![]() A lot of engines would have blown up before reaching even the latter figure. The actual numbers for output are 180 hp at a lofty 7,600 rpm, and 130 foot-pounds of torque at 6,800. Obviously it’s only for those who want to be deeply involved in the process of driving and can live, day in and day out, with a spirited thoroughbred. As much as I enjoyed the base Matrix, this one is a quantum leap in fun. #2004 pontiac vibe manualThe GT comes with a six-speed manual transmission. It’s not necessary to smoke the front skins, though it’s in character. Since it’s front-wheel-drive, you could spend your time down at the House of Grease laying rubber in their parking lot. Whereas the base model zips around in lively fashion with its 130-hp engine and front-wheel drive, the GT has the same all-aluminum engine, but, blessed with a sky-high 11.5:1 compression ratio and Toyota’s tricky variable-valve system, it churns out 180 hp. The two companies share the output of their jointly-owned plant in Fremont, Calif. Yep, the only car in Pontiac’s present lineup that has anything going for it is a Toyota design. What that means is I tried out its sister ship, the Toyota Matrix. #2004 pontiac vibe seriesI had requested the GT, because I had sort of tested the base series before. It comes in a number of forms, base, base with all-wheel drive and GT. I guess you could call it a bit of all those things, though to my eye and sensibilities, “crossover” works pretty well, because of its vagueness. A sports car? A sport-utility vehicle? A crossover wagon? Or, as the poets at the Environmental Protection Agency say on its sticker, a “midsize”? ![]()
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