2003 - 2008 Pontiac Vibe review

Pontiac Vibe Pontiac Vibe interior The front passenger seat folds flat resembling a table. The split rear seat folds flat offering plenty of cargo space Pontiac Vibe, introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model is a product of joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. The Vibe is based on the Toyota Corolla platform and is powered with Toyota engine. Pontiac Vibe doesn't precisely fit into any vehicle category. It's a four-door tall and relatively short wagon with certain attributes of a sports car (sporty styling and available 180 hp engine). It also resembles an SUV with its tall ride, available AWD system and spacious cargo area. Yet, it's one of the most fuel-efficient models in GM line-up. Pontiac Vibe features transversely mounted four-cylinder engine, front independent suspension with MacPherson struts and semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension (independent double wishbone suspension in AWD model). Anti-lock Brake system (ABS) is standard on AWD and GT models and optional on base Vibe. Disk brakes in the front, drums in the back (four-wheel disk brakes on GT model). Pontiac Vibe base and AWD models feature the 4-cylinder 1.8-liter 130 hp engine with variable timing. The Vibe GT comes with a high-performance 180-horsepower version of the same engine with variable timing and valve lift. The Vibe base model is available with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The AWD model comes only with four-speed automatic transmission. The GT offers sporty six-speed manual transmission. The Vibe interior offers plenty of space and versatility. The elevated roofline provides generous headroom for front and rear passengers. Dashboard looks sharp and sporty with round gauges and chrome trimming. Driver's place offers upright seating position and easy to use controls. One of the useful features - optional 115V power outlet to plug in your laptop or other equipment. The split rear seat folds flat offering generous cargo space. There is also an adjustable roof rack for extra luggage. The front passenger seat folds flat resembling a table or to help accommodate extra long items. The rear hatch window opens separately for easy access. The Vibe offers stable ride and good handling. The engine is a bit noisy at acceleration. The available all-wheel drive system provides better traction on a slippery road. The seat-mounted side air bags are available as an option. In NHTSA frontal crash test, the 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe received five stars for both, driver and front passenger. The 2005-2008 models has five stars for the driver and four stars for the front passenger in the same test.

Engine

Pontiac Vibe 1.8 L DOHC engine

The Vibe base and AWD models come with 1.8-liter 16-valves DOHC engine with variable timing (VVT-i), the same engine as in Toyota Corolla. The GT features the 180 hp VVTL-i version of the same engine with added variable valve lift. This means that at high rpm valves open wider allowing the engine to breath better giving it more high-end power. Both Vibe engines use a long-lasting timing chain, there is no timing belt. Either of these two engines is very reliable if maintained properly.

Strengths

- Good fuel economy
- Reliability
- Stylish sporty look
- Practical spacious interior
- Cargo room
- Rear hatch window opens separately

Weaknesses

- Interior looks a bit cheap, plastic trim around the stereo is easy to scratch.
- Plastic floor in the cargo area - consider buying a cargo mat.
- The engine is a bit noisy
- Wind noise at highway speed
Problems are rare and mostly minor, like noisy serpentine belt idler, check engine light, and alike.

Overall

The Pontiac Vibe offers great combination of stylish sporty look, spacious interior and versatility of an SUV with excellent fuel economy of a small car. Reliable and easy to maintain. The Vibe is essentially a Toyota with some GM components and Pontiac badge. With high gas prices, the Pontiac Vibe could be a really good alternative to a thirsty SUV or a minivan. Toyota Matrix is a mechanical twin of Pontiac Vibe and also can be considered.

What to look for buying a used Pontiac Vibe

Definitely check the used car history records to protect yourself from hidden problems, follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a dealer before buying a car; in worst cases repair might be quite expensive.
- Black soot in the exhaust may indicate excessive oil consumption.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior purchase have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition. Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing will help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Overheating can cause serious engine problems.
- Synthetic oil can provide extra protection for your engine.
- Winter tires will provide much better traction on the snow.
- Change transmission fluid regularly using only original transmission fluid.
- Use original parts, they are not very expensive.
- At least once a year, have your car inspected in the garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips

Pontiac Vibe short specifications (2005 model)

Links

If you are looking for more detailed technical information

If you want to find technical information about you car such as repair manual, check engine codes description, wiring diagrams, diagnostic procedures, vacuum diagrams, fluid type, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, recalls, etc. follow this link: Where to find repair manual

by Vlad Samarin