This car has the best of both worlds. It's got the good distinct looks of a Pontiac (which I've always liked) paired with Toyota's legendary reliability.
My thinking was that the added Citroen suspension would make the whole package ideal. As no car out there on this earth even to this day can hold a candle to the Citroen suspension.
@@mandyriffle4090 I have a 2004 AWD (now with snow tires) and live in the mountains. It just blows me away how good the traction is. Unless you can get 2 wheels on the same side spinning on smooth, wet, ice...I've never gotten stuck. Theoretically, in that situation or diagonally, it could loose traction without traction control to stop the spin. In practice, it just always powers forward.
Got a used 2008, absolutely no problems. Amazing on gas - I can easily push 41-42 highway. Even moving from DC to KY with two passengers and 200+ lbs. of stuff I managed 32 mpg for the trip. The rear cargo area is hard plastic as are the back of the back seats. This car can haul almost anything. Best part is that it's a Toyota disguised as a Pontiac. Cost me $1200 less than a Matrix that was a year older and had 10k more miles.
I just bought a 2003 AWD Vibe with only 30,500 miles on it.This car is 14 years old!!!! This thing is like brand new. The painted Aluminum wheels are flaking...But I can live with that. Not one rattle or squeak.
I wouldn't say the Matrix/Vibe is much of a crossover vehicle, but it's a damn shame people are obsessed with crossovers when they don't even need them.
My mother owned a 2007 Vibe for nearly 10 years. she got it in October of 2009 and it wasn't until a couple weeks ago that she traded it in for a 2017 Nissan Rogue. I will never forget the Vibe and all the memories made in it. I was 6 when we got the Vibe, so I essentially grew up with that little red hatchback.
My dad bought an a brand new Vibe GT back in '03 with a six speed manual, 17 inch wheels, navigation, and a much nicer looking monochromatic silver paint job. He still has it and it's pushing 270k miles. It's more Toyota than Pontiac, and learning how to drive a manual with this car was a struggle for me (has a very stubborn clutch), but nonetheless it sounds nice, handles great, and overall it's been an excellent car.
I have the '03 base model with the GT's 6-speed swapped in. I agree, about the only thing I don't like about it is the stupid clutch. Nothing nothing nothing ALL BITE! Dead. I've gotten used to it, but woof. Drove a 1976 Ford F700 with a friendlier clutch. Other than that, it's been one of the best cars I've ever owned. I have a little utility trailer for it and that combo has been the dog's bollucks.
Braden Archer the ‘03 was the only one with conventional mechanical cable throttle as they moved to drive-by-wire throttle for ‘04. Also the 03 and 04 were the only ones with the nice grille stolen from the otherwise disgusting looking Aztec. They went to that bulgy double kidney style grilles for ‘06 (like the Solstice). But yeah the clutch and shifter suck. I use it for food delivery (UberEats) I’m downtown Toronto. Next day my right hand palm is all bruised. Also the exhaust isn’t nice. At 3300 rpm it sounds downright awful. Anyone want it?
I totally want one of these for my first car...from what I've read they have good reliability and comfort...and you just can't beat the sharp looks and functionality!
+TheAKBUDDHA1 This fact would be even more "fun" if thousands of loyal workers did not lose their jobs when Toyota trucked the Corolla tooling down to Mississippi in the middle of the product cycle!
Mine is still going at roughly 800k km! Frame is practically rust, muffler is falling off and shocks dont work, but engine still runs fine! And can haul soooo much. Too bad pontiac is gone, the design on the exterior/interior is great.
YES YES YES!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I've waited for YEARS for you to post this video> The Vibe GT is awesome as FUCK!!! Calling 2003 retro? Thanks for making me feel old! Fun fact: there was a TRD supercharger available on the base Vibe/Matrix FWD with the 1ZZ.
My aunt had one of these. Absolutely abused it. Heavy hauls on long road trips, heavy foot from hell, hauling kids everywhere... but uncle maintained it and it's their daughter's now. Has to be on 300k miles now.
This car is great. It's nimble enough to drive through heavy traffic, fuel efficient enough to daily, has good enough AWD to tackle beaten trails, and it had enough cargo space that you can camp in the back of it with your girlfriend. It's a car that does everything and I wouldn't trade it in for anything.
My first car was 04 Vibe. It had 250K miles on it, when my bro in law borrow it and total it. Got a check for $4000 from insurance. Bought another 07 Vibe after, still have it today. Best reliable car ever!
My first car is a 2004 Toyota Matrix Base model with a 5 speed manual transmission. 60k miles and it runs like a damn tank! I love it so much and I hope I can keep it forever, I've been doing my best to take real good care of it.
There was an in period review in one of the buff mags that compared the Vibe GT to the Bandit's Trans Am and by the numbers, the Vibe beat the T/A in every measure (accel, braking, handling, etc). They even contended it would jump farther because it was lighter.
My parents owned one and I rode in it growing up, left such an impression on me that I have a Matchbox version of it and sorely miss the real one. I even occasionally see it around no matter where I travel.
