I, too, was a fan of the edgy first-generation Vibe. The new Vibe is much frumpier-looking than its predecessor, although the big chrome wheels on this GT help make it look sportier. From the side, it looks pretty pudgy ... but at least it's not covered in Pontiac body cladding. And at some 3100 pounds, the Vibe is pudgy, and its fuel-economy numbers (21/28 mpg) aren't as good as one would hope, and there's no blistering performance to pacify this weakness. Hot hatch? To me, the Vibe GT is barely lukewarm.
That said, I think the Vibe (a Toyota/General Motors joint venture) is an extremely important vehicle: it's a versatile, useful, small wagon from the two top automakers in the universe. (Besides the modified GM radio, the Vibe doesn't try to hide its Toyota Matrix roots, but that doesn't bother me in this badge-engineered case.)
Because of its American-ized Japanese engineering, along with its highly competitive price, I'd probably consider buying one for my wife, and I'd definitely recommend it to noncar people who like small, stick-shifted, pseudo-sporty wagons. Despite its grabby brakes and clutch, sloppy shifter action, and vague steering, it drives OK for this type of vehicle. The GT badge and sporty styling are pretty misleading, though.
Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor ...next page >>