A few things not everyone may know about the 2009 Vibe. You can flick the ignition key and release, the starter will keep cranking until it catches. The 4 speed auto transmission can sense when you are gaining too much speed downhill and will downshift to help slow you down (when brakes are applied hard enough.)
I have noticed those two features and I gotta say the key release while starting has been my favourite feature. Whenever I realized it did that I was like that’s actually a very useful feature to expand the starter’s lifespan
How much? I just picked up a 2009 base model with 240000 kms for $500. Needs a new drivers side cv axle, brakes and fluid flush and there is some surface rust above the windshield on the roof but other then that the rest of the car is in good shape.
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been treating you so far . Want to get as much feedback as possible! Thanks!
J'ai beaucoup apprécié ta vidéo sur l'expérience de ta PONTIAC. Je viens d'acquérir une aussi, mais de couleur blanche et je suis très ravi de lire les commentaires. J'ai beaucoup appris dedans.
C’est fantastique alors! Si jamais il y a des questions que je n’es pas pur répondre ne sois pas gêné de me les laisser savoir, je serais ravis de t’aider! Tout cas j’espère tu aimes bien le véhicule comme que je j’aime le mien!
Just bought an 03 vibe with 130k miles about a month ago, love it, i tinted it and changed the ac compressor myself and its now a beast. I actually like it more than the newer vibe. It rides higher, cup holders are better, more roomy. Only downside is that its a bit loud driving down the highway, is your vibe quieter than your matrix?
Honestly I find both of them drives and sounds similiar, the only difference I noticed was the Pontiac Vibe didn’t downshift as much as my matrix so maybe they changed the way the automatic transmission responses. Aside of that I have also found my older matrix had more interior space but I sincerely prefer my Pontiac’s vibe interior since it’s just more “modern” if that makes sense. But they’re both great cars no doubt (for when they changed the car from 2008 to 2009)
I've had the same model from new and love it. Only a few gripes: the 1.8L engine lacks ooomph so if you want it to do some quick acceleration it needs to go above 3,500 rpm; the A pillars are very big and restrict the view at certain angles; the radio power knob broke (but it was an easy fix for me to do). The blue paintwork on mine has fared very well and still looks good.
@@FreestyleNath The knob is a known issue (bizzarly) so perhaps yours was fixed before you got it. Mine came in a pack of two so I have a spare if you need it!
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s treated you throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible! Thanks!
Honestly for what it is I find it comfortable, it’s got lots of room. It doesn’t offer a very smooth ride because the suspension is more stiff to handle sharp corners better so for long trip it might get annoying and road noise isn’t all that bad, coming from the older model Matrix they definitely did a better noise isolation job but not crazy comparable to other cars. Overall I’d give it a 7/10, you feel comfortable sitting but the suspension can get annoying on bumpy roads and road noise isn’t that bad but could have some improvement, the engine can be a little bit noisy, you have great visibility and it handles sharp corners pretty well for a hatchback!
Your car looks great. Do not get in a fender bender! Since the Vibe and Matrix have both been discontinued the body parts are getting harder to find. Most of the big body parts can still be found as of 2021 but they might have to come from thousands of miles away and since shipping has become problematic the car could be in the shop for longer than expected. There are a couple of small trim pieces that can no longer be found.
@@kathylewis7543 I’d do your regular check up, look out for rust, the wear and tear and health of the engine. If everything looks in good shape, 165k miles is nothing on it although all depends on how much you are buying it for.
For that much mileage I think it’s pretty worth it! As long the body of the car is in good shape & mechanically is good, it’s definitely worth it! The room and reliability of the car is really great! I personally haven’t had any major issues and the amount of space definitely helped me whenever I go camping. Plus, unpopular opinion but the wall outlet in the car is pretty useful!
My family has 4 Vibes. My 2010 Base model has 333,000 miles on it and my 2009 GT has 194,000. We have the ones with the bigger 2.4L engine from the Toyota Camry. They’re only just slightly more powerful than the 1.8L models. Your Vibe is looking good. Some window tint and a spoiler will add some more flare to your car. I also like the first generation Toyota Matrix wheels. Cool video!
Thank you!, also fingers crossed mine last that long! And I gotta try someday the one with the 2.4L engine to see how it handles! Also I did steal the Toyota rims from my old Matrix to install them on my pontiac vibe but I will definitely have to install some windows tint
@@FreestyleNath We used to have a 2011 Matrix with the 2.4L engine and AWD. It was great in snow and had more than enough power, but the fuel mileage was horrible.
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible! Thanks!