A really superb car, some of the best seats I've ever sat in, ever, I did almost 4000km in a road trip once, no back pain, good motor, tall 1st gear in the manual, easy to stall hee hee, great cargo space, great ride and good handling, well made, a really nice car overall
I remember seeing this on tv when I was in 1st grade, I was so excited to tell my friends and teacher about it on the next Monday, I also managed to get a model of the sister Toyota Matrix and explained the difference of them during show and tell that week, motorweek on Saturday, talking about new cars on Monday
I still have my used 2006. I’ve put in gas and oil and finally had to replace the original Japanese battery 2 years ago It runs like a Swiss watch, has ice cold air and will cruise down the highway faster than you think you’re going The interior materials still look like new His name is Bulldog because he’s tough and just doesn’t quit
My father has owned four of these things and gave one to my brother recently since he's about to become a father. My father traded a Chrysler 300 for his vibe and my very same brother rolled it going 80 miles per hour. Yes it is very versatile and also a great hauler. Great safety too but it's a prowling slug. I love how the reviewer still called it a four banger.
I picked up a 2007 Vibe Base a few years ago. Modernized it with an Atoto S8 radio+backup camera and stainless steel braided brake hoses to zip around. Hope to keep it on the road for 10 more years. 😊
@@SheThe1Who The 2003 I bought it brand new and I sold it when I bought my first house to get rid of a car payment then a year later I got the 2004 used. I think them 2 years were my favorite but the 2009 looked the best
The best looking Vibes where 2003-2004 with matching trim colors. Even today I can't find another car that is more stylish for a crossover. The only drawback for Toyota's(Pontiac) Vibe is the hard suspensions you will get a bumpy ride for sure. I bought a 2003 vibe and I never changed the suspensions, I still have it (2019) That's 16 years of Canadian winters. Felt in love with that car I have a hard time finding a replacement. Toyota should consider to bring back the 2003 version it was a knockout!
I drive a 2005 Vibe. The suspension is stiff but the stiff springs allow for a decent tow rating. We had the same aluminum boat and trailer in the family for over 45 years and the Vibe was the first car that did not need a rear suspension upgrade to handle towing duties. As you know, the Vibe/Matrix were extremely successful sellers in Canada. Sadly, Americans don't like wagon-styled vehicles so sales in the USA eventually faded. In comparison to the USA, Toyota kept the Matrix, Venza and Prius v wagons on sale in Canada for an additional year to cater to our preferences. For some reason they have not taken the next step and brought the modern Corolla wagon sold in Japan as well as Europe to our market. Toyota Canada needs to hear from more people to encourage respect for our unique Canadian tastes.
I'm on my 49th car and the 2005 Pontiac Vibe that I bought in 2010 I still consider the best car I've ever owned. Got an '04 Matrix XRS afterwards but the clutch is too light to be practical and the gearing too tall & lift engages at 6400 was nearly useless. The Vibe was an auto base model w/power options and I used it to haul tons of stuff to renovate my house including 12' rolls of carpet poking out the rear glass, full 2x4's will fit with the hatch closed & front seat folded flat & I fit BOTH a washer & dryer on their backs with the hatch closed no problem. Car is a great blend of economy, hauling capacity, interior room, handling and cheap reliable transportation to really fault. You can get them used for 3-5 grand and I highly recommend them to my friends who ask "what car should i get?"
Fun fact: The '84 to '10 Pontiac Vibe, Geo Prizm, Chevy Prizm and the Chevy Nova were all built on the same Toyota Corolla assembly line in Fremont, California.
justin bouche well, there is some good news out of this, there is a company down in Florida with a license to the Pontiac and Trans Am names, they actually still produce brand new Trans Am's. The styling is all done in house, and yes, T-Tops are an option. Downside? They're expensive as fuck, and I don't think they created an updated version for the new camaro yet tho
I've owned a 2003 Vibe for the last eight years. I have nothing bad to say about it. Consistently in the 35 mpg range, I have about 220K on the clock now. At 200K it started to use some oil, about 1/.2 a quart between oil changes. The thing I've really come to appreciate is that the front sheet metal is really tough. In a one year span I had four separate deer accidents, all under 30 mph, but never damaged the front sheet metal on this car enough to have any body work done. At age seventy, hopefully I can get another hundred Thousand out of this car. It might be the last one I own.
Bought my base model Vibe in Lava Red in March 2004. More than 20 years later its still going strong. Got the 5 speed manual and now has 174k. Its a beater now but I still get between 36-40 mpg with my best being over 43. Still has original clutch, exhaust and rear brakes. Never been tuned up either. The only issue is the Takata air bags which have been fixed for free three times but now the light is back on. NHTSA does not presently show it as a recall
I wish I had been aware of how great this car and its cousin the Matrix is years ago, as I might have bought one instead of a 2nd or 3rd 4 cylinder Ranger.
