Pontiac Vibe - Toyota Yaris Forums

deebrown · 07-02-2007, 02:35 PM

I saw in some article that the Pontiac Vibe (which I've been seeing a lot of lately on the road) was listed as one of the most dependable vehicles; given that GM makes the Vibe I had to do some research and found out that it is actually Toyota that makes the Vibe (Toyota and GM "partner" at an old GM plant in California - Toyota gets to use the plant, which was their first in America, while GM gets to use Toyota underpinnings in some of their smaller cars)
Also, I found out that the Matrix and the Vibe are pretty much the same car (oddly enough, GM charges about 1000 bucks more for the Vibe than Toyota does for the Matrix)...finally, before the Matrix/Vibe collaboration, there was the Corolla/Chevy Prism (Prism was discounted in 2002 due to lack of sales, but it is basically a Corolla - kind of makes me want to find a cheap one, as chevy's resale value is crap compared to Toyota)...

tacsniper · 07-02-2007, 02:44 PM

i would rather drive a Toyota badge over a Pontiac badge any day

ECHOKnight2000 · 07-02-2007, 02:59 PM

You're just finding they're the same car...for the most part? They share the same platform, same drivetrain, although I think the interiors are separate in the later models.
Yes its amazing what a badge can do. Despite the similarities a badge can make one car better than the other. Or precieved to be better although I would pick the Matrix, I think it looks better.

tacsniper · 07-02-2007, 03:17 PM

and the resale value is amazingly different because of the badge!

Kaotic Lazagna · 07-02-2007, 03:22 PM

yeah, i remember seeing those Geo/Chevy Prisms on the streets.

but the Vibe is exactly the same as the Toyota Voltz.

tiksman · 07-02-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

yeah, i remember seeing those Geo/Chevy Prisms on the streets.

I know some one who still has one and it is over 250k

cant say the same for the metro and sidekick both suzuki spinoffs.

Kaotic Lazagna · 07-02-2007, 04:29 PM

dang, still going strong? i just never knew if they used a Toyota motor or a Chevy motor...

brickhardmeat · 07-02-2007, 04:39 PM

I really like the Matrix. Sad to see it go this year but they are great cars. I love driving my friend's.

tekmoe · 07-02-2007, 05:24 PM

i almost bought the vibe but held off. glad i did. i love my yaris.

stuffy · 07-02-2007, 09:59 PM

so the matrix will be replaced by the blade?

brickhardmeat · 07-02-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuffy

so the matrix will be replaced by the blade?

not sure

is that what we get?

Pars · 07-02-2007, 10:42 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing the Blade here in Canada. Seems like a blown-up version of the Yaris. I'd rather have the Blade then the heavy weight Scion.

The Vibe's nicer looking, but if I had to choose, I'd get the Matrix since it's built in Canada. I'm not saying that the Vibe's inferior, considering that my very first car was built in the same plant (New 86 Chevy Nova, which was a re-badged Corolla). So, I have no complaints about the stuff coming from the Nummi plant. It's just that I've never regretted buying Canadian.

RodimusPrime · 07-03-2007, 12:16 AM

And don't forgot about the lesser known Toyota/Chevy Cavalier!

Kaotic Lazagna · 07-03-2007, 12:27 AM

ah yes, the JDM Toyota Cavalier...

ECHOKnight2000 · 07-03-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuffy

so the matrix will be replaced by the blade?

That's the rumor...although I've heard reports that it will look similar but the Blade (the JDM equivlant of the Auris sold in Europe) is smaller than the Matrix...so the next one (USDM) will be bigger...America, you gotta love, eh

JosephDoc · 07-03-2007, 04:42 PM

Vibe = Matrix. Ponty could not design better and getting cheapper R&D but only pay for the Toy's blueprint.

Jokill · 07-03-2007, 06:56 PM

The first time took them 3 weeks to replace the ecu. Took them two tries to diagnose it correctly. The car was undrivable within 2 weeks of driving it off the lot. Not only were the Pontiac techs slow to diagnose the first problem correctly, every time they needed a part it took 2 weeks to get it in. The second problem was the o2 sensor and of course it was not in stock.

