Thanks for the responses. My coworker just drive in with a used 2001 Forester S Premium he got for $20000. He said there's actually more backseat space in the Vibe, but on his test drive, he brought along 2 other friends, and along with the dealer, there must've been > 800 lbs of passengers, and he ...

Thanks for you post. Just saw the Aug issue of Consumer Reports, with the following rankings, along with 0-60, 45-65, and quarter-mile times - all will automatic transmission (ones in parenthesis are from previous reports):1 VW Jetta Wagon GLS 1.8T.....8.5...5.5...16.82,3 (Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forest...

After trying my fwd Vibe, my coworker is thinking of getting the awd Vibe (snow & dirt roads). But the lowest price is about $21k, and at this price, I think he's really better off with a Subaru Impreza wagon/ Outback Sport, with the larger engine (2.5 l, 165hp) and all time 4 wheel drive. The a...

Just noticed that the NHTSA has classified the 4x2's as compact passenger cars & gave them 4 start ratings.http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/2003Cmpt.html The 4x4 is classified as an SUV, tho.I wonder how they'll do in the crash tests, especially the bumper tests.

Do you have the power package? I vaguely remember my salesman pointing it out as an advantage of the power package.

Hi,Can someone from outside California help me settle this? My co-worker says that all Vibes meet California emission limits, but I think only the ones sold here meet it. Can you please look under your hood and see if the emission sticker says whether it meets only the EPA standards (49 states) or b...

Did State Farm classify your vibe as a wagon? That's a pretty good rate, is Antioch close enough to Milwaukee or Chicago to be considered a suburb of either one?
[Modified by sfvibe, 11:46 PM 6/19/2002]

I always assumed that since the Vibe / Matrix are based on the Corolla, its bumpers are built to passenger car standards, but my coworker thinks that Pontiac/Toyota may save $ and built them to the less stringent SUV/truck standards. Anyone know which one it is? Oh, and how did your insurance compan...

I leave near the ocean and park outside. Has anyone heard of problems with water getting trapped behind the cladding and causing rust? If it is a problem, what're ways to prevent or proctect against it?