I love having mine. Really spacious, plenty of leg room for both rows, amazing on gas, super reliable, great appearance, allot of amenities with a piece of mind. Something I have yet to see the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore do. They both do not even match the miles per gallon or offer the same amount of cargo space. Hopefully that will soon change,
@@rightlanehog3151 My point being is for being ahead of the game over 15 years ago. it was expecting the other two (Chevrolet and Buick) to do the same by now with their vehicles. You can tell America is lacking ambition more than ever to do it right anymore. Even back when the Pontiac Vibe was a re-designed Toyota Matrix from 2003 until 2009, I was hoping allot would of changed by then.
@@BrandonHanson One of the reasons I chose the Vibe over the Matrix in 2005 was the 'Domestic' nameplate. In the intervening years I have come to the conclusion that the Detroit 3 are not even trying to meet or exceed the highest standards of the industry. They have also exported far more jobs than they have retained or created in the USA or Canada despite the fact American and Canadian taxpayers saved two of them from oblivion. Today my working definition of domestic is any company that builds cars in my home country of Canada. That means Honda and Toyota are on equal footing to the 2 American companies and the Italian/Dutch/French company. Since the modern Corolla wagon variant is not on sale here, I suppose I would be buying a RAV4 Hybrid if I needed something comparable today.
I have the car and mine is dark blue, but I want to paint it silver. It feels good driving it. Somehow I feel like I could drive that car to the beach all the time
The Vibe looked a lot nicer with the optional painted body cladding/bumpers. I was looking at used Matrix/Vibes around 2008, this was right when Toyota introduced the new Matrix. The 2nd gen car was IMO a complete step backwards. The styling was wack, the interior wasn't as nice, you had less horsepower, it just felt like they cheaped out. Anyways I ended up in a used Mazda Protege 5 wagon. Got a good deal on it, with the 5 speed it was a riot to drive. Handling was superb, great feel thru the steering, it cornered flat with little body roll. Not a lot of power, but that was fine because driving it fast on a 2 lane meant keeping your foot pinned to the floor.
The Vibe looks more like a crossover, then the Matrix. At the end of the day, the Vibe is a good reliable car, that won't leave you stranded at the side of the road, as long as maintenance is being done, which we all know many do not do. That's why the majority of used cars for sale, are being sold as is, because they don't want to spend the money to replace the worn out parts. They would rather sell it off to the new owner, so the problem becomes theirs.
My neighbor had one as a rental when they were newer and I hated it lmao I thought it was the sexiest thing on the road as a youngbul but it was no less short of vapid .
Ha, I totally forgot they tried to market this as a crossover back in the day. It's a 5-door hatchback economy car, plain and simple. And the Yamaha motor is a riot.
+Mathew Clark You are quite right, there was a lot of marketing hype back when this was launched. It does have a nicely elevated driving position and plenty of headroom for such a small vehicle. If you park a Vibe right beside the new Scion iM you will see the extra storage space behind the rear seat just nudges the Vibe into the wagon category. The iM is a true hatch.
Had a base model '04 Vibe 5-speed, probably the best car I ever owned. Reliable, versatile, good on gas, could take it on long trips no problem. Test drove the Vibe GT before we bought the base, the 6-speed manual in the GT was awful. Had a stupid woman not blown through a stop sign and plowed into our Vibe back in '09, we'd probably still be driving it.
Desperate4Attention Thought about it, but around these parts, they'll all be rusted out by now. I did buy a used '09 Vibe GT a few years back, but didn't like the redesigned car and got rid of it a year later.
"we're still not buying into all this crossover stuff" Oh how the times have changed Also I own an 03 FWD with 4 speed auto, got it from my grandmother. 140k kilometers, love it
Like other compact wagons, the Vibe/Matrix were extremely popular in Canada from 2003-2014. The American market saw a couple of years of strong sales but their preference for SUVs over wagons eventually lead to the cancellation of these models. I am convinced the modern Corolla wagon would still sell well in Canada but Toyota won't offer it to us. My 2005 runs as well as the day I bought it. Take good care of your Vibe and it should last for many more years.
@@brendancross2767 A yearly visit to Krown Rustproofing, an annual application of paste wax and being parked overnights in the garage has kept my Ontario Vibe looking good as new. BTW I have also been using Amsoil top spec lubricants since the second oil change. My mechanic has around 500,000 (mostly highway) km on his Vibe. Don't be too surprised if the odometer freezes at 299,999.
@@rightlanehog3151 yeah I know about the 299999 glitch, I'm a member of genvibe and it comes up all the time. Mine's a rare one she's only at around 143k
@@brendancross2767 The raised seating position and excellent cargo capacity are major bonus features to add to the reliability and efficiency. Happy trails!
I bought an 03 when it came out. I had it for like 13 years, traded it in for a scion tc and then I traded that in for my Toyota 86 I have now which I cherish. I kind of laugh when I think I use to drive a vibe for so long. I don't see them around anymore they are kind of a throw away car at this point. If you're buying one used, take my advice don't buy the manual for some reason the clutch is very hard to replace and mechanics will fuck it up. I put 2 new clutches in that car and both times it didn't come back right.
