Amyot Bachand, Team Traction
I was part of Friday's heat (the last one). Throughout the day, I got more and more familiar with the new Pontiac Vibe, but let's face it: 200 kilometers are simply not enough to make a thorough assessment. However, I can tell you that the car is a clear improvement over its predecessor. Comfort has been enhanced through clever revisions to the suspension; yet, handling remains satisfying. On the other hand, the seats got mixed reviews: while I found them supportive and accommodating, my teammate wound up with a sore back at the end of the day. I found the interior design attractive, although dashboard materials could be improved (they're fairly easy to scratch). Overall, my first impressions of the new Vibe are positive. The base model is competitively priced, but the premium required by higher-end models is quite steep.
As for the rally, I was fortunate enough to have a partner who knew how to use a Blackberry, which allowed us to complete the majority of tests. However, we could not find a policeman who was willing to let us take a picture of me hugging him. Later, I had to feed a horse and the animal was so excited about the apple I was holding in my hand that it bit my fingers!
So, this "Catch the Vibe" event proved to be very entertaining. My only disappointment is that we were so busy all day long that we didn't really have the time to fully assess the car. Maybe another time...
The rally continues
The Montreal section of the rally is now completed, but the challenge is just beginning. You can follow all the action out West by visiting www.catchthevibe.ca.
You'll see our Ontario writers, Justin Pritchard and Kevin Corrigan, try to improve their respective team's score. The rally will then resume in Vancouver for the third and final stage.
Of course, you can also watch the funny videos we made during the event -- although many of us would like to see them disappear forever...
photo:Philippe Champoux
I was part of Friday's heat (the last one). Throughout the day, I got more and more familiar with the new Pontiac Vibe, but let's face it: 200 kilometers are simply not enough to make a thorough assessment. However, I can tell you that the car is a clear improvement over its predecessor. Comfort has been enhanced through clever revisions to the suspension; yet, handling remains satisfying. On the other hand, the seats got mixed reviews: while I found them supportive and accommodating, my teammate wound up with a sore back at the end of the day. I found the interior design attractive, although dashboard materials could be improved (they're fairly easy to scratch). Overall, my first impressions of the new Vibe are positive. The base model is competitively priced, but the premium required by higher-end models is quite steep.
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As for the rally, I was fortunate enough to have a partner who knew how to use a Blackberry, which allowed us to complete the majority of tests. However, we could not find a policeman who was willing to let us take a picture of me hugging him. Later, I had to feed a horse and the animal was so excited about the apple I was holding in my hand that it bit my fingers!
So, this "Catch the Vibe" event proved to be very entertaining. My only disappointment is that we were so busy all day long that we didn't really have the time to fully assess the car. Maybe another time...
The rally continues
The Montreal section of the rally is now completed, but the challenge is just beginning. You can follow all the action out West by visiting www.catchthevibe.ca.
You'll see our Ontario writers, Justin Pritchard and Kevin Corrigan, try to improve their respective team's score. The rally will then resume in Vancouver for the third and final stage.
Of course, you can also watch the funny videos we made during the event -- although many of us would like to see them disappear forever...
photo:Philippe Champoux
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