- hatchback 62,716
- 8,777 high price
- Appleton, WI
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- autoshopper.com
- hatchback 62,716 gasoline black automatic
2009 pontiac vibe review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. All-new, practical, economical, stylish. introductionthe 2009 pontiac vibe is a new, second-generation design that shares most of its mechanical parts with the toyota matrix. The vibe is more refined, visually cleaner and appears to have more equipment for the money than its predecessor. The lineup features an array of models with a choice of engines and all-wheel drive making the vibe attractive to a variety of drivers. It's a logical, flexible compact that should appeal to everyone from high-schoolers to empty nesters. virtually every component on the 2009 vibe is new or heavily revised. The standard 1. 8-liter engine is more powerful and efficient than its predecessor, and a larger 2. 4-liter is available. An all-wheel-drive version is available and, like the engines, this particular system has been proven in hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Given toyota's engineering history these cars should prove reliable and cost-effective. the new 2009 vibe is larger than last year's model, though at 172 inches it is still a reasonable size and makes good use of the real estate occupied. It can carry pets, the occasional wakeboard or even a mountain bike with the front wheel off. all vibes use regular unleaded fuel and rate at least 20 mpg in the city. The 2. 4-liter awd and the gt push 30 mpg on the highway, while the 1. 8-liter engine and five-speed manual gets an epa-rated 26/32 mpg city/highway. We preferred the five-speed manual with the 1. 8-liter, which made it fun to drive and responsive, but we preferred the 2. 4-liter with the five-speed automatic. one could argue the vibe is an alternative to compact hatchbacks (honda fit, nissan versa, vw rabbit), the short van/big hatchbacks (mazda5, kia rondo), small crossovers (honda cr-v, kia sportage/hyundai tucson, nissan rogue), and all the other little runabouts less easy to categorize (chrysler pt cruiser, chevy hhr, dodge caliber, scion xd, suzuki sx4). Some of those may be faster, bigger, or less expensive than the vibe, but the vibe represents a good balance of all and will fill many needs without many expenditures. lineupthe 2009 pontiac vibe is offered three ways: vibe, awd, gt. the base vibe uses a 1. 8-liter engine and five-speed manual gearbox and includes cloth upholstery, 60/40 split-fold rear seat, am/fm/cd stereo compatible with mp3/wma files, input jack and xm satellite radio, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, electroluminescent gauges with tachometer, power mirrors, intermittent wipers, stability control, engine immobilizer, and 16-inch steel wheels. Options include air conditioning 950), six-speaker radio upgrade, preferred package 850) with power locks and windows, keyless entry, and cruise control; smoker's package, and cargo cover. Options include the preferred package 1,070) with power locks and windows, keyless entry, cruise control, and variable intermittent front and rear wipers; the sun & sound package 1285) with moonroof, 320-watt monsoon sound system, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter; fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, and antitheft system. vibe gt uses the 2. 4-liter engine and five-speed manual. Rear brakes are larger yet, the wheels 18-inch alloys, the suspension is firmed up a bit, and it gets sportier seats, features like power windows/locks and cruise control, more aggressive bodywork, fog lamps, and rear spoiler. Gt options consist of five-speed automatic transmission 1050), sunroof 700), antitheft system 295); cargo cover and engine block heater. safety features on all models include front airbags, front side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, electronic stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, tire pressure monitors, and daytime running lights. walkaroundthe 2009 vibe employs pontiac's twin-trapezoid grille split by the vertical arrowhead emblem, with dual-light elements in singular clear housings; the honeycomb mesh of the grilles is mirrored inside the headlight housings and some upholstery. below the bumper-cover is a secondary wide grille with fog lights outboard; gt models have a deeper, more aggressive front end. While it's still quite restrained and free of cladding relative to past pontiacs, small affectations in the form of black plastic, non-functional vents are adjacent the fog lights and ahead of the rear wheel; the latter will be a nuisance to keep clean. from the side, the vibe looks like the bows that might go with the arrowhead logo; a long, nearly straight windshield line arches over above the front window and stays straight as it carries all the way to the rear pillar. A mild scallop in the lower doors and subtly flared wheel openings add dimension without adding unnecessary creases and sharp edges. Larger wheels make it look better, especially in lighter colors that emphasize the fender openings. the rear aspect of the vibe is perhaps the plainest, the flat rear window line not flowing like the curves elsewhere. A lower bumper styled to resemble a racecar diffuser helps, and the rear spoiler on gts will mitigate rear passenger neck sunburn, but the tail doesn't quite have the excitement pontiac is fond of. The lighted gauges display road speed in the center, engine speed to the left, and temperature/fuel/mileage data in a tube-shaped opening at lower right. this central pod is surrounded by brighter-finish trim and a pair of protruding vents that line the top of the dash like a frog's eyes. The bright trim of the dash is repeated on the front doors and inside handles, the headliner is light gray to improve spaciousness, and the upholstery is dark gray. seat-adjustment is manual and includes cushion height; add in a tilt wheel that also telescopes a bit and most drivers will fit. The dash-mounted shifter is more convenient than it may sound. The a-pillars are small enough to see around without craning and the sloping hood gives a good close-in view of everything but the car itself. We put a pair of 6-foot, 3-inch riders back there who reported satisfactory head clearance. There are three belts, though all three can be used simultaneously only by kids and waif-like models. The rear-seat floor is almost flat with only a slight rise up to the console. cargo space is a usable 20 cubic feet. Additional space is provided by compartments below the floor. Folding the rear seatbacks more than doubles the space. Both the seatbacks and floor have skid-resistant plastic runners so the tie-down points don't do all the work in cargo retention. The right front seatback folds flat, providing space for long, slender objects. More important, the 1. 8-liter rates a significant 4-5 mpg better in fuel economy relative to the 2. 4-liter. The 1. 8-liter has a far more enter.
8,777 Appleton, WIAppleton, WI at autoshopper.com