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Stopping the Vibe is easy, with large, 10.8-inch front disc brakes on all models, and rear drums for the base and AWD models, and 10.6-inch rear discs for the GT performance version. The GT also receives ABS as standard equipment, as does the AWD version. ABS is available on the base model. Other safety and security items include dual-stage driver and passenger front airbags, optional side airbags for front seat occupants, steel body panels, safety-cage construction, 3-point belts for all five occupants, Daytime Running Lights, integrated foglamps, standard anti-theft system, and a host of other goodies that really make the Vibe a great value for a first-time owner or anyone looking for a lot of vehicle for a fair price. And by fair price we mean $16,900 for the base Vibe including destination, $19,900 for the GT, and $20,100 for the AWD model. Throw in roadside assistance for 3 years/36,000 miles, and it's hard to find a better bargain.
So now that we've delivered the 911, what's it really like? In a word: impressive. We thought the Vibe provided a great ride on the highway. Body roll was virtually non-existent when we took the Vibe on some curvy roads, and the power rack-and-pinion steering gave good road feedback and was responsive on center. Even the semi-independent suspension on the base and GT models was well damped and smooth even on the bumpiest freeways. This is the closest Pontiac has come to providing a ride that is on par with anything from the imports. To
show how Pontiac is making a commitment to bringing younger buyers
into the fold, it has placed a big commitment in the Internet, holding
contests and creating special websites dedicated to spreading the
word. One contest included coming up with names for the Vibe colors.
The eight winners selected from the 250,000 submitted included:
Salsa, Envy, Abyss, Shadow, Neptune, Frosty, Satellite, and Lava.
Another contest was The Pontiac® Vibe UCLA Auto Show Film contest,
which gave film students at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and
Television a chance to create a short film with production assistance
from Pontiac, as well as a $10,000 cash award that expressed the
Vibe experience. Thanks to this kind of pre-publicity, the Vibe's
energy has been felt all over the country, and Pontiac should have
no problem turning that energy into sales.
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