I have an 07 Vibe. It's been great. I put a ton of miles on my cars as I use them for my job. About 80k miles a year, so you can understand why I wouldn't want to put those miles on a car that I'm making payments on. I bought it in 2022 for $5800 with 113k miles. It now has 253k and doing great. Mechanically, it needs nothing. Left me stranded one time, but it was only for a starter at 230k miles. It burns ZERO oil. I'm going to try for 500k miles. We'll see. My Vibe had the Monsoon stereo system. Seven speakers including a subwoofer in the hatch. The head unit was shot and I replaced that with a Kenwood and it CRANKS!!
@@FreestyleNath My 2 cents, i had a base 2009 vibe and i changed the speakers(easy job), the one you have are only a paper cone as a speaker! I was shocked when i saw that, even my kia rio has better base speaker...so upgrade your speakers and you won't believe how better it sound, even with the stock radio!
I got a 2009 Vibe myself last fall. I enjoyed it all winter with the AWD. I liked your reveiw of the vibe. Learned some things I didn't know. I am looking at replacing it though. But am considering keeping it too.
Happy to hear you enjoyed the review, I still personally own it. Still serves me well however had a few things replaced mechanically there and there, rust has mainly been a problem with the exhaust tho ahaha.
@@FreestyleNath I get oil changes pretty frequently since I do a lot of driving so I don't think I experience the oil loss reported with the 2.4. Milage also isn't nearly as bad as some say too
AC compressor on 09-10 Vibes is Denso Toyota. If you ever look behind the glove box to change your cabin filter you'll even see a Denso Toyota sticker on the ac Blower housing.
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible! Thanks!
Bought a 2009 in 2016, had 29.5k miles from Carmax. It seemed to be a stealth GT as it had the 2.4L engine, but no GT faceplate. Put about 50k miles on it. Selling it to one of my children. Didn't want to buy new, and found a 2009 this year with only 39k miles. It has the 1.8L engine, so not as peppy, but better gas mileage. Both were very clean and ride well. The only thing I would suggest changing is the radio. They're not the best, and the tuning and volume buttons break. Besides it's nice to get something with Bluetooth for hands free phone functionality.
The radio knobs are easier to fix than everyone thinks. they will cost you about $11 to $12. That's a lot cheaper than a new radio, th-cam.com/video/o0HZDcPoKBc/w-d-xo.html
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible! Thanks!
@NotoriousNobodiesShow The Vibe that had 39k on it I bought a year ago. Had to replace the alternator, but otherwise, it's fine. Upgraded the radio, but that's it. My mechanic said both of them were in real good shape. The one with the 2.4l engine had a small oil leak on the valve cover gasket, so I took that opportunity to have the spark plugs changed at about 85k miles. I'm retired now, don't have a need for a new car. It's just something to get me back and forth. These cars or the Toyota Matrix's are perfect for that, especially if you can find one with low miles at a reasonable cost. And I had a 2006 vibe that got sold off. It's over 150k miles, and I believe it's still being driven.
I have a vibe GT 2009 very quick Not hemi fast, however quick They burn a little oil so if you could ever get a 2.4 with a Japanese engine or a good rebuild, you’ll have one of the best cars on the road
I'm considing buying one of these.. But I'm worried about this 4-speed transmission, and I wonder how hard it would be to find a Vibe (or a matrix) with 5-speed automatic transmission. I read that it's only available on the 2.4 version, that's right?
I am not fully sure regarding the transmission but if it reassure you, I have yet to have a problem with mine and it’s got 234 000KM on it at the moment and it doesn’t shift “hard” or “weird”
Just got my 2009 Vibe GT today and I’m very excited to see what is has to offer. I have to ask though have you modded anything with this car and is there a community out there where I can find people modding these cars that you have seen?
I have not modified my car although there is a Facebook group on Facebook of a community of people that owns Pontiac Vibe and on it there’s a few people that did modifications on they’re vibe performance wise
I just picked up a 2009 base model with 240,000 kms for $500. Needs a new drivers side cv axle, brake pads and fluid flush. Other then that it seems to be a pretty good buy. I actually think I got a steal for $500 lol.
I also have a red 2009 Vibe with the 2.4. Vibe has a different instrument cluster than the Matrix. Vibe has better trunk candy/dividers. Vibe is just a better looking car! I agree with the above commenter - you need to install the rear spoiler from the GT version. An OEM spoiler is inexpensive and easy to install. Mine has only 120,000 miles on it and is garage kept. Still has crystal clear headlights which is surprising. I do my own maintenance on it and other than oil and filters, the only things I’ve had to replace were the battery, brake shoes and less than 300 miles ago, all 4 struts. Been a great car!