I took the front wheel off my Ktm 450 and slid it in. Just tied the back door closed a bit with a strap. Should have seen the guys faces in the pit when I pulled up. 06 base
Yes and No. The Vibe was made in Fremont, California alongside the Corolla and Tacoma. The Matrix was built exclusively in a Corolla factory in Cambridge, Ontario.
Base engine was a dog. My sister in law had this brand new and driving home from college with a cargo carrier on the roof limited the top speed on the highway to 65.
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This car has the best of both worlds. It's got the good distinct looks of a Pontiac (which I've always liked) paired with Toyota's legendary reliability.
Not to mention it was built at the same factory that now produces Tesla cars!
The odd thing is the Japanese version looked like the Vibe and called the Toyota Voltz
Possibly adopt the Citroen suspension.
My thinking was that the added Citroen suspension would make the whole package ideal. As no car out there on this earth even to this day can hold a candle to the Citroen suspension.
Google ''1971 Citroen DS - Jay Leno's Garage You Tube'' Also see the other videos on Citroen's. The hydropneumatic suspension is unbeatable.
"Part suv, part sport sedan, & part minivan" It's neither of those things, but I want one anyway.
They go amazing in the snow
@@mandyriffle4090 I have a 2004 AWD (now with snow tires) and live in the mountains. It just blows me away how good the traction is. Unless you can get 2 wheels on the same side spinning on smooth, wet, ice...I've never gotten stuck. Theoretically, in that situation or diagonally, it could loose traction without traction control to stop the spin. In practice, it just always powers forward.
@@charliedevine6869 its amazing little car
if u get the gt its fun to toss around
and rev up to 8200rpm
More like "Part hot hatch, part crossover, part wagon".
I've always liked the vibe. I think the first generation design is still fresh looking and could easily still be in production today.
Trance88 my moms got a toyota matrix awsome cars
You clearly don't have eyes cause it's just a pile of 2003 Cheesiness
There was only one generation of Vibe, dumbass.
Daniel C uhhh no, dumbass, you’re wrong. 2003-2008 and 2009-2010 are completely different.
funny you mention that,
I had a friend who thought my 2005 vibe was at most 4 years old :D
Got a used 2008, absolutely no problems. Amazing on gas - I can easily push 41-42 highway. Even moving from DC to KY with two passengers and 200+ lbs. of stuff I managed 32 mpg for the trip. The rear cargo area is hard plastic as are the back of the back seats. This car can haul almost anything.
Best part is that it's a Toyota disguised as a Pontiac. Cost me $1200 less than a Matrix that was a year older and had 10k more miles.
We fit a washing machine in ours!
The only Pontiac’s you actually still see on the roads today, because it’s essentially a Toyota Matrix.
My GTO’s run great too, but otherwise I agree and believe with the Vibe I own the best cars badged with Pontiac, lol
I just bought a 2003 AWD Vibe with only 30,500 miles on it.This car is 14 years old!!!! This thing is like brand new. The painted Aluminum wheels are flaking...But I can live with that. Not one rattle or squeak.
I have the 2004 AWD Vibe and have 140,000 miles and no problems.
Any problems with all wheel drive?
any rattle now? my matrix is like a middle school band percussion before class starts
@@CyrusHusky04 LOL No, runs great. 76000 miles now.
2003: "we're not buying into the crossover hoopla..."
2020: Crossover car go brrrrrr...
I wouldn't say the Matrix/Vibe is much of a crossover vehicle, but it's a damn shame people are obsessed with crossovers when they don't even need them.
My mother owned a 2007 Vibe for nearly 10 years. she got it in October of 2009 and it wasn't until a couple weeks ago that she traded it in for a 2017 Nissan Rogue. I will never forget the Vibe and all the memories made in it. I was 6 when we got the Vibe, so I essentially grew up with that little red hatchback.
My dad bought an a brand new Vibe GT back in '03 with a six speed manual, 17 inch wheels, navigation, and a much nicer looking monochromatic silver paint job. He still has it and it's pushing 270k miles. It's more Toyota than Pontiac, and learning how to drive a manual with this car was a struggle for me (has a very stubborn clutch), but nonetheless it sounds nice, handles great, and overall it's been an excellent car.
cool starry bra. I always liked the styling of the vibe/matrix. awd, stick, hatchback... and affordable le. what's not to like?
My ex-brother-in-law has one to this day...I believe he uses it for Uber..
I have the '03 base model with the GT's 6-speed swapped in. I agree, about the only thing I don't like about it is the stupid clutch. Nothing nothing nothing ALL BITE! Dead. I've gotten used to it, but woof.
Drove a 1976 Ford F700 with a friendlier clutch. Other than that, it's been one of the best cars I've ever owned. I have a little utility trailer for it and that combo has been the dog's bollucks.
Braden Archer the ‘03 was the only one with conventional mechanical cable throttle as they moved to drive-by-wire throttle for ‘04. Also the 03 and 04 were the only ones with the nice grille stolen from the otherwise disgusting looking Aztec. They went to that bulgy double kidney style grilles for ‘06 (like the Solstice). But yeah the clutch and shifter suck. I use it for food delivery (UberEats) I’m downtown Toronto. Next day my right hand palm is all bruised.
