggest discounter will still cost(as of 4 months ago) about 21500+TTL.I see the Vibe advertised for as low as $15000 and change.You can buy lots of gas with $6000(but I still think the Prius can reach breakeven against it) and as mentioned,the Vibe has a bit more carrying capacity-the Prius is kinda "short" and gets shorter as you go back.It would be tough to get a tallish object in it.The Prius gives a crummy rear view also( it is tough for a 56 yo to get accustomed to the rear view camera- I'm not from the video game generation)
Luck,
Charlie