Hottest Cars - June 2008

[jake75]

Wall St Jrl -on days on the lot - avg price less customer rebate (confused if that means before rebate or after rebate); based on Power Info Network data.Prius - 5 - $26,672Lexus LX Series - 10 - $83,373Honda Fit - 12 - $16,397BMW M3 - 15 - $69,402Audi A5/S5 -16 - $52,841 [small sample]Corolla - 20 - $17,730Mini Cooper -21 - $26,357Mercedes Benz C lass - 23 - $37,018Impala - 25 - $22,413Poesche Cayenne - 26 - $71,141Cadillac CTS - 26 - $40,566Malibu - 26 - $22,2601st Point is that if the top models are taking 5-26 days to sell the auto industry surely is in dire straits. 2nd Point is that the Vibe / Matrix are not exactly rushing off the lots so that is no excuse to pay full list.3rd point is that the well to do seem to be buying cars.

[joatmon]

sales is one thing, but the Vibe/Matrix are #2 on the list of Cars That Make Mom Hot!Quote »2. Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe: When we tested these cars, we were pretty sure people were looking for a cute college chick sporting the latest H&M fashions to be driving them. Psych! These cars, which share a platform, are young and hip and hauled our families around without breaking the bank.

[jake75]

Their review - Despite its Name, Car Gives Off a Good VibeBy: Emily HansenThe 2009 Pontiac Vibe has a lot of things going for it — except its name. The word “vibe” makes me think of certain unmentionables, but the car’s features are a good distraction from its unfortunate moniker. The Vibe’s interior has an effortless simplicity that makes it easy to navigate. The controls are simple and useful, which is a welcome change from the button overload I’ve experienced in many cars lately. I also was impressed with the adjustable cupholder that held both my travel mug and, later, a reusable water bottle with no problems. The center console was a problem, though; it was barely big enough to hold a garage door opener and the keys to my mailbox. My teenager immediately noticed the car’s backseat amenities. Of course there was the requisite auxiliary jack, but it was the 110-volt outlet — where he could easily plug in his electronics — that really caught his eye. My younger kids weren’t as enthusiastic about the Vibe. The slope of the back windows made it a little difficult for them to see out, and their booster seats were just wide enough that they needed to move them over a bit to expose the buckle receptors. The cargo area’s plastic finish is like a skating rink. Pontiac tries to compensate for the slick surface with a slightly adjustable built-in trunk organizer that flips out of the cargo area. With the organizer open, I found a perfect slot behind it to stash a sports bag, and still had room for grocery bags. I liked the flexibility of the organizer — especially after a Costco shopping trip. When I closed the Vibe’s door, however, it made a hollow “tink” sound instead of a solid “thunk,” which bothered me every time. That noise made me feel uneasy about the safety and quality of the Vibe, even though all the evidence indicates that the car is safe and reliable. The Vibe’s all-wheel drive is a plus in the safety department, but it cost me in fuel economy. I got about 22 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving — a little surprising because the Vibe is a relatively small vehicle. After getting over my issues with the name, I found the Pontiac Vibe to be a nice car. Its value pricing and cute exterior upped my overall opinion of it. It would be a good choice for a small family with young children or a teen driver. *For more information on the 2009 Pontiac Vibe and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to editor@motherproof.com.LET’S TALK NUMBERSLatch Connectors: 2Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNTStorage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample SENSE AND STYLEFamily Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Good TimesSpecs 2009 Pontiac Vibe Base price: $18,910 Price as tested: $22,615 Engine: 158-hp, 2.4-liter I-4 Fuel: 19/24 mpg Length: 171.1” Width: 69.5” Ground Clearance: 5.8” Turning Radius: 17.7 ft. Cargo space: 20.1/49.4 cu. ft. NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings Frontal Impact Driver’s side: 5 stars Passenger’s side: 5 stars Side Impact Front occupant: 5 stars Rear occupant: 5 stars Rollover resistance: 4 stars

[michaelgt]

The Days Supply (on Dealer Lot) is calculated as follows:Total Stock / (Last 30 Days Deliveries/Days in month)The auto industry likes to have a 60 day supply to ensure adequate choices for the customer.Therefore, all of these are definitely hot cars.

[NibCrom]

What does "Fuel: 19/24 mpg" mean? Is that the city/highway rating? That's terrible. You can get better mileage in a Corvette. Did he leave it in first gear the whole time?

[altimar]

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »What does "Fuel: 19/24 mpg" mean? Is that the city/highway rating? That's terrible. You can get better mileage in a Corvette. FWIW, it was an AWD: 2.4L 4-spd auto. EPA rated 20/26. No idea where 19/24 came from.Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »Did he leave it in first gear the whole time?Quote »By: Emily HansenShe. At the risk of sounding chauvinistic, maybe so. Although it did sound like she thought it was very sporty; she probably just had it WOT most of the time, plus the tester likely wasn't broken in yet.

[NibCrom]

Ouch. I thought the 2.4 would get a lot better than that. My FWD Alero with a 2.4 got 32 mpg. I wouldn't think AWD would hurt it that much. Are members here getting similar mpgs on their 2.4 AWD?