Also the exhaust isn’t nice. At 3300 rpm it sounds downright awful.
Anyone want it?
I just picked up a 2005 Matrix XR with the 5spd and I’d have to agree, it’s the most confusing clutch I’ve ever driven.
I totally want one of these for my first car...from what I've read they have good reliability and comfort...and you just can't beat the sharp looks and functionality!
Good thing these where more Toyota than GM. And fun fact, the factory these were built in is now the Tesla Factory.
+TheAKBUDDHA1 This fact would be even more "fun" if thousands of loyal workers did not lose their jobs when Toyota trucked the Corolla tooling down to Mississippi in the middle of the product cycle!
Mine is still going at roughly 800k km! Frame is practically rust, muffler is falling off and shocks dont work, but engine still runs fine! And can haul soooo much. Too bad pontiac is gone, the design on the exterior/interior is great.
YES YES YES!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I've waited for YEARS for you to post this video> The Vibe GT is awesome as FUCK!!!
Calling 2003 retro? Thanks for making me feel old!
Fun fact: there was a TRD supercharger available on the base Vibe/Matrix FWD with the 1ZZ.
....I have the 1zz in my corolla. Anyone wanna donate that supercharger? lol
My aunt had one of these. Absolutely abused it. Heavy hauls on long road trips, heavy foot from hell, hauling kids everywhere... but uncle maintained it and it's their daughter's now. Has to be on 300k miles now.
This car is great. It's nimble enough to drive through heavy traffic, fuel efficient enough to daily, has good enough AWD to tackle beaten trails, and it had enough cargo space that you can camp in the back of it with your girlfriend. It's a car that does everything and I wouldn't trade it in for anything.
Too bad its modern equivalent, the Corolla wagon, is not offered in this market
Agreed. These cars drove really well
My first car was 04 Vibe. It had 250K miles on it, when my bro in law borrow it and total it. Got a check for $4000 from insurance. Bought another 07 Vibe after, still have it today. Best reliable car ever!
My first car is a 2004 Toyota Matrix Base model with a 5 speed manual transmission. 60k miles and it runs like a damn tank! I love it so much and I hope I can keep it forever, I've been doing my best to take real good care of it.
smart man on buying another Pontiac what's the miles if u still own
There was an in period review in one of the buff mags that compared the Vibe GT to the Bandit's Trans Am and by the numbers, the Vibe beat the T/A in every measure (accel, braking, handling, etc). They even contended it would jump farther because it was lighter.
My parents owned one and I rode in it growing up, left such an impression on me that I have a Matchbox version of it and sorely miss the real one. I even occasionally see it around no matter where I travel.
So are the people that review these known as "Vibe-Raters"????
I h8 you. Also 6/10 would buy vibe again
CEOkiller LOL!
nice
The Pontiac Vibe: It's like an Aztek, but this one didn't completely suck.
A really superb car, some of the best seats I've ever sat in, ever, I did almost 4000km in a road trip once, no back pain, good motor, tall 1st gear in the manual, easy to stall hee hee, great cargo space, great ride and good handling, well made, a really nice car overall
Just rolled 240,000 on my '04 the other day! Its been a great little car, and hasnt yet started to nickle and dime me! Lol
I remember seeing this on tv when I was in 1st grade, I was so excited to tell my friends and teacher about it on the next Monday, I also managed to get a model of the sister Toyota Matrix and explained the difference of them during show and tell that week, motorweek on Saturday, talking about new cars on Monday
I still have my used 2006. I’ve put in gas and oil and finally had to replace the original Japanese battery 2 years ago It runs like a Swiss watch, has ice cold air and will cruise down the highway faster than you think you’re going The interior materials still look like new His name is Bulldog because he’s tough and just doesn’t quit
My 2004 Toyota Matrix Base model with a 5 speed is named Baby Trix! She's not flashy or fast, but she'll outlast 90% of the modern crap!
Bought mine new in 2003...still my daily driver!
UPDATE: Still Vibin'. Her 21st Birthday coming up ❤
My father has owned four of these things and gave one to my brother recently since he's about to become a father. My father traded a Chrysler 300 for his vibe and my very same brother rolled it going 80 miles per hour. Yes it is very versatile and also a great hauler. Great safety too but it's a prowling slug. I love how the reviewer still called it a four banger.
There's a power outlet in a 2003 car????? That's ahead of its time right there.
SouthParkFan We had a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport. It too had a power outlet.
It's trash and doesn't really have room to plug stuff in.
We had that in a 96 astro
still going at 208,000 miles!!
I got over 200 thousand on mine
Still have it?
225876 for mines
Incredible resale value on this car. I bought mine in 2004 for $19k and traded it into the dealer for $10k 7 years later.
Ahh the era of CD changers!!! How cool it was to say, “ my car has a CD changer.” How about yours?
"Physical' media is circling the drain. Good riddance!!
Always preferred the Vibes styling to the Matrix.
I picked up a 2007 Vibe Base a few years ago. Modernized it with an Atoto S8 radio+backup camera and stainless steel braided brake hoses to zip around.