It never got anywhere near the epa mileage, unlike any other car I've owned and driven. On the same daily rout I'm getting 36 mpg in my Yaris Sedan and was getting 28 mpg in the Vibe.

I would never reccomend a Vibe to anyone having owned one.

Yaris Revenge · 07-05-2007, 10:59 AM

Nah, the Vibe's an awesome car. I've got 125,000 trouble-free miles on mine right now. Only problem was a belt tensioner pulley bearing that started to roar at 90k miles, and a blown MAF sensor that I caused with a CAI and a water hose. It needs a cat converter at the moment, but that's to be expected with the mileage I've racked up. My automatic has returned 30-32 mpg (it's rated @ 32 hwy) for 4 years now, 38 mpg on road trips with the AC running.

The Vibe costs more than the Matrix because it comes with more base features, or at least it did for the 2003 models. At the time, you had to step up a trim level on the Matrix to get the same features that came stock on the Vibe. The built-in dash mounted power inverter is the handiest thing ever! Charges cell phones in 20 minutes, powers laptops, all kindsa' goodies!

Funny thing is, owning a GM-branded product has actually made me a Toyota fan. Bet they weren't counting on that when they decided to outsource! Losers!

Jo, I ran across a similar situation when I was trying to diagnose a weird tranny thing (which turned out to be the transmission braking feature!

). It really depends on your service center. The local guys had no clue, and blew all kinds of smoke up my ass about this n that. I took it to another Pontiac dealer that wasted no time contacting Toyota, and they got things figured out very quickly. Techs don't like to admit they can't work on their own "brand", but if you can find some guys that will own up to it, you'll get much better results.

~YR

BTW, there was a study (last year, I think) that rated the Vibe as THE least likely car to be stolen, based on a multitude of insurance claims. Guess thugs aren't interested in Pontiac station wagons... er, SPORT wagons!

07-02-2007, 02:35 PM	#1
deebrown Drives: Sedan Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 37	Pontiac Vibe I saw in some article that the Pontiac Vibe (which I've been seeing a lot of lately on the road) was listed as one of the most dependable vehicles; given that GM makes the Vibe I had to do some research and found out that it is actually Toyota that makes the Vibe (Toyota and GM "partner" at an old GM plant in California - Toyota gets to use the plant, which was their first in America, while GM gets to use Toyota underpinnings in some of their smaller cars) Also, I found out that the Matrix and the Vibe are pretty much the same car (oddly enough, GM charges about 1000 bucks more for the Vibe than Toyota does for the Matrix)...finally, before the Matrix/Vibe collaboration, there was the Corolla/Chevy Prism (Prism was discounted in 2002 due to lack of sales, but it is basically a Corolla - kind of makes me want to find a cheap one, as chevy's resale value is crap compared to Toyota)...

07-02-2007, 02:59 PM	#3
ECHOKnight2000 Small Car Lover View User's Garage Drives: A Super Car Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minnesota, US of A! Posts: 830	You're just finding they're the same car...for the most part? They share the same platform, same drivetrain, although I think the interiors are separate in the later models. Yes its amazing what a badge can do. Despite the similarities a badge can make one car better than the other. Or precieved to be better although I would pick the Matrix, I think it looks better. __________________ You may look good on the beach but in reality you're a pompus, egotistical jerk. "I was never on the beach with you..."and you never will.

07-02-2007, 04:39 PM	#8
brickhardmeat Lonesome Cowboy View User's Garage Drives: 2007 WHITE HATCHBACK Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Inner City, Dallas Posts: 2,995	I really like the Matrix. Sad to see it go this year but they are great cars. I love driving my friend's. __________________ SPONSORED BY

07-02-2007, 05:24 PM	#9
tekmoe ex-yaris owner View User's Garage Drives: 08 solstice gxp, 06 triumph s3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: dallas, texas Posts: 344	i almost bought the vibe but held off. glad i did. i love my yaris. __________________

07-03-2007, 06:56 PM	#17
Jokill Drives: 2007 4door Yaris Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 3	Had a Vibe an it was in the shop 3 times in 15 months. The first time took them 3 weeks to replace the ecu. Took them two tries to diagnose it correctly. The car was undrivable within 2 weeks of driving it off the lot. Not only were the Pontiac techs slow to diagnose the first problem correctly, every time they needed a part it took 2 weeks to get it in. The second problem was the o2 sensor and of course it was not in stock. It never got anywhere near the epa mileage, unlike any other car I've owned and driven. On the same daily rout I'm getting 36 mpg in my Yaris Sedan and was getting 28 mpg in the Vibe. I would never reccomend a Vibe to anyone having owned one.