Dammm thats amazing! Glad you had an good unit and something about the vibe design simply just seems more appealing right! So far the engine has not disappointed me yet so I’m pretty happy about that however I did wish I had the GT body kit on it I find it makes it look quite great!
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Any serious problems. Want to get as much feedback as possible! Thanks!
@@NotoriousNobodiesShow Shortly after I posted the above review I had a problem that was caused by my own boneheadedness. Even though I knew better I would top of the fuel tank (squeeze more gas in after the pump shut off). It started throwing evap codes and shut the traction control (VSC?) off and flashed that icon on the dash. A mechanic told me that Toyota is famous for shutting down traction control when there are other seemingly unrelated problems. I’d clear the codes and they would pop back up after a few trips. Bought a new gas cap - didn’t fix it. Did some research and guessed I needed an almost $200 evap thingy that mounts near the tank and seemed like a pain in the a$$. I soaked that part by topping off with fuel. I sorta ignored the problem and hoped it would go away…and it kinda did! After months of this there was a 5 or 6 day period where the tank was very low and the check engine lights magically went out. I tried to keep only half a tank in it from that point and it stayed out until a longish trip made me fill up a few times again. Lights came back on but are currently back off. I’m gonna try to only run half tanks for a long while now. I don’t think this strategy is hurting the engine although it sounds pretty sketchy. I’m an aircraft mechanic currently working on large jet engines if that means anything - probably not. I’ve also had to retorque the valve cover bolts. If you get one of these you should get out your 10mm socket and go over as many fasteners as you can reach. Just don’t over torque anything! Good luck!
@@NotoriousNobodiesShow I’m also not a fan of transmission flushes. If you drain and refill every 50k to 70k miles that’s fine but don’t pay for a flush. If you find one with over 100k you should probably just leave it alone. Of course you might ask a Toyota mechanic his opinion on this too.
Both models come with a timing chain which is very convenient for maintenance, generally speaking for a toyota engine check the timing chain at arround 200 000miles to see if there is any serious wear & tear. If there’s some serious wear & tear then obviously replace it. However from myself to my family owning toyota engine with a timing chain, we well reached over 250 000miles and never replaced the chain or did any maintenance on it. I have personally never needed to do any valve adjusting or heard a specific mileage to do such maintenance however if you notice unusual noise from the engine then doing a valve adjustment might be necessary depending the situation. Now an important notice is those engine are an interference engine meaning if the timing chain breaks then your engine is totaled. But as already mentioned, in my entire life of people owning toyota’s, such bad scenarios never happened to them. Hope this helps and if you have more questions feel free to reply back to this comment👍🏼
Thank you this helpful review. I'd like to know if 2008 to 2010 vibes all comes with electric steerings or is it some particular engine types that do come with electric steering cos in my part of the world we still not good in handling electrical problems.
Yes the 2009 started electric steering so there is no power steering fluid or pump. If you are driving and see the dashboard light that has a steering wheel with an exclamation point, your car battery has failed or is at low voltage and the steering will be extremely stiff.
I own a 2010 Matrix with 300k on it. Brakes and exhaust manifold in these cars are prone to going fast. Other than that I don’t have any complaints about the Matrix/Vibe
@@FreestyleNath Other than routine stuff (brakes, shocks, oil change, transmission fluid change, regular stuff) I have changed out a CV joint at 105k but other than that, absolutely no other repairs or breakdowns.
Nice car, and pretty reliable too. Awesome video. I’m really thinking in buying one next month. So , i would like to know , is the 09 model that has engine/ oil consumption problems? Your car has or is just de 2.4 l ? Thank you in advance. Greetings from London, Ontario
Thanks I appreciate it! It’s definitely a great car and slightly cheaper then a Toyota Matrix meaning it’s a great alternative while it being almost the same. Regarding the engine, the 1.8L model does not have an oil consumption problem, however the 2009 2.4L engine model does have a oil consumption problem (something related to the piston rings) although the 2010 late year model production they fixed the piston ring problem meaning the oil consumption problem was fixed to a better extent however I have heard some people saying the 2010 still had an oil consumption problem but significantly less severe then the 2009 2.4L engine model. Regarding my own car I have the 1.8L model engine produced in 2009 and I have zero oil consumption to this day (134 000miles).
@@FreestyleNath thank you so much for your quick and detailed answer…. I feel more secure right now to extend my options to the 09 1.8. Every research is necessary right now, the car prices are insane nowadays. Have a great night and good luck for you.
