2009 Toyota Corolla and Matrix

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The new Vibe is brilliant inside and out. I would not be opposed to paying my own money for one. And if they put a top-spec sport model with AWD and or a 6spd manual transmission it would be pure sex.
 
The Vanishing Boy
-> If someone said that I judged the Corolla/Matrix based on exterior looks is a complete lie.
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Before you accuse someone of lying(adding "If" doesn't make it OK), shouldn't you at least take the time to read what that person said, exactly?

-"if you are judging Corolla by it's exterior design, I think you are missing the point of this car"-

Is this what you are referring to? I never called anyone out. I did make a point, that this thread is making it sound like the Toyota replaced some beautiful classic with the new Scion xB or something. Some of you sound really shocked that the new Corolla doesn't resemble a Golf or Mazda 3.
 
-> The Pontiac Vibe, aka. Toyota Voltz in JDM Land.

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^ Styiling wise, this is far better than the Matrix. And after seeing the car itself at the SEMA show, it looks like a bloated xD (aka. Toyota Ist). Will post pics soon. ;)
 
Is anyone else super pissed off at these mutated Hofmeister kinks in all of these cars on the market? It all started with the Nissan Murano's backwards one, and, ever since, it's been spreading like uglyfire.

Most of these cars would look so much better with just a regular pillar.
 
I don't think that applies in this case, though. Or at least it doesn't considering how Toyota handled the C-pillar in comparison to Pontiac.
 
Omnis
Is anyone else super pissed off at these mutated Hofmeister kinks in all of these cars on the market? It all started with the Nissan Murano's backwards one, and, ever since, it's been spreading like uglyfire.

Most of these cars would look so much better with just a regular pillar.
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I'm still trying to figure out why the roof appears to slope down so early on some of these cars.
 
Toronado
I don't think that applies in this case, though. Or at least it doesn't considering how Toyota handled the C-pillar in comparison to Pontiac.
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Yeah, I was talking about the Pontiac, specifically. The Matrix is still funky, though.

Don't these roof slopes (new GT-R, Rolla, and Matrix) create lift on the car, though?
 
Tophaticent
Just hope that the Vibe gets the Ecotec engines. And the 6 speed auto.
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I haven't heard, and I don't think anything has shown up on GMI yet either... My guess is that it will probably run the Toyota engines, but I may be wrong. Honestly, when GM is making a 2.4L I4 that puts down 160-170 BHP, that has to be embarrassing for Toyota. Match that with a six-speed slushbox (as is the current plan to replace all four-speeders by 2010), and you've got a winning combo.
 
I couldn't find the info for the new Vibe but will it have awd? did the old Vibe? I know the Matrix had it but not with the 160hp engine...
 
V1P3R
I couldn't find the info for the new Vibe but will it have awd?
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Signs point to yes.



To the detractors, note that there are rumours flying around that the Vibe and Matrix will get the 2.5L V6 out of the IS250, which should provide plenty of grunt. It would be especially cool if they hook it up to the AWD system.
 
Toronado
To the detractors, note that there are rumours flying around that the Vibe and Matrix will get the 2.5L V6 out of the IS250, which should provide plenty of grunt. It would be especially cool if they hook it up to the AWD system.
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If the new Vibe gets this 204bhp Lexus V6 it would be a really good choice. I could only imagine the GXP model with AWD + 6spd manual + 2.5L V6 + supercharger for 300bhp. I'm foaming at the mouth just imagining it.
 
This all largely depends on how much GM wants to "rely" (for the lack of a better term) on Toyota for the power in the Vibe. It would almost seem cheaper and indeed a smarter idea if they used the now "common" LY7 V6 good for 250 BHP, but that being said, it may be too large overall. They could always "steal" the Saab V6, but I do doubt that...
 
I think around 200 BHP should be the limit in regards to what this car is allowed. You add much more an you will get a Saab 900 out of a car that is supposed to be a wide-audience job.
While I think GM (and Toyota) should have used the Ecotec 2.4 (or at least the RAV4 version of the 2AZ-FE), I don't think GM has an engine that can touch the 4GR-FSE at that size. They don't make the LP1 V6 from the old CTS anymore, do they? If they do, never mind.
 
Oh...kaaaay...a V6, huh? in a Corolla.

I'd still rather a 2AZ-GE, or 2AZ-GSE, but I guess that 4GR-FSE would work, especially since it's a small (2.5l) six...but it'd probably still be heavier...probably wouldn't give the same feeling a high-winding four'd give you, either. and it won't be hooked up to a stick, I can guarantee...

I also doubt that toyota would design a platform to allow archrival GM to install one of their engines.
 
The NUMI cars always seem to run Toyota bits and pieces underneath, which at least in this situation, is unfortunate indeed. Let us pray that GM actually had an oppertunity to tune the stuff the right way on the Vibe... Their last couple "sport" models actually handeled quite well.
 
YSSMAN
The NUMI cars always seem to run Toyota bits and pieces underneath, which at least in this situation, is unfortunate indeed. Let us pray that GM actually had an oppertunity to tune the stuff the right way on the Vibe... Their last couple "sport" models actually handeled quite well.
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Are you kidding? I could practically swap the front ends on any Nova/Prism with a Corolla of the same generation. In fact, I'm more than sure that my Nova's nose would look right dandy on an AE86...

As a NUMMI car owner, let me just say that G.M. won't have much of a say other than bodywork when it comes to NUMMI cars. Granted, the partnership's worked well in the past, (the rare-as-hen's-teeth 4A-GE-equipped Twin-Cam Nova comes to mind, as does the 2ZZ-GE motored Vibe GT) but the G.M. NUMMI car goes as the Corolla goes, with the exception of the Vibe's looks. (But, technically, it's a Voltz in Japan, anyway.)
 
Jim speaks truth. GM has only ever had influence over the body panels and interior bits, nothing more really.

Though the Nova front end on an AE86 would be odd... as well, one is FF and one is FR. Perhaps an AE82 now :p
 
well, I have compared the look of the body panels between my Nova and Hachirokus, and the overall proportions are more or less the same. I'm 80% sure they'll fit.

But, yeah, a bit offtopic.
 
Kinda expected... mostly cosmetic... just a nudge of a pillar here, a nudge of a pillar there, move the wheels a bit out (so they can't say we didn't do anything down there...) and voila! New Corolla.

Which won't matter to the zillions of Toyota-philes waiting in the wings for this car... the current car is already lighter than its competitors (and a stiffer version should still be a bit lighter), roomy, with good chassis stiffness and decent engines... but the three things that I absolutely hate about the current Corolla, namely, numb steering, torsion beam rear axle and an unexciting drive, probably haven't been addressed in this iteration.

I'll reserve judgement until I get my hands on a press unit, but I'm not expecting much.
 

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