Hope to keep it on the road for 10 more years. 😊
Still drive my Fusion Orange 04 everyday we bought it new in 04 been a great car
I have owned 3 Vibes. A 2003, 2004 and 2009. Love this car
Why 3? What happened to them??
Which year was the best?
@@SheThe1Who The 2003 I bought it brand new and I sold it when I bought my first house to get rid of a car payment then a year later I got the 2004 used. I think them 2 years were my favorite but the 2009 looked the best
The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix really are cool vehicles. Like a faster and better built Subaru Impreza Hatch.
Much better built.
I learned to drive on an 2005 Vibe. Wasn't fast, but snow was no match for it and it was super reliable.
2005 is still my daily driver with 290,000 km's... runs like a charm
The best looking Vibes where 2003-2004 with matching trim colors. Even today I can't find another car that is more stylish for a crossover. The only drawback for Toyota's(Pontiac) Vibe is the hard suspensions you will get a bumpy ride for sure. I bought a 2003 vibe and I never changed the suspensions, I still have it (2019) That's 16 years of Canadian winters. Felt in love with that car I have a hard time finding a replacement. Toyota should consider to bring back the 2003 version it was a knockout!
I drive a 2005 Vibe. The suspension is stiff but the stiff springs allow for a decent tow rating. We had the same aluminum boat and trailer in the family for over 45 years and the Vibe was the first car that did not need a rear suspension upgrade to handle towing duties. As you know, the Vibe/Matrix were extremely successful sellers in Canada. Sadly, Americans don't like wagon-styled vehicles so sales in the USA eventually faded. In comparison to the USA, Toyota kept the Matrix, Venza and Prius v wagons on sale in Canada for an additional year to cater to our preferences. For some reason they have not taken the next step and brought the modern Corolla wagon sold in Japan as well as Europe to our market. Toyota Canada needs to hear from more people to encourage respect for our unique Canadian tastes.
Had an 03 base model and we loved it. The only reason we got rid of it was because we needed a bigger car, otherwise we'd likely still have it.
I didn’t realize til now how much this looks like the Aztec
I'm on my 49th car and the 2005 Pontiac Vibe that I bought in 2010 I still consider the best car I've ever owned. Got an '04 Matrix XRS afterwards but the clutch is too light to be practical and the gearing too tall & lift engages at 6400 was nearly useless. The Vibe was an auto base model w/power options and I used it to haul tons of stuff to renovate my house including 12' rolls of carpet poking out the rear glass, full 2x4's will fit with the hatch closed & front seat folded flat & I fit BOTH a washer & dryer on their backs with the hatch closed no problem. Car is a great blend of economy, hauling capacity, interior room, handling and cheap reliable transportation to really fault. You can get them used for 3-5 grand and I highly recommend them to my friends who ask "what car should i get?"
shaeet how old are you to have gone through 50 cars??? Lol
Great review as always
i love my 2004 vibe, so reliable.
best GM ever Made
because it's actually a Toyota lmao
+ham shank I think this would compete with the Chevy Prizm, Geo Prizm and 1980s Chevy Nova for that title.
Fun fact: The '84 to '10 Pontiac Vibe, Geo Prizm, Chevy Prizm and the Chevy Nova were all built on the same Toyota Corolla assembly line in Fremont, California.
Yes. As the owner of a Vibe I am aware that NUMMI built all of these gems.
Desperate4Attention
The NUMMI Vibe! :-D
I bought a 03 gt new it so much reminded me of my 91 swift gta on steroids, this car felts so fast in city driving singing up to redline!
RIP Pontiac.
Thank god too!!!
hmmm, i mean i think buick should have died instead of Pontiac as Pontiac had names like fiero and fire bird.
justin bouche I think the reason buick got saved is because GM is using it over in China, whereas Pontiac was North America only
: / ugh, and thats what sucks. FUCK GM i am now going to be a ford fanboy.
justin bouche well, there is some good news out of this, there is a company down in Florida with a license to the Pontiac and Trans Am names, they actually still produce brand new Trans Am's. The styling is all done in house, and yes, T-Tops are an option. Downside? They're expensive as fuck, and I don't think they created an updated version for the new camaro yet tho
i always liked this one!
These cars drove really well actually and were super practical.
I kinda like those tbh. They're good cars and are comfortable and roomy.
"Not sure if we are buying into this new crossover buzz word"...............2021: More crossovers than you can count
Best car I ever owned
Owned 3 buying another tomorrow those addicting
What keeps happening to them??
Basically the love child of Pontiac and Toyota
I've owned a 2003 Vibe for the last eight years. I have nothing bad to say about it. Consistently in the 35 mpg range, I have about 220K on the clock now. At 200K it started to use some oil, about 1/.2 a quart between oil changes. The thing I've really come to appreciate is that the front sheet metal is really tough. In a one year span I had four separate deer accidents, all under 30 mph, but never damaged the front sheet metal on this car enough to have any body work done. At age seventy, hopefully I can get another hundred Thousand out of this car. It might be the last one I own.