@@FreestyleNath here i’m again, haha… Sorry dor been a pain in the ass but, as a newcomer here in Canada and always had manual cars in my Country, i have another concern and don’t know how to deal with it, it’s the automatic transmission. I saw your matrix video and it had a considerable mileage like your vibe. How do you know the transmission is ok? Did tou check some records of maintenance, just drive and feel? If you have any tips i appreciate. Thanks in advance
I have found that the Matrix has more space for the trunk, If I am correct, I believe that the Matrix is slightly longer for rear cargo and slightly wider
@@MrTalkingtrue I absolutely recommend them, only thing to watch out for is carbon build up, unfortunately my 2009 Pontiac Vibe is misfiring due to carbon build up on the intake valves :( However I’m hoping to be able to fix it
I just got the 2009 late model pontiac, after using the 2008 model Matrix, the pontiac cargo space is slightly wider/longer probably just a few mm more. The pontiac is also bigger than the matrix, seating in would make that apparent. I notice though that the steering in the matrix was considerably better. Still feeling the pontiac though, but so far I feel like it's generally an upgrade on the matrix
Lol that’s cool man. Ain’t nobody perfect. Thank you for your video. I enjoyed it. I actually flew to Houston from Indiana to pick up a 5 speed stick shift 2009 Vibe GT. 134k miles.
@@Хосе-ш4д No way that is sick man! I hope the GT model is treating you well and that the oil consumption isn’t too bad on it. Heard by a few people the 2.4liter engine didn’t come with proper sizing piston rings so it would leak oil into the cylinder chamber which would get ignited! Out of curiosity, is the ride pretty fast in the GT?
@@FreestyleNath I’m disappointed with the 5 speed stick shift. You’re not wrong about the oil consumption. It burned over a quart of oil. And mt daughter’s 2009 GT doesn’t burn a drop of oil. 120k mls. Neither my 2005 1.8 with 230k mls. Both automatic transmission. The RPMs at 70 mph on my daughter’s GT are about 2600 while this 5 speed stick shift runs at approximately 3600 RPMs. That’s something I didn’t know. It gave me about 36mpg though 🤪.
A few things not everyone may know about the 2009 Vibe. You can flick the ignition key and release, the starter will keep cranking until it catches. The 4 speed auto transmission can sense when you are gaining too much speed downhill and will downshift to help slow you down (when brakes are applied hard enough.)
I have noticed those two features and I gotta say the key release while starting has been my favourite feature. Whenever I realized it did that I was like that’s actually a very useful feature to expand the starter’s lifespan
I just brought a 2009 Vibe GT yesterday, 106,000 miles on it.
You will enjoy it!
How much? I just picked up a 2009 base model with 240000 kms for $500. Needs a new drivers side cv axle, brakes and fluid flush and there is some surface rust above the windshield on the roof but other then that the rest of the car is in good shape.
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been treating you so far . Want to get as much feedback as possible!
Thanks!
@@NotoriousNobodiesShow$7900 86,000 miles come get it
J'ai beaucoup apprécié ta vidéo sur l'expérience de ta PONTIAC.
Je viens d'acquérir une aussi, mais de couleur blanche et je suis très ravi de lire les commentaires. J'ai beaucoup appris dedans.
C’est fantastique alors! Si jamais il y a des questions que je n’es pas pur répondre ne sois pas gêné de me les laisser savoir, je serais ravis de t’aider!
Tout cas j’espère tu aimes bien le véhicule comme que je j’aime le mien!
@@FreestyleNath , waouh c'est rapide comme réponse.
Effectivement j'aime bien mon véhicule plus que toi même
Just bought an 03 vibe with 130k miles about a month ago, love it, i tinted it and changed the ac compressor myself and its now a beast. I actually like it more than the newer vibe. It rides higher, cup holders are better, more roomy. Only downside is that its a bit loud driving down the highway, is your vibe quieter than your matrix?
Honestly I find both of them drives and sounds similiar, the only difference I noticed was the Pontiac Vibe didn’t downshift as much as my matrix so maybe they changed the way the automatic transmission responses. Aside of that I have also found my older matrix had more interior space but I sincerely prefer my Pontiac’s vibe interior since it’s just more “modern” if that makes sense. But they’re both great cars no doubt (for when they changed the car from 2008 to 2009)
2008 and before we're better. I still have my 09'vibe. Funny to see a review video after so many years though! These have quirks but still good cars.
