So much market share, in fact, that the influx of Japanese cars scared the American automakers and government, leading to voluntary import restrictions. It shouldn’t be surprising that shoppers found the reliable, well-built Toyotas more appealing, and in the wake of the oil crisis, Toyota gained significant market share. At the same time that Toyota had Tercel, Corolla, and Camry, GM had Chevette, Cavalier, and Citation. While the Fremont fracas was going on, General Motors wasn’t exactly at the top of the small car game. In 1982, the automaker fired everyone at Fremont and shut the facility down. Allegations of working under the influence, gambling on-site, sexual activity while on the clock, and absenteeism plagued the plant, and eventually, GM had enough. And it was a reputation that was well-earned.” Ouch. As the man in charge of Fremont Union Local 364 at the time, Bruce Lee (no, not that one), told This American Life, “It was considered the worst workforce in the automobile industry in the United States. To understand the Vibe, we must go back to early-1980s California, where malaise at GM’s Fremont plant was running high. Welcome back to GM Hit or Miss, where we have a crack at the great claw machine that was pre-bankruptcy GM product planning in search of greatness. You already know what’s going on: A Pontiac Vibe check. It’s actually a car that, as the great David Tracy put it, we’re all underestimating. Today, we’re discussing a car that Automobile once described as “far and away the best small car from General Motors.” So what is it? No, it’s not the fantastically stingy Geo Metro, or even the excellent Chevrolet Prizm. The base price of the GT was around $19,000 and could come with an optional $700 sunroof.Who doesn’t love private label goods? Whether a great deal on laundry detergent or a set of otherwise-expensive speakers sold at a discount, we can all appreciate getting a deal, and that can extend to cars too. All seats were folding flat to ease carrying long items. The trunk space could be extended by folding all seats besides the driver’s. The ride with the GT model was improved with the multi-link independent rear suspension that provided a better driving control. Standard on the GT models was the 2.-4-liter engine developing 158 hp and users could choose between the standard 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic transmission. The GT models were equipped with standard leather upholstery and a 3-spoke steering wheel. The Vibe was also available in a GT trim level and had a more aggressive look with the roof spoiler, the large fog lamps, the lower intake ducts and the polished exhaust tips. The profile of the Vibe got us thinking about a coupe shape, due to the rising belt line and the sloping roof line, but it was still a 4-door wagon. Larger than the model introduced in 2003, the crossover-like hatchback was taller than many other cars and still drove like a sedan, with a good precise steering and a good suspension. It offered lots of versatility due to the powerful engines available, along with impressive cargo space and great fuel consumption. The Pontiac Vibe was a compact 4-door hatchback with a sporty styling.
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