I'm saving up for this car. Seems perfect for my needs. Reliable and AWD.
Great cars but always get a complete inspection performed before buying any used car.
And E please reconsider
Bought my base model Vibe in Lava Red in March 2004. More than 20 years later its still going strong. Got the 5 speed manual and now has 174k. Its a beater now but I still get between 36-40 mpg with my best being over 43. Still has original clutch, exhaust and rear brakes. Never been tuned up either. The only issue is the Takata air bags which have been fixed for free three times but now the light is back on. NHTSA does not presently show it as a recall
Were quite a lot on the road at one time. Now, have not seen one for years. Far better than most American cars that type, for those years.
I still see lots of these cars on the road today
I wish I had been aware of how great this car and its cousin the Matrix is years ago, as I might have bought one instead of a 2nd or 3rd 4 cylinder Ranger.
LOL
whoa 90mph trap speed, pretty peppy car there for its time.
Lo ve that funky driving music.😂
2003 is now retro
I said the exact same thing, damn😋
I love having mine. Really spacious, plenty of leg room for both rows, amazing on gas, super reliable, great appearance, allot of amenities with a piece of mind. Something I have yet to see the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore do. They both do not even match the miles per gallon or offer the same amount of cargo space. Hopefully that will soon change,
The Trax and Encore are Daewoos in disguise. The Vibe is a Toyota in disguise. Daewoo will never match Toyota for QDR.
@@rightlanehog3151 My point being is for being ahead of the game over 15 years ago. it was expecting the other two (Chevrolet and Buick) to do the same by now with their vehicles. You can tell America is lacking ambition more than ever to do it right anymore. Even back when the Pontiac Vibe was a re-designed Toyota Matrix from 2003 until 2009, I was hoping allot would of changed by then.
@@BrandonHanson One of the reasons I chose the Vibe over the Matrix in 2005 was the 'Domestic' nameplate. In the intervening years I have come to the conclusion that the Detroit 3 are not even trying to meet or exceed the highest standards of the industry. They have also exported far more jobs than they have retained or created in the USA or Canada despite the fact American and Canadian taxpayers saved two of them from oblivion. Today my working definition of domestic is any company that builds cars in my home country of Canada. That means Honda and Toyota are on equal footing to the 2 American companies and the Italian/Dutch/French company. Since the modern Corolla wagon variant is not on sale here, I suppose I would be buying a RAV4 Hybrid if I needed something comparable today.
I still have my vibe! 07 and whatever willing going strong!!
I have the car and mine is dark blue, but I want to paint it silver. It feels good driving it. Somehow I feel like I could drive that car to the beach all the time
Watching this as a proud vibe owner :)
the vibe looks more like a taller wagon rather than the traditional crossover.
don’t be fooled, it is 100% a station wagon
The Vibe looked a lot nicer with the optional painted body cladding/bumpers. I was looking at used Matrix/Vibes around 2008, this was right when Toyota introduced the new Matrix. The 2nd gen car was IMO a complete step backwards. The styling was wack, the interior wasn't as nice, you had less horsepower, it just felt like they cheaped out.
Anyways I ended up in a used Mazda Protege 5 wagon. Got a good deal on it, with the 5 speed it was a riot to drive. Handling was superb, great feel thru the steering, it cornered flat with little body roll. Not a lot of power, but that was fine because driving it fast on a 2 lane meant keeping your foot pinned to the floor.
Any c4 corvettes, 3rd gen camaro reviews in the archives? Would love to see them.
My mums vibe is a '03 model pushing 400000 km. its still purring beautifully. radio display konked out though XD
Derpidot Lol my 03 vibe has only 73000km and half of the radio display is konked out. Other than that it runs beautifully
My mums vibe is still going. Odometer got stuck at 299999 km though XD
The Vibe looks more like a crossover, then the Matrix. At the end of the day, the Vibe is a good reliable car, that won't leave you stranded at the side of the road, as long as maintenance is being done, which we all know many do not do. That's why the majority of used cars for sale, are being sold as is, because they don't want to spend the money to replace the worn out parts. They would rather sell it off to the new owner, so the problem becomes theirs.
My neighbor had one as a rental when they were newer and I hated it lmao I thought it was the sexiest thing on the road as a youngbul but it was no less short of vapid .
Think of how many 2018 cars follow this formula and how sedans are slowly leaving the market. This was a good sensible design.
My vibe died in the middle of the interstate and almost killed me.
What happened?
Killian O'Toole sane, it just straight died at 230k and now it’s in my yard 😂
Ha, I totally forgot they tried to market this as a crossover back in the day. It's a 5-door hatchback economy car, plain and simple. And the Yamaha motor is a riot.
+Mathew Clark You are quite right, there was a lot of marketing hype back when this was launched. It does have a nicely elevated driving position and plenty of headroom for such a small vehicle. If you park a Vibe right beside the new Scion iM you will see the extra storage space behind the rear seat just nudges the Vibe into the wagon category. The iM is a true hatch.