I must imagine! They both got their own perks and downfalls, personally I prefer the engine found in the first gen (for base model engine)
@@FreestyleNath I'd be curious if your front map lights turn on opening the door. Big debate on this. Old gens didn't. I swear my 09 use to.
I've had the same model from new and love it. Only a few gripes: the 1.8L engine lacks ooomph so if you want it to do some quick acceleration it needs to go above 3,500 rpm; the A pillars are very big and restrict the view at certain angles; the radio power knob broke (but it was an easy fix for me to do). The blue paintwork on mine has fared very well and still looks good.
Sums up the car pretty well, surprisingly enough I haven’t had issues with my radio power knob 🤌🏼
@@FreestyleNath The knob is a known issue (bizzarly) so perhaps yours was fixed before you got it. Mine came in a pack of two so I have a spare if you need it!
@@chrisbradley1192 Ohhh ok, could’ve been possible and I should be alright thanks!
1.8 is the way to go..2.4 are oil burners...
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s treated you throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible!
Thanks!
The music is very nice. But you should have chosen q tip: " I got the ill vibe tip" ...mid 90's rap. Nice car though!
😂
how is the ride quality ? is it comfortable for long trips ?
Honestly for what it is I find it comfortable, it’s got lots of room. It doesn’t offer a very smooth ride because the suspension is more stiff to handle sharp corners better so for long trip it might get annoying and road noise isn’t all that bad, coming from the older model Matrix they definitely did a better noise isolation job but not crazy comparable to other cars. Overall I’d give it a 7/10, you feel comfortable sitting but the suspension can get annoying on bumpy roads and road noise isn’t that bad but could have some improvement, the engine can be a little bit noisy, you have great visibility and it handles sharp corners pretty well for a hatchback!
I do uber in mine, no complaints although the 18in wheels on my 09 GT and a bit noisier then the base model
Your car looks great. Do not get in a fender bender! Since the Vibe and Matrix have both been discontinued the body parts are getting harder to find. Most of the big body parts can still be found as of 2021 but they might have to come from thousands of miles away and since shipping has become problematic the car could be in the shop for longer than expected. There are a couple of small trim pieces that can no longer be found.
Thank you I appreciate it, worse to come there is a scarpyard nearby that I can have some parts but it still is hard in general to obtain parts
Oooooh ain’t that the truth. I’ve been looking for a front bumper cover forever and can’t get it nowhere. Even eBay.
Advise on buying 2006 do you think its worth it 165, 000 miles upstate NY $4000. Thank you for a geeat video!
@@kathylewis7543 I’d do your regular check up, look out for rust, the wear and tear and health of the engine. If everything looks in good shape, 165k miles is nothing on it although all depends on how much you are buying it for.
Consider buying one with 98,000 TMR what is your opinion? :) True and honest opinion my first car !
For that much mileage I think it’s pretty worth it! As long the body of the car is in good shape & mechanically is good, it’s definitely worth it! The room and reliability of the car is really great! I personally haven’t had any major issues and the amount of space definitely helped me whenever I go camping. Plus, unpopular opinion but the wall outlet in the car is pretty useful!
My family has 4 Vibes. My 2010 Base model has 333,000 miles on it and my 2009 GT has 194,000. We have the ones with the bigger 2.4L engine from the Toyota Camry. They’re only just slightly more powerful than the 1.8L models. Your Vibe is looking good. Some window tint and a spoiler will add some more flare to your car. I also like the first generation Toyota Matrix wheels. Cool video!
Thank you!, also fingers crossed mine last that long! And I gotta try someday the one with the 2.4L engine to see how it handles! Also I did steal the Toyota rims from my old Matrix to install them on my pontiac vibe but I will definitely have to install some windows tint
@@FreestyleNath We used to have a 2011 Matrix with the 2.4L engine and AWD. It was great in snow and had more than enough power, but the fuel mileage was horrible.
Wish my car had that outlet lol
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible!
Thanks!
@@NotoriousNobodiesShowYou definitely should pick one of these up if a deal presents itself. Mines still going at 358K now.
Yo keep up the good content)))
Thanks! I’m hoping to get some more car content out soon!
I have an 07 Vibe. It's been great. I put a ton of miles on my cars as I use them for my job. About 80k miles a year, so you can understand why I wouldn't want to put those miles on a car that I'm making payments on. I bought it in 2022 for $5800 with 113k miles. It now has 253k and doing great. Mechanically, it needs nothing. Left me stranded one time, but it was only for a starter at 230k miles. It burns ZERO oil. I'm going to try for 500k miles. We'll see. My Vibe had the Monsoon stereo system. Seven speakers including a subwoofer in the hatch. The head unit was shot and I replaced that with a Kenwood and it CRANKS!!
