Topic: Why not buy a Pontiac Vibe

[jerry]

See the Vibe being offered for around $15,000($14,000 for owners of a GM product) and wonder what the warranty would be from GM--after warranty I assume Toyota(Matrix) would be able to service it and have the necessary parts from the Matrix.
Sems like a pretty good deal for a car that has been very reliable and would make a pretty good utility car for everyday use.

[johngenx]

I'd buy a Vibe in a second.

[rrocket]

Yup.  Very good car.

[articsteve]

No reason not to buy a Vibe.  It's the most reliable car currently offered from GM.

As for warranty; don't get wrapped up in that aspect.  You have a much greater chance of being hit by lightening than having to access the power train warranty after the 3 year bumper to bumper expires.  I full expect GM to be solvent for the next 3 years.

[swishguy]

I bought one in 03. Gas mileage was awful for a small car. I had the 1.8 5 speed fwd. My best mileage ever was 37 mpg on a 500 mile hi-way run at 110 kmh in the summer. Otherwise it was a pretty good car.

[mmorriso]

Yup.  Very good car.

+ESC standard equipment on all trim levels starting in 2009MY!

[dorin]

I bought one in 03. Gas mileage was awful for a small car. I had the 1.8 5 speed fwd. My best mileage ever was 37 mpg on a 500 mile hi-way run at 110 kmh in the summer. Otherwise it was a pretty good car.

  Is that bad?  What's 37 mpg in something meaningful like L/100km?

[blur911]

Yup.  Very good car.

+ESC standard equipment on all trim levels starting in 2009MY!

Wish it was on the '05, then maybe this wouldn't have happened.



Other than that it was ok, we had the AWD with the upgraded sound system.  It was kind of boring to drive and didn't have enough power though.  Mileage was reasonable, but not outstanding.  Dealing with GM for service was just plain stupid. Only went in once for wind noise caused by screwy door seal, they misaligned the door and ignored the seal I pointed out as the cause.  Then I had to get them to re-align the door and fix the obvious problem.
Girlfriend likes her Outback VDC much better, I like the electronics that will hopefully keep her out of trouble.

[mrthompson]

Ouch!  Was the accidented Vibe equipped with snow tires? 

[blur911]

Ouch!  Was the accidented Vibe equipped with snow tires? 

Yup, put new ones on just days before the crash.  Amazingly she walked away with a headache. 
That was the third vehicle she's rolled.

[mrthompson]

Yikes.  Glad there were no serious injuries.  The third time's the charm? 

The roads must have been slicker than snot on a rooster's beak that day.

[mmorriso]

Ouch!  Was the accidented Vibe equipped with snow tires? 

Yup, put new ones on just days before the crash.  Amazingly she walked away with a headache. 
That was the third vehicle she's rolled.

wow, time for an advanced driving class?

http://www.saabclub.ca/school

looks like fun!

[blur911]

Ouch!  Was the accidented Vibe equipped with snow tires? 

Yup, put new ones on just days before the crash.  Amazingly she walked away with a headache. 
That was the third vehicle she's rolled.

wow, time for an advanced driving class?

http://www.saabclub.ca/school

looks like fun!

I've heard the Saab school was good. 
Oddly, I teach car control and performance driving at autocrosses and lapping events.  I've tried to get her interested but to no avail.  Mostly I just do the driving.

Sorry about getting way off subject, basically there is nothing wrong with a Vibe, except that it's a bit boring.

[Bullet Blue]

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Vibe to anyone, one of GM's best vehicles IMO.

[Ilpav]

The Vibe is mechanically identical to the Matrix, but I heard GM use their own electronics or something.

I think the Vibe looks slightly better and is a bit cheaper, so it's a good deal.

My parents bought a 2005 Matrix almost a year ago and, even though we were considering the Vibe, the price differences in the used market weren't that big, plus those stories I heard of the Vibe using GM electronics and not Toyota ones kinda worried me.

[rrocket]

I bought one in 03. Gas mileage was awful for a small car. I had the 1.8 5 speed fwd. My best mileage ever was 37 mpg on a 500 mile hi-way run at 110 kmh in the summer. Otherwise it was a pretty good car.

  Is that bad?  What's 37 mpg in something meaningful like L/100km?

Approx. 6.35L/100km

[johngenx]

Approx. 6.35L/100km

That's poor mileage?  Seems pretty good to me!  Sure, it's not as good as the newest Corolla, but damn good otherwise.  No Mazda 3 can come close, etc.

[tpl]

I bought one in 03. Gas mileage was awful for a small car. I had the 1.8 5 speed fwd. My best mileage ever was 37 mpg on a 500 mile hi-way run at 110 kmh in the summer. Otherwise it was a pretty good car.

  Is that bad?  What's 37 mpg in something meaningful like L/100km?

Approx. 6.35L/100km

7.63    if its imperial gallons   

[mmret]

I bought one in 03. Gas mileage was awful for a small car. I had the 1.8 5 speed fwd. My best mileage ever was 37 mpg on a 500 mile hi-way run at 110 kmh in the summer. Otherwise it was a pretty good car.

  Is that bad?  What's 37 mpg in something meaningful like L/100km?

Approx. 6.35L/100km

7.63    if its imperial gallons   

Which is suddenly not so good. IMHO.

[rrocket]

^^Meh...that's still 31 US MPG which isn't horrid.....but not excellent...