The 2009 Pontiac Vibe
September 11, 2008 by jcme · Leave a Comment
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is, in many ways, the very best compact car that Pontiac has ever made. The Pontiac Vibe features smart packaging, styling that’s clean, an interior with plenty of room, plenty of utility, all at an affordable price. The powertrain is plenty powerful, and the Vibe gets better than average fuel economy.
The 2009 version of the Pontiac Vibe is actually the second generation of the car. It is a twin to the Toyota matrix, and is built in Fremont California at the joint GM-Toyota plant.
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is available in three trim levels. The base model is front wheel drive, and has a 4 cylinder 1.8 liter engine, capable of 132 horsepower. It also features a torsion-beam rear suspension. The next model is the All Wheel Drive (AWD) model. The AWD has an independent rear suspension, and it has a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine capable of 158 horsepower. Finally, the GT is a front wheel drive sport version that has the 2.4 liter engine and the independent rear suspension.
Two of the Pontiac Vibe models come with a five-speed manual transmission as standard. The AWD model, however, only comes with a four-speed automatic. On the GT, you can get a five-speed automatic is optional on the GT and a four-speed automatic can be added to base model. If you want the 2.4 liter engine on the base model, you can get that, too, along with the five-speed automatic.
The gauges and controls of the Pontiac Vibe are simple and intuitive. The overall quality of the interior is good, and there is more than enough room for passengers to ride along. Antilock disc brakes are standard with the vibe, as is OnStar, airbags, and stability control.
The 2008 GMC Acadia
September 1, 2008 by jcme · Leave a Comment
The 2008 GMC Acadia is one of the best large crossover utility vehicles on the market today. The GMC Acadia features a spacious interior, powerful v6 engine, and it comes at a price that’s very competetive in its class.
The Acadia has room for up to 8 passengers. The middle row seating comes as captain’s chairs, but you can get a bench as an option. The second row seats slide back and forth, and flip up so that they’re out of the way when you need to get to the third row seats. There is even plenty of room for luggage behind the third row, making the 2008 GMC Acadia one of the most roomy crossover utility vehicles available.
There are a number of trim styles for the 2008 GMC Acadia. Every GMC Acadia includes a full setup of airbags, full power accessories, cruise control, and front and rear air conditioning as standard equipment. In addition, every GMC Acadia has antilock disc brakes and stability control with roll mitigation. The standard stereo setup has six speakers, as well as a CD player and MP3 playback capability. The SLT packages get a stereo upgrade and have a 10-speaker Bose audio system along with a CD changer. Plenty of other features, from heated front seats to tri-zone climate controls grace the higher trim levels.
The 2008 GMC Acadia handles well, looks great, and has plenty of room for your needs. If you’re in the market for a CUV, give this one a look.