Pontiac Vibe w/6 speed

In a search to replace my daughter's car, I got to drive a 2004 Pontiac Matrix with 6 speed. I was rather impressed. Only negative is some of the interior is a bit plasticy and the exterior "Pontiac" black cladding has faded. Reviews on the cars is very good. I'm asuming the mechanicals are the same as the Matrix. Does anyone here have one and can share their experience? Anybody know what the deal with Pontiac spare parts. Where do you find them now?

I also test drove a 99 Maxima with five speed. If those aren't on a lot of bucket lists they shoud be. Only problem with this one is 195k miles and it has an intermittant misfire. Otherwise the engine sounded great. Nissan should be kicked in the butt for what they have done to the Maxima.

all I can add... I worked with a lady who owned a matrix.. she loved it

Heh, you found a "Vibe XRS?" That's got a late Celica GTS drivetrain in it. Pretty neat car, even if it is far uglier than the Matrix.

I haven't really heard of any major things that go wrong with those cars. The shift fork issue was fixed by then as well.

I would love an ~04 Matrix XRS as a daily driver.

If you're going to stay with a stick shift, stay with a 6 speed. The 5 speeds are very weak. The bearings apparently are in plastic housings.

Corolla wagon w/ Celica GTS drivetrain. A good choice and hard to wrong with. I personally would have bought one years back. I was lucky enough at the time to end up with a rental version for about 300 miles.
For me, I found the driver's seat to have no lower back support and uncomfortable. I suspect that I am much more generously sized than your daughter (lets hope she is not 240#, 6'1") so your experience could be different.

All around a great choice. I find that Vibe's still hold their value even with the demise of Pontiac. They were sold new in that body style from '03 through '08. That should result in plenty of sourcable used Pontiac body parts if needed. Mechanically, it is all shared directly with Toyota so there will be no lack of support there.
Plenty of power in that small package. SUV-like room in the interior. Ample rear leg room. MPG of about 28 hyw (maybe 30) .
Sounds like a solid plan.
It's hotrod engine does call for Premium fuel.

I didn't see XRS anywhere, but it definitely had 6 speeds.

spitfirebill wrote: I didn't see XRS anywhere, but it definitely had 6 speeds.

I forget what it was badged as on the Pontiac side. The 6spd Matrix was the "XRS" and had the Celica's 2zzge 180hp 1.8 litre motor. (Awesome motor.)

The Vibe might have been a "GT?"

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: I didn't see XRS anywhere, but it definitely had 6 speeds.

I forget what it was badged as on the Pontiac side. The 6spd Matrix was the "XRS" and had the Celica's 2zzge 180hp 1.8 litre motor. (Awesome motor.) The Vibe might have been a "GT?"

Ah yes a GT it is. I have pics.

My mother has owned the base model Vibe for a number years and has put a ton of miles on it. I don't think she's had to do any work to it except brakes and oil changes. She loves it. My biggest complaint is that she's got an auto and the smaller engine, but if you're getting the GT you've solved that problem.

I'll second the statement about the seats being a little uncomfortable. Seems like they're made for shorter folks.

If I were in the market for a FWD utility car I'd definitely consider the GT. I think you get a pretty good deal on it too since it's got Pontiac badges on it, even though it's a Toyota driveline.

From what I recall, these have very practical interior space and make good gas mileage. If the price is right, sounds like a win.

Price as listed is $7945. Its on a small lot and I'm not sure the dealer knows what he has. It has a "clean" car fax. Its always been registered in NC and SC. Hopefully not a hurricane flood car.

I work with a guy who has a base model with a autotragic. It is reliable as dirt, but the gas mileage isn't the greatest, we can probably attribute some of that to the auto and some to his driving- he says he gets around 25 mpg on his some highway/some stop-and-go commute. Then again, it has tons of space inside and 25 is better than what an SUV would get you...

And modifying the version with the GT-S engine could be interesting, it would make for a screamer than can still haul stuff.

I had a base w/ 5speed. I got 32-34 highway lowest tank ever was with 4 people a week of ski gear and a cargo box on snow tires and still got 26. Overall great car never gave me problems. 1500 lb tow rating is nice too.

When I recently went car shopping for a new DD I had it pretty well narrowed down to one of these or PT Cruiser GT. The Vibe GT really reminded me of my 89 corolla GTS, which makes sense when you think about it. The shifter in the vibe I drove was downright terrible, but the one I test drove was a little beat so it may have just needed new bushings or something. The 2zz is a wonderful engine and makes great noises, however It really doesnt make much power till the upper rpm where I rarely travel on my way to work.