I miss my 04 Vibe dearly
Had a base model '04 Vibe 5-speed, probably the best car I ever owned. Reliable, versatile, good on gas, could take it on long trips no problem. Test drove the Vibe GT before we bought the base, the 6-speed manual in the GT was awful.
Had a stupid woman not blown through a stop sign and plowed into our Vibe back in '09, we'd probably still be driving it.
I drive an 08 toyota corolla. Identical base powertrain. 100k miles.. still runs great.
+Chris Freemesser Do yourself a favor and get a good used one while they are still available.
Desperate4Attention
Thought about it, but around these parts, they'll all be rusted out by now. I did buy a used '09 Vibe GT a few years back, but didn't like the redesigned car and got rid of it a year later.
+Chris Freemesser What didn't you like about the '09?
Chris Freemesser no you wouldn’t the car does at 200k, almost got me killed
I love my 03 vibe and it only has 60,000 miles on it in 2023😊
"we're still not buying into all this crossover stuff"
Oh how the times have changed
Also I own an 03 FWD with 4 speed auto, got it from my grandmother. 140k kilometers, love it
Like other compact wagons, the Vibe/Matrix were extremely popular in Canada from 2003-2014. The American market saw a couple of years of strong sales but their preference for SUVs over wagons eventually lead to the cancellation of these models. I am convinced the modern Corolla wagon would still sell well in Canada but Toyota won't offer it to us. My 2005 runs as well as the day I bought it. Take good care of your Vibe and it should last for many more years.
@@rightlanehog3151 that's the plan my friend, despite Calgary having a thing for salt
@@brendancross2767 A yearly visit to Krown Rustproofing, an annual application of paste wax and being parked overnights in the garage has kept my Ontario Vibe looking good as new. BTW I have also been using Amsoil top spec lubricants since the second oil change. My mechanic has around 500,000 (mostly highway) km on his Vibe. Don't be too surprised if the odometer freezes at 299,999.
@@rightlanehog3151 yeah I know about the 299999 glitch, I'm a member of genvibe and it comes up all the time. Mine's a rare one she's only at around 143k
@@brendancross2767 The raised seating position and excellent cargo capacity are major bonus features to add to the reliability and efficiency. Happy trails!
I have an 09 GT and I wish it looked more like this one. The 09 design looks really bubbly.
I have an 09 as well, it’s been a good car so far!
The only thing I don't like really is where they put the antenna. They got a rack to strap stuff with a antenna right in the middle in the way.
The rack was also poorly located for bike racks. Had to mount backwards to prevent interfering with the tailgate
I bought an 03 when it came out. I had it for like 13 years, traded it in for a scion tc and then I traded that in for my Toyota 86 I have now which I cherish. I kind of laugh when I think I use to drive a vibe for so long. I don't see them around anymore they are kind of a throw away car at this point. If you're buying one used, take my advice don't buy the manual for some reason the clutch is very hard to replace and mechanics will fuck it up. I put 2 new clutches in that car and both times it didn't come back right.
Great car
Very nice car
I took the front wheel off my Ktm 450 and slid it in. Just tied the back door closed a bit with a strap. Should have seen the guys faces in the pit when I pulled up. 06 base
All I have hauled inside mine are 2x4s and 8 foot ladders. Only a Honda Fit can beat them for interior space efficiency.
now that 2003 is retro, please motoroweek upload a review of the W203 mercedes c class.
My friend still has his, 250,000 miles and runs fine.
This is a good car, probably one of the only cars GM offered.
It looks like a cute shrunken Aztec in a way.
It's 2021 and my vibe is still vibrating better than ever.
I just got its cousin the Toyota matrix I love both cars
The Vibe and Matrix were more like fraternal twins, not cousins. They are mechanical twins and built in the same factory.
Yes and No. The Vibe was made in Fremont, California alongside the Corolla and Tacoma. The Matrix was built exclusively in a Corolla factory in Cambridge, Ontario.
"Were still not buying into all this hoopla about crossovers"
2003 Jon, let me introduce you to 2022.
Bring back Pontiac
+Corvette King lol no. GM tried having too many brands but failed miserably...
+The anything goes channel ツ Pontiac was good though maybe in the future.
It's too late now they have up the copyright on their logo
Toyota
Dreamer Believer If more Pontiacs were made by Toyota the brand will still be alive!
I love my Pontiac vibe
And it loves you back.
A guy I work with has his parents Vibe , 230,00 miles .
Is there a huge hole in the floor under the rear seats? I swear I saw the driveshaft and rearend.
+bandwagon240 Yeah that was strange! Appears at 5:37
+bottomlayer that was a press model for the auto show when it debuted
Must be from a show version, showing the drivetrain and safety features etc. Manufacturers sometimes supply footage as part of press kits.
Fred Flintstone car. You use your feet as brakes. That hole was for the rear brakes.
+bandwagon240 "Old GM"
Base engine was a dog. My sister in law had this brand new and driving home from college with a cargo carrier on the roof limited the top speed on the highway to 65.
That vehicle was a bit ahead of its time would have been ahead nowadays LOL