That is super amazing! Glad your experience was positive despite the little bumps on the road 😄
@@FreestyleNath My 2 cents, i had a base 2009 vibe and i changed the speakers(easy job), the one you have are only a paper cone as a speaker! I was shocked when i saw that, even my kia rio has better base speaker...so upgrade your speakers and you won't believe how better it sound, even with the stock radio!
this would be nice car 🎁 gift for friend I know needs 👍 good reliable car 🚗 near future
Nice! 😄
I need more friends like you!
I got a 2009 Vibe myself last fall. I enjoyed it all winter with the AWD. I liked your reveiw of the vibe. Learned some things I didn't know. I am looking at replacing it though. But am considering keeping it too.
Happy to hear you enjoyed the review, I still personally own it. Still serves me well however had a few things replaced mechanically there and there, rust has mainly been a problem with the exhaust tho ahaha.
“Pretty much” lol
AC compressor different on Vibe and Matrix as well. Proud owner of a 2009 GT, 168k miles
Yes that’s correct, not sure why they decided to make it different tho. Also ngl I wish mine was the GT but doesn’t it burn oil easily?
@@FreestyleNath I get oil changes pretty frequently since I do a lot of driving so I don't think I experience the oil loss reported with the 2.4. Milage also isn't nearly as bad as some say too
AC compressor on 09-10 Vibes is Denso Toyota. If you ever look behind the glove box to change your cabin filter you'll even see a Denso Toyota sticker on the ac Blower housing.
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible!
Thanks!
Bought a 2009 in 2016, had 29.5k miles from Carmax. It seemed to be a stealth GT as it had the 2.4L engine, but no GT faceplate. Put about 50k miles on it. Selling it to one of my children. Didn't want to buy new, and found a 2009 this year with only 39k miles. It has the 1.8L engine, so not as peppy, but better gas mileage. Both were very clean and ride well. The only thing I would suggest changing is the radio. They're not the best, and the tuning and volume buttons break. Besides it's nice to get something with Bluetooth for hands free phone functionality.
I absolutely agree with everything you mentioned, I’m still contemplating to change the radio however I’m too lazy to pay for a new radio unit ahaha
I am happy to read you.
I buy my first car , it is a Pontiac vibe 2009
The radio knobs are easier to fix than everyone thinks. they will cost you about $11 to $12. That's a lot cheaper than a new radio, th-cam.com/video/o0HZDcPoKBc/w-d-xo.html
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Want to get as much feedback as possible!
Thanks!
@NotoriousNobodiesShow The Vibe that had 39k on it I bought a year ago. Had to replace the alternator, but otherwise, it's fine. Upgraded the radio, but that's it. My mechanic said both of them were in real good shape. The one with the 2.4l engine had a small oil leak on the valve cover gasket, so I took that opportunity to have the spark plugs changed at about 85k miles. I'm retired now, don't have a need for a new car. It's just something to get me back and forth. These cars or the Toyota Matrix's are perfect for that, especially if you can find one with low miles at a reasonable cost. And I had a 2006 vibe that got sold off. It's over 150k miles, and I believe it's still being driven.
I have a vibe GT 2009 very quick
Not hemi fast, however quick
They burn a little oil so if you could ever get a 2.4 with a Japanese engine or a good rebuild, you’ll have one of the best cars on the road
They certainly are zippy no doubt! Car itself is already lightweight, having that GT engine in it honestly makes it way better!
Yo keep up the good content
Thank you!
I'm considing buying one of these.. But I'm worried about this 4-speed transmission, and I wonder how hard it would be to find a Vibe (or a matrix) with 5-speed automatic transmission. I read that it's only available on the 2.4 version, that's right?
I am not fully sure regarding the transmission but if it reassure you, I have yet to have a problem with mine and it’s got 234 000KM on it at the moment and it doesn’t shift “hard” or “weird”
Just got my 2009 Vibe GT today and I’m very excited to see what is has to offer. I have to ask though have you modded anything with this car and is there a community out there where I can find people modding these cars that you have seen?
I have not modified my car although there is a Facebook group on Facebook of a community of people that owns Pontiac Vibe and on it there’s a few people that did modifications on they’re vibe performance wise
@@FreestyleNath Alright thanks! I’ll check it out
I just picked up a 2009 base model with 240,000 kms for $500. Needs a new drivers side cv axle, brake pads and fluid flush. Other then that it seems to be a pretty good buy. I actually think I got a steal for $500 lol.