That is one of the reasons I went with the PT, which has loads of power everywhere. That and the fact that It was easier for me to find a nicer PT for about 2/3rds the price of the Vibe GT/ Matrix XRS.

If I was building a weird modern autocrosser DD thing, I think the Vibe GT would be my first choice.

I had a 2003 Vibe GT for 7 years. It is a Toyota Matrix with a Pontiac body. Hardly anything is different and they were all built on the same assembly line (the old NUMMI plant in California that was co-owned by Toyota and GM).

That kick when you hit 6000 rpms is addictive. If you can keep it off the 8200 rpm limiter you can easily get 30 mpg in mixed driving. I used to get 33-34 on the highway on trips. I got decent mileage even using it as an H-stock autocross car.

Great interior space as the rear seats flip down flat. The front passenger seat flips flat too so you can carry a 7 foot item without a problem. There should be adjustable tie down points that fit into the tracks in the floor. If they aren't there, check under the floor in the spare tire area since most people never use them. They are nice for keeping stuff from sliding in the cargo area.

You can add a hitch so you can use a hitch-based bike rack or tow a small trailer. The nuts for the hitch are already welded to the rear subframe. I installed mine in 10 minutes with a clicker torque wrench. I once hauled a loaded Uhaul sport trailer from Detroit to Chicago and got 29 mpg. Even had the hatch and rear seats filled with stuff.

The interior is a little plasticy but mine held up fine. There is a storage compartment under the shifter and sometimes those fall open since the hinge and lock are plastic. Put a piece of sponge under it to hold it up high enough for the lock to latch firmly. The ONLY difference between the Vibe and Matrix interiors is the Vibe had black door handles and the Matrix had chrome door handles.

The GT uses the 2ZZ-GE Toyota engine. Same as in the Celica GT-S, Corolla XRS, and the Lotus Elise and Exige. Reliable as they come. Basic maintenance is easy. The oil filter is tiny so its hard to find a filter socket that fits. I ended up using a pair of large slip-joint pliers to loosen it. The stock battery it only like 230 CC amps and sometimes it was slow to crank during Midwestern blizzards. Always started though. I replaced it after 4 years with a parts store brand battery with 380 CC amps.

It was super reliable while I owned it and I never had any real trouble with it. I would still own it if I hadn't gotten deeper into autocrossing. I had a chance at a better autocross car and went for it but I've never regretted owning the Vibe.

spitfirebill wrote: Price as listed is $7945. Its on a small lot and I'm not sure the dealer knows what he has. It has a "clean" car fax. Its always been registered in NC and SC. Hopefully not a hurricane flood car.

That's a somewhat average price for one, so i'm pretty sure the dealer knows.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Heh, you found a "Vibe XRS?" That's got a late Celica GTS drivetrain in it. Pretty neat car, even if it is far uglier than the Matrix.

I don't see any difference between the Matrix and the Vibe pictured above.

Vibe picture isn't working for me... But maybe i'll get the joke when i get home?

Well I feel like a complete failure. SWMBO got off her lazy butt and went and negotiated a deal on a Camry at the nearest dealership to our home. (Yawn )

I think she did not like me and daughter Jonesing the Vibe.

Make SWMBO drive the Camry, acquire Celica GTS Station Wagon for yourself/daughter.

If your daughter (the driver) is not an enthusiast, she will like the Camry better. None of that shifting nonsense and the radio is probably better.

jrw1621 wrote: If your daughter (the driver) is not an enthusiast, she will like the Camry better. None of that shifting nonsense and the radio is probably better.

She liked her Civic EX with SOHC VTEC and five speed, unless she got into DC or NYC. I liked it too.

Now that she is a mommy she needs to act like one.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Make SWMBO drive the Camry, acquire Celica GTS Station Wagon for yourself/daughter.

SWMBO has a Solara convertible that I detest. I think the ECU needs to be reflashed. This Camry does not drive the same.

spitfirebill wrote:

jrw1621 wrote: If your daughter (the driver) is not an enthusiast, she will like the Camry better. None of that shifting nonsense and the radio is probably better.

She liked her Civic EX with SOHC VTEC and five speed, unless she got into DC or NYC. I liked it too. Now that she is a mommy she needs to act like one.

My wife only drove stick shifts until we had our third child and needed something large. Every now and then she will ask for my keys and take my car for a spin because she misses it.

For whatever reason National Car Rental had a bunch of the Pontiac Vibes at the Milwaukee Airport. Im sure they were the base engine and all were automatics. Over the course of 18 to 24 months that was my main rental car for business trips and I'm sure I drove in excess of five thousand miles in all weather, snow, ice, rain etc. Plenty of passenger and cargo room for a small vehicle. Seemed well mannered in all conditions for a daily driver/workhorse.