07-02-2007, 02:44 PM	#2
tacsniper Drives: 07 White Yaris RS Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 99	i would rather drive a Toyota badge over a Pontiac badge any day

07-02-2007, 03:17 PM	#4
tacsniper Drives: 07 White Yaris RS Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 99	and the resale value is amazingly different because of the badge!

07-02-2007, 03:22 PM	#5
Kaotic Lazagna View User's Garage Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 9,873	yeah, i remember seeing those Geo/Chevy Prisms on the streets. but the Vibe is exactly the same as the Toyota Voltz.

07-02-2007, 04:29 PM	#7
Kaotic Lazagna View User's Garage Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 9,873	dang, still going strong? i just never knew if they used a Toyota motor or a Chevy motor...

07-02-2007, 09:59 PM	#10
stuffy Drives: 06 yaris 5-dr le man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 699	so the matrix will be replaced by the blade?

07-02-2007, 10:42 PM	#12
Pars Drives: 07 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 418	I'm looking forward to seeing the Blade here in Canada. Seems like a blown-up version of the Yaris. I'd rather have the Blade then the heavy weight Scion. The Vibe's nicer looking, but if I had to choose, I'd get the Matrix since it's built in Canada. I'm not saying that the Vibe's inferior, considering that my very first car was built in the same plant (New 86 Chevy Nova, which was a re-badged Corolla). So, I have no complaints about the stuff coming from the Nummi plant. It's just that I've never regretted buying Canadian.

07-03-2007, 12:16 AM	#13
RodimusPrime Drives: 1998 Intrepid Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 67	And don't forgot about the lesser known Toyota/Chevy Cavalier!

07-03-2007, 12:27 AM	#14
Kaotic Lazagna View User's Garage Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 9,873	ah yes, the JDM Toyota Cavalier...

07-03-2007, 04:42 PM	#16
JosephDoc View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris 3D Join Date: May 2007 Location: CA, USA Posts: 264	Vibe = Matrix. Ponty could not design better and getting cheapper R&D but only pay for the Toy's blueprint.

07-05-2007, 10:59 AM	#18
Yaris Revenge GIGA...DRILL...BREAKER!!! Drives: Lagann. ;P Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: My own little world. Posts: 717	Nah, the Vibe's an awesome car. I've got 125,000 trouble-free miles on mine right now. Only problem was a belt tensioner pulley bearing that started to roar at 90k miles, and a blown MAF sensor that I caused with a CAI and a water hose. It needs a cat converter at the moment, but that's to be expected with the mileage I've racked up. My automatic has returned 30-32 mpg (it's rated @ 32 hwy) for 4 years now, 38 mpg on road trips with the AC running. The Vibe costs more than the Matrix because it comes with more base features, or at least it did for the 2003 models. At the time, you had to step up a trim level on the Matrix to get the same features that came stock on the Vibe. The built-in dash mounted power inverter is the handiest thing ever! Charges cell phones in 20 minutes, powers laptops, all kindsa' goodies! Funny thing is, owning a GM-branded product has actually made me a Toyota fan. Bet they weren't counting on that when they decided to outsource! Losers! Jo, I ran across a similar situation when I was trying to diagnose a weird tranny thing (which turned out to be the transmission braking feature! ). It really depends on your service center. The local guys had no clue, and blew all kinds of smoke up my ass about this n that. I took it to another Pontiac dealer that wasted no time contacting Toyota, and they got things figured out very quickly. Techs don't like to admit they can't work on their own "brand", but if you can find some guys that will own up to it, you'll get much better results. ~YR BTW, there was a study (last year, I think) that rated the Vibe as THE least likely car to be stolen, based on a multitude of insurance claims. Guess thugs aren't interested in Pontiac station wagons... er, SPORT wagons! __________________ Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet. Last edited by Yaris Revenge; 07-05-2007 at 11:17 AM.