Is Vibe a Mini-Aztek ?

[SlamPoet]

This is the jibe the vibe usually gets from the other side of the fence that the Pontiac Vibe is just a Mini-Me version of the (removed) vehicle Pontiac Aztek. You are more likely to hear this comment from someone who wants to rub the Vibe off. What do you think ? PS Can someone please post the pictures of the two so we can judge if the Vibe is indeed a Mini-Me version of the Aztek.Ciao everyone.
[Modified by SlamPoet, 2:45 PM 8/2/2002]

[NovaResource]

I guess in what it will be used for, yes, the Vibe is a mini-Aztek but when it comes to looks, there is no comparison. The Vibe is beautiful and the Aztek is just plain ugly. I can't believe the same division designed both.Going with the monotone look on the Aztek has helped but that double grille and split headlights have to go. If the would loose the upper grilles and just leave the "Grand Prix-type" lower grill it would help. Also, integrating the high parking lamps into the headlight clusters would also help. I don't know how to fix the rear without loosing some of the Azteks utility. It's just too big and bulky.

[NSimkins]

quote:Ya, Azteks look like crap from any angle, they seem way out of porportion. I like the interior and the driving position/features, but I still would have to look at it in my driveway! Yeah, I drove in my neighbor's Aztek and I must say they are very versatile inside and ride excellent. Too bad the exterior is the way it is or else I would have considered the Aztek a year ago.

[Lori19]

Oh yeah! It's a mini me all right! But all the things that were wrong with the Aztec were changed when they designed the Vibe. Hind sight...20/20. My dealer had an Aztec in his showroom for 16 months before he sold it the same week I bought the Vibe. It ws the only one he ever had.

[NSimkins]

quote:My dealer had an Aztec in his showroom for 16 months before he sold it.... The one dealer in my hometown has had the same 10 2002 Aztek's on his lot for more than 6 months. I don't think the current $3,000 rebate on the Aztek's is enough... I would need at least a $10,000 rebate before I would even consider buying one!

[Lori19]

Maybe for a $10,000 rebate, I'd buy it for my son to screw up.Everything he touches turns to scrapmetal.

[Chris]

I love the vibe but, at risk of offending everyone here, I wish they'd tidied up the front end a bit. I'm not a big fan of the pontiac 'gaping hole in plastic' styling methods particularly as it does harken back in some ways to the awful Azetc. The rest of the car is wonderful, particularly the interior which, to me, is the best, most functional design going.I'll bet the front end is 'toned down' in the next few style revisions... but I can't wait, I've already purchased mine

[biggdogg173]

I can see the where people would say that there is a similar look of course. The automotive press said that the Vibe was, "everything that the Aztek should have been."

[Sputnik]

I love the Vibe front end... at first I wasn't that big a fan of it. Its grown on me definitely. I think it gives it a bit more personality.

[Frosty]

I think the new monotone ones with the bigger wheels aren't as offensive, but the Aztec is uglier than the Pacer ever was. Good vehicle really but with the goofy front end and squared off, too big wheel openings it never had a chance in the crowded carlike-SUV market. Nice legs, shame about the face

[Lori19]

quote:Don't let him near the VibeHe can only look at it from a distance!

[Lori19]

quote:I love the vibe but, at risk of offending everyone here, I wish they'd tidied up the front end a bit.I like the face of the Vibe, but I do not like the fact that I have to have my yellow license plate smack dab in the middle of it.

[savedbyzero]

please tell me this post was a joke...are you one of the matrix only guys from over at matrixvibe?i'm gonna kill myself now....

[Campbell]

Actually, the Vibe is more of a modified Toyota RAV4. About the same wheelbase, corolla components, doors, seats, rear cargo cover, speakers, dash, etc. So other than first glance, the sheet metal is very similar.

[ironchef]

Quote - please tell me this post was a joke...are you one of the matrix only guys from over at matrixvibe? i'm gonna kill myself now....endquoteSmells like a troll to me.....Larry

[biggdogg173]

If someone suggests that the Vibe is a Mini Aztek just tell them that the Vibe is the younger hotter sister of the Aztek.

[Triton]

I would say a definate no. My wife and I bought a 2002 Aztek this past March. Granted it is not the prettiest vehicle on the road, but it has a lot of room, which we need and it isn't a minivan, which we both refuse to own. I have to say that it has grown on me. I took it down to the NASCAR Winston Cup race this past weekend, and it worked out great! I wouldn't have bought it either if they left that awful gray plastic on the sides of it. The Vibe's plastic isn't as wide as the Aztek's and it really accents the Vibe. I am still getting my Vibe in Monotone though. With all this said, I really like our Aztek and my wife loves it. But I am really in love with the Vibe. So my wife gets her Aztek, and I get my Vibe. Fair enough, wouldn't you say?
[Modified by 8th Planet Vibe GT, 1:44 PM 8/21/2002]

[hesredbird]

I don't really know if the Vibe is a mini Aztek but I like them both. My first thought after seeing the Vibe was that Pontiac refined the looks of the Aztek somewhat. After owning both I say they are two completely different cars. I have an 01 GT AWD Aztek that I truely love. It has every available option (OnStar/no sun roof) and is comfortable to drive. Economy suffers from the AWD a bit but handles snow well. It gets 25mpg on the highway. I like the Heads-Up display and audio controls on the steering wheel. The leather heated seats are a plus in cold weather. There is plenty of room in the Aztek when the seats are removed. We can get both of our bicycles in the back and still have room. I like the clear parking light lens on the newer ones. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing. I am a satisfied owner of a Vibe base and an Aztek GT.

[LocDog]

i like the front end of mine to a degree, i wish it was more meatier... kinda like the orange gt-fx... i hope they come out with some sort of kit for it. I like the sporty look of the matrix and it makes me cringe when i think of my car lookin like a mini-van.

[mu_ohio]

If I remember right, there was talk after the release of the Aztek of a redo down the road. I know that Toyota was coming up with the concept of a cross platform and since Chevy dropped the Corrola/Prism, it really gave GM a good reason to work on a project with Toyota once again. Even if you read back in past issues of C&D dating 2+ years, you hear talk of the next generation Corrola that was suppose to be more of a crossover. BTW, the Pontiac dealer here in my town must be doing something because I've seen a ton of Azteks going off the lot. When I picked up my Vibe, which was driven in, they where selling 2 Azteks, but unfortunately, they didn't have a Vibe on the lot for a month.