The New Pontiac Vibe GT for 2003 - Above All, It’s Fun to Drive
By Vince Bodiford
Automotive Editor
It took me a few days to get it. It’s a Vibe in the Pontiac suit. A Matrix in the Toyota suit. Blink real fast and maybe it’s a PT Cruiser. Maybe a Ford Focus. They all fit nicely into a new niche that Chrysler started with the Cruiser.
Uniquely combined, Vibe defies traditional vehicle classification. It offers a spacious, versatile interior in the guise of a compact car, and the features of a sports car, sport wagon and SUV all at the same time. It rides tall, has available all-wheel drive, offers innovative storage systems and cargo-hauling capacity, and features strong performance.
“We are confident that Vibe will attract new, younger buyers to the Pontiac family, solidifying our position with this important target,” Lynn Myers, Pontiac-GMC general manager, told The Weekend Drive. “Pontiac already has the youngest buyers at GM.”
The Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix are products of the GM and Toyota owned New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) facility in Fremont, California.
Vibe sports a purposeful, athletic design that’s smoothly sculpted and muscular, lending the vehicle a fresh, clean look. It features a unique, integrated roof rack that gives the car a sleek shape creating a singular, distinctive, fastback roofline. Vibe also features traditional Pontiac styling cues, such as the twin-port grille.
Pontiac paid attention to the little details that make a good car great, like an easy-opening rear liftgate and liftglass, and door handles that are easy to grip. Driving it, it is as if the car was designed just for me - all of the controls, dials, systems, and other details are just where I like them.
There are eight exterior colors, each with their own goofy name - Abyss (black), Satellite (silver), Shadow (dark gray), Frosty (white), Lava (red), Salsa (dark red), Neptune (blue) and Envy (green).
Vibe’s interior is roomy, flexible, and accommodating. Vibe includes a 115-volt standard power outlet with a wall-type plug-in in the front console. The interior is full of “Infotainment” options, including a DVD-based navigation system with remote six-disc CD changer, and 200-watt premium audio system. The sporty seat fabrics are made of a flatly knitted material available in two colors.
Unleashing surprisingly high performance, the 1.8-liter, DOHC all-aluminum four-cylinder makes 180 hp at 7600 rpm and 130 lb-ft of torque at 6800 rpm. It has a high-rigidity aluminum block, short stroke (bore & stroke 82.0 x 85.0 mm), large diameter valves and a high compression ratio (11.5).
Vibe’s suspension is constructed for the optimal blend of crisp handling and a smooth ride. The brakes are a vented front disc/rear drum combination except on the GT model, where they are four-wheel discs with solid rotors at the rear. It comes with Goodyear or Continental tires, 16-inch P205/55R/16 all-season tire and an optional Dunlop 17-inch P215/50ZR/17 summer tire.
HIGHS: Fun to drive. Brand-new vehicle concept. Easy on the eyes. Terrific navigation system worth the price.
LOWS: Awful blind spots in the rear. Sticky shifting. Annoying reverse-gear beeping. No sunroof available in the GT.
THE VERDICT: All-around affordable crossover vehicle that’s loaded with features and function.
VEHICLE PRICE & WARRANTY. Price as tested, $22,500. Vibe GT MSRP base price $19,900., covered by GM’s standard 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty.
LIFE'S A TRIP - Enjoy the drive. Be a safe and courteous driver, obey all highway laws, never drive impaired and always buckle-up.