Any oil burning issues? I found one with ridiculously low mileage that was owned by an elderly couple. The year is 2024.. so it's about $10K USD.
Not with mine, oil burning issues only seem to be present with the 2.4Liter engine model due to piston ring issues
@@FreestyleNath Thanks. I better snag this one fast.
@@s.garabet1677 Best of luck!
I also have a red 2009 Vibe with the 2.4. Vibe has a different instrument cluster than the Matrix. Vibe has better trunk candy/dividers. Vibe is just a better looking car! I agree with the above commenter - you need to install the rear spoiler from the GT version. An OEM spoiler is inexpensive and easy to install. Mine has only 120,000 miles on it and is garage kept. Still has crystal clear headlights which is surprising. I do my own maintenance on it and other than oil and filters, the only things I’ve had to replace were the battery, brake shoes and less than 300 miles ago, all 4 struts. Been a great car!
Dammm thats amazing! Glad you had an good unit and something about the vibe design simply just seems more appealing right! So far the engine has not disappointed me yet so I’m pretty happy about that however I did wish I had the GT body kit on it I find it makes it look quite great!
Just happened to see your comment & looking to pick one up myself. Wanted to ask if you still own the Vibe & how it’s been doing throughout the years. Any serious problems. Want to get as much feedback as possible!
Thanks!
@@NotoriousNobodiesShow
Shortly after I posted the above review I had a problem that was caused by my own boneheadedness. Even though I knew better I would top of the fuel tank (squeeze more gas in after the pump shut off). It started throwing evap codes and shut the traction control (VSC?) off and flashed that icon on the dash. A mechanic told me that Toyota is famous for shutting down traction control when there are other seemingly unrelated problems. I’d clear the codes and they would pop back up after a few trips. Bought a new gas cap - didn’t fix it. Did some research and guessed I needed an almost $200 evap thingy that mounts near the tank and seemed like a pain in the a$$. I soaked that part by topping off with fuel. I sorta ignored the problem and hoped it would go away…and it kinda did! After months of this there was a 5 or 6 day period where the tank was very low and the check engine lights magically went out. I tried to keep only half a tank in it from that point and it stayed out until a longish trip made me fill up a few times again. Lights came back on but are currently back off. I’m gonna try to only run half tanks for a long while now. I don’t think this strategy is hurting the engine although it sounds pretty sketchy. I’m an aircraft mechanic currently working on large jet engines if that means anything - probably not. I’ve also had to retorque the valve cover bolts. If you get one of these you should get out your 10mm socket and go over as many fasteners as you can reach. Just don’t over torque anything! Good luck!
@@NotoriousNobodiesShow
I’m also not a fan of transmission flushes. If you drain and refill every 50k to 70k miles that’s fine but don’t pay for a flush. If you find one with over 100k you should probably just leave it alone. Of course you might ask a Toyota mechanic his opinion on this too.
@@NotoriousNobodiesShow
Or get a manual transmission and never worry about it!
Do the 1.8 and 2.4 engines have a timing belt or timing chain? Also, do the valves need adjusting at a certain mileage?
Both models come with a timing chain which is very convenient for maintenance, generally speaking for a toyota engine check the timing chain at arround 200 000miles to see if there is any serious wear & tear. If there’s some serious wear & tear then obviously replace it. However from myself to my family owning toyota engine with a timing chain, we well reached over 250 000miles and never replaced the chain or did any maintenance on it. I have personally never needed to do any valve adjusting or heard a specific mileage to do such maintenance however if you notice unusual noise from the engine then doing a valve adjustment might be necessary depending the situation. Now an important notice is those engine are an interference engine meaning if the timing chain breaks then your engine is totaled. But as already mentioned, in my entire life of people owning toyota’s, such bad scenarios never happened to them. Hope this helps and if you have more questions feel free to reply back to this comment👍🏼
Thank you this helpful review. I'd like to know if 2008 to 2010 vibes all comes with electric steerings or is it some particular engine types that do come with electric steering cos in my part of the world we still not good in handling electrical problems.
2009 and up come with electrical power steering, and underneath that it’s hydraulic power steering
Yes the 2009 started electric steering so there is no power steering fluid or pump. If you are driving and see the dashboard light that has a steering wheel with an exclamation point, your car battery has failed or is at low voltage and the steering will be extremely stiff.
I own a 2010 Matrix with 300k on it. Brakes and exhaust manifold in these cars are prone to going fast. Other than that I don’t have any complaints about the Matrix/Vibe
Glad to see yours is holding up strong, so far so good with mine and I’m happy to see other people enjoying this car as much as me!
