loaner car--2005 Pontiac Vibe
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loaner car--2005 Pontiac Vibe
Well, my 2004 Sunfire is in the shop--again. The door had slowly fallen out of hinge, and one morning I opened the door and heard a *skrannk-k-k-k-k". I looked, and somehow the door trim had wedged underneath the fender moulding! Not only did it pry the moulding off of the fender, but it actually bent the fender out of shape by two or three inches! I got it to the dealer right away, but they had to order the new body parts and paint them . . . so, after three weeks, I finally dropped the car off to be fixed yesterday. Thankfully, it's all under warranty, and they gave me a loaner car: a 2005 Vibe.
This car is an interesting study in contradictions. It's a rebaged Toyota Matrix, and just about everything in it SCREAMS Toyota. The steering feel, the funky window controls, the laggy electronic throttle . . . but then there's the exact same stereo unit from my Sunfire wedged in the dash. It's hilarious, the dash is all black with 'polished metal' trim, but then there's that matte grey head unit with the red LED display--doesn't match at all. But the interior overall is quite nice, especially the steering wheel. The gauge cluster is ripped directly off of the RX8, very very deep set circular gauges. The seating position is odd, it's much more upright than I'm used to in a vehicle of this size. These "CUV" wagony-type things are new to me, and it certainly wouldn't be my preference full-time, but it's interesting as a change of pace. The seats are INFINITELY better than my Sunfire: cushy, fairly supportive, nice deep side bolsters.
The performance . . . well, there really isn't any performance, but this is the base Vibe with the 130-hp engine. Further, as a rental, it of course is lame-o-matic. Aggravatingly, the pedals are positioned PERFECTLY for heel-toe antics (as opposed to my Sunfire where heel-toe is impossible). The engine makes a nice sound, but until redline is approached (6250ish) no real power is made. With the 170 hp VVTi engine and the 6-speed stick, this would probably be a VERY fun little grocery getter.
As I was too cheap to spring for the renter's protection, I haven't done any, er, exploration of the handling limits, but I've taken it down a few windy roads and it's acquitted itself fairly well, though of course it's no autocrosser.
All in all, it's a very solid addition to the Pontiac brand; I just hope GM has learned some things by having a QUALITY affordable car roll through its lines.
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This car is an interesting study in contradictions. It's a rebaged Toyota Matrix, and just about everything in it SCREAMS Toyota. The steering feel, the funky window controls, the laggy electronic throttle . . . but then there's the exact same stereo unit from my Sunfire wedged in the dash. It's hilarious, the dash is all black with 'polished metal' trim, but then there's that matte grey head unit with the red LED display--doesn't match at all. But the interior overall is quite nice, especially the steering wheel. The gauge cluster is ripped directly off of the RX8, very very deep set circular gauges. The seating position is odd, it's much more upright than I'm used to in a vehicle of this size. These "CUV" wagony-type things are new to me, and it certainly wouldn't be my preference full-time, but it's interesting as a change of pace. The seats are INFINITELY better than my Sunfire: cushy, fairly supportive, nice deep side bolsters.
The performance . . . well, there really isn't any performance, but this is the base Vibe with the 130-hp engine. Further, as a rental, it of course is lame-o-matic. Aggravatingly, the pedals are positioned PERFECTLY for heel-toe antics (as opposed to my Sunfire where heel-toe is impossible). The engine makes a nice sound, but until redline is approached (6250ish) no real power is made. With the 170 hp VVTi engine and the 6-speed stick, this would probably be a VERY fun little grocery getter.
As I was too cheap to spring for the renter's protection, I haven't done any, er, exploration of the handling limits, but I've taken it down a few windy roads and it's acquitted itself fairly well, though of course it's no autocrosser.
All in all, it's a very solid addition to the Pontiac brand; I just hope GM has learned some things by having a QUALITY affordable car roll through its lines.
Peace
policy
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Originally Posted by khtm
...still confused...how can GM take a Toyota and modify it? (legally)
its just one of those coporate thingies. GM has done it kind of for a while too-
the Geo Prizm was a toyota corolla, as the 'Chevy Nova' in the late 80s early 90s was a corolla (not to be confused with the cool Nova of the late 70s.)
the Honda Passport was an isuzu trooper, the Geo Storm an Isuzu I-mark...
go figure.
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Or you get wacky combinations. The 1990-1999 Eagle Talon/ Plymouth Laser/ Mitsubishi Eclipse cars were offically made by "Diamond Star Motors" which was a company owned by Chrysler and Mitsu, but was a company on its own. They made the bodies here in in the US, bought the engines from Mitsu, and assembled them in Normal, IL.
I hear the doors on a Dodge avenger are the same as on the 95-99 DSM's.
I hear the doors on a Dodge avenger are the same as on the 95-99 DSM's.
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Originally Posted by policyvote
The performance . . . well, there really isn't any performance, but this is the base Vibe with the 130-hp engine. Further, as a rental, it of course is lame-o-matic. Aggravatingly, the pedals are positioned PERFECTLY for heel-toe antics (as opposed to my Sunfire where heel-toe is impossible). The engine makes a nice sound, but until redline is approached (6250ish) no real power is made. With the 170 hp VVTi engine and the 6-speed stick, this would probably be a VERY fun little grocery getter.
#15
actually isnt it a 180hp VVTL-i (not VVTi) engine? Last I knew it used the same engine as the Toyota Celica GT-S....which is a 180hp Variable Valve Timing with Lift and Intelligance engine...
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Originally Posted by khtm
...still confused...how can GM take a Toyota and modify it? (legally)
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Originally Posted by LostAngel
actually isnt it a 180hp VVTL-i (not VVTi) engine? Last I knew it used the same engine as the Toyota Celica GT-S....which is a 180hp Variable Valve Timing with Lift and Intelligance engine...
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#20
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Originally Posted by policyvote
No, I was right the first time. It's a 180 hp Toyota engine with Variable Valve Timing and Intelligence. They were going to charge GM extra for the Lift and GM cheaped out.
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Originally Posted by chrism
your incorrect...vibe and matrix are identicle under the hood.....they both have lift....
Either way, I wasn't driving the GTS engine, I was driving the 130hp variant.
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#23
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Originally Posted by FoxTypeR
Dodge rebaged some Mitsu's, though I don't remember the particular models.
#24
Oil Injection
old ford escorts had mazda motors, and the Ford love was a mazda, or had a mazda motor...something like that.
my favorite team up was the geo storm made by isuzu with a lotus elan motor. but that one was mentioned.
my favorite team up was the geo storm made by isuzu with a lotus elan motor. but that one was mentioned.
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Yeah I was aware of the rebadging and part sharing between companies that were *affiliated* or owned by a parent company (ie. Ford and Mazda), but not GM -> Toyota....there's no legal relationship there.
Ya learn something new everyday!
Ya learn something new everyday!