@@FreestyleNath Other than routine stuff (brakes, shocks, oil change, transmission fluid change, regular stuff) I have changed out a CV joint at 105k but other than that, absolutely no other repairs or breakdowns.
Nice car, and pretty reliable too.
Awesome video.
I’m really thinking in buying one next month. So , i would like to know , is the 09 model that has engine/ oil consumption problems?
Your car has or is just de 2.4 l ?
Thank you in advance.
Greetings from London, Ontario
Thanks I appreciate it! It’s definitely a great car and slightly cheaper then a Toyota Matrix meaning it’s a great alternative while it being almost the same. Regarding the engine, the 1.8L model does not have an oil consumption problem, however the 2009 2.4L engine model does have a oil consumption problem (something related to the piston rings) although the 2010 late year model production they fixed the piston ring problem meaning the oil consumption problem was fixed to a better extent however I have heard some people saying the 2010 still had an oil consumption problem but significantly less severe then the 2009 2.4L engine model. Regarding my own car I have the 1.8L model engine produced in 2009 and I have zero oil consumption to this day (134 000miles).
@@FreestyleNath thank you so much for your quick and detailed answer….
I feel more secure right now to extend my options to the 09 1.8.
Every research is necessary right now, the car prices are insane nowadays.
Have a great night and good luck for you.
@@120672alexandre Thank you and I’m glad I could help, if you ever got any other questions feel free to reply back to this reply thread👍🏼
@@FreestyleNath here i’m again, haha…
Sorry dor been a pain in the ass but, as a newcomer here in Canada and always had manual cars in my Country, i have another concern and don’t know how to deal with it, it’s the automatic transmission. I saw your matrix video and it had a considerable mileage like your vibe. How do you know the transmission is ok? Did tou check some records of maintenance, just drive and feel?
If you have any tips i appreciate.
Thanks in advance
Do you still have your matrix? And can you load more cargo in the vibe then the matrix? Thanks man
I have found that the Matrix has more space for the trunk, If I am correct, I believe that the Matrix is slightly longer for rear cargo and slightly wider
@@FreestyleNath the vibe looks so much bigger. I am looking for a matrix or vibe for me in the near future.
@@MrTalkingtrue I absolutely recommend them, only thing to watch out for is carbon build up, unfortunately my 2009 Pontiac Vibe is misfiring due to carbon build up on the intake valves :(
However I’m hoping to be able to fix it
Use ats carbon cleaner. Cleans fuel and oil carbon buildup. Look it up.
I just got the 2009 late model pontiac, after using the 2008 model Matrix, the pontiac cargo space is slightly wider/longer probably just a few mm more. The pontiac is also bigger than the matrix, seating in would make that apparent.
I notice though that the steering in the matrix was considerably better. Still feeling the pontiac though, but so far I feel like it's generally an upgrade on the matrix
niiice. i love my vibe
Absolutely an amazing versatile car, I did a few car camping trips and it is the best car ever!
Look very clean
Thanks I appreciate it, so far it’s been holding up strong and making it through the dirt road adventures 👍🏼
🔥
Love you bro
You meant to say (20 o nine) not 2 o nine.
Oups ahah
Lol that’s cool man. Ain’t nobody perfect. Thank you for your video. I enjoyed it. I actually flew to Houston from Indiana to pick up a 5 speed stick shift 2009 Vibe GT. 134k miles.
@@Хосе-ш4д No way that is sick man! I hope the GT model is treating you well and that the oil consumption isn’t too bad on it. Heard by a few people the 2.4liter engine didn’t come with proper sizing piston rings so it would leak oil into the cylinder chamber which would get ignited! Out of curiosity, is the ride pretty fast in the GT?
@@FreestyleNath I’m disappointed with the 5 speed stick shift. You’re not wrong about the oil consumption. It burned over a quart of oil. And mt daughter’s 2009 GT doesn’t burn a drop of oil. 120k mls. Neither my 2005 1.8 with 230k mls. Both automatic transmission. The RPMs at 70 mph on my daughter’s GT are about 2600 while this 5 speed stick shift runs at approximately 3600 RPMs. That’s something I didn’t know. It gave me about 36mpg though 🤪.
The 2.4 are horrible Moyers there oil burners about 100,000 stay away from the 09 or get the 1.8
My girlfriend has a 2.4 with 184k, it burns very little oil
@@consciousness417 She got lucky
Never heard somebody pronounce 2009 as 209 before
I want one bad
There’s a decent amount of them on marketplace