Nice! I'm listening to this as I'm driving my 06 Vibe that just passed 452000 miles on another I cross country trip. You're gonna like driving that Vibe.
Any advice for my 04 with 156,000 on it? Curious what potential issues I should be looking out for. Maybe things a mechanic could look at now to prevent or just replace . any tip.beyond shocks, struts appreciated.
@Speedslip-bq2gk no parts that i recommend replacement other than when they wear out/begin to fail or owner manual recommended. Watch for gasket leaks (valve cover & timing chain cover, not hard to replace), replace spark plugs every 120K miles, stay consistent on oil changes (5K miles) and transmission fluid, replace coolant (100k/5yrs). Go to a junk yard and pull spare parts off 03-08 Vibes, Matrixs, and Corollas to learn how they come off/go back on. The spare parts I gather are alternator, starter, Denso ignition coils, engine cooling fan, fuel pump&housing (surprisingly easy to remove/install),
Bought a 2004 GT for my daughters to learn how to drive a manual, over 4 years ago. Car now has over 230k miles on it, both girls love the car and it has been very reliable. Fun to drive around town, good on fuel, and yes everything still works! Ours has no wings on the rear 😂
I bought my 2003 Matrix XRS brand new in 2002. I put and aftermarket exhaust and intake on it and it was pretty quick. It had the 6 speed and was fun to drive on windy or hilly roads. I sold it last year with about 215,000 miles on it and bought a Camry hybrid. The Camry is more comfortable, quieter and gets better gas mileage, but the Matrix was way more fun. I should have kept it for driving around town. One of the best cars I have had in 55 years of driving. I hope you keep yours and drive it a few years.
😢 wow man, I thought you would’ve kept it after being so loyal to you. Life is crap, gotta hold on to what isnt, lol. Go find yourself another one brother & trade that Camry in for a Tacoma / Tundra with a Off-road Package 😤😎🤙🏽🤣 Just wishful thinking.
Hell yes, the Pontiac Vibe is one of the best and most underrated cars you can buy! I don't have a GT, I have a regular 2003 automatic, but it's 20 years old and still chugging along. Starts right up every time, rain or shine. I bought it from a single owner in 2021 for $1,400 with 145k miles. Put about 10k miles on it so far and only maintenance has been routine oil change. Perfect car, and it fits my bike in the back so I go to many parks and trails with this car. It's great, and great on gas!
I’m paying $1000 to my choir director for the 2003 automatic base of the base model. Seriously I think the original owner didn’t get any options. No cruise control, theft prevention (not like any one would steal it), or power anything. Bought it with 179k miles in February 2024 and I’ve put 500-1,000 on it already. Very good first car
I remember my 2004 Pontiac Vibe. Owned for 4 years and was incredibly reliable. Most reliable GM I ever owned. Returned with only a busted fog light (rock impact). After this I've owned three Toyota. All great cars :) The Toyota Matrix, once sold in Canada, is still in demand (10+ years after cancellation) this is a cheap way to get the same car.
I wonder how many Pontiac Vibes converted traditional GM/American buyers from that time to Toyota or other Japanese manufacturers for their subsequent cars, lol
5:35 For longer objects with all the seats folded down you can rest them on that plastic cover without tearing up the back of the seat. Planks of wood or steel fence posts, etc.
We bought our 03 Vibe AWD 14 years ago and other than maintenance, have only only replaced ignition coils, a water pump and suspension mounts. Still runs great and get great gas mileage
🤩 Neither the Matrix or the Vibe were real lookers, but the platform was one that I find near perfect . . . a small wagon. I had a chance at a '06 Vibe back in 2012, but didn't have the cash at the time.
Had a 2003 Vibe, base model, manual everything. When the clutch went out at 145k miles, I swapped in a 6speed from the GT. Never should have sold that car. Damn.
Just bought a 2008 Vibe. It's just the basic 4cyl automatic model. It has 237,400 miles on it. It starts up right away and is super quiet and drives incredibly smooth & straight. I couldn't be happier with it👍
I had a base '05 Vibe and really liked it. I do really prefer the front end styling on the `03 / `04 model like the one in this video where the hood comes right down to the grill. I even kind of like the grey plastic molding some of them had around the wheel wells. One nice thing about the hatch is that the window can open independent of the door. Kind of a handy feature that I don't think you see very often.
@@fortheloveofnoise yeah same here in the Midwest. A car that was supposed to be sold cheaper because it’s a secret rebadged Matrix is now more expensive than Matrix itself.
The vibe and matrix are going same price rang in my area of Colorado in November 2023. A dealer has a 2006 vibe 170k $3500, a private seller has 2006 matrix 5sp 170k $3500.
My dad bought this car new in 2003, eventually gave it to my brother many years later. The odometer stopped counting at 299,999 miles and it was driven for probably two years after that. Also what I learned how to drive stick on. Excellent car!
I can't wait until our Vibes get to 300K too! What does the odometer do when it rolls over 299,999? Does is just stop counting or does it go back to 1 and start counting up all over again?
Fun Fact: Though the Toyota Matrix was our rebadged Vibe with some cosmetic changes, the Matrix was not sold in Japan. Instead, the Pontiac Vibe in it's complete form was sold in Japan as the Toyota Voltz. The Toyota Voltz has an exclusive badge similar in shape to the Pontiac logo, but made to look like a letter "V".
It is thrilling to see the Vibe on the channel. 👏👏👏I have been living the Pontiac Vibe dream for 18 years and 15 of those years have been free of car payments.😁The Matrix and Vibe are some of the most efficiently adaptable cars we have ever seen. The raised seat height and generous headroom made them suitable for just about everyone. Too bad sales fizzled in the US. They were both incredibly popular in Canada over their entire production run and Toyota actually provided an additional model year (2014) for Canada. People looking for a Vibe/Matrix in the used car market should be aware the 2nd generation was sometimes equipped with the 2.4 (2AZ-FE) engine which became notorious for oil consumption issues.
You didn’t mention that these were also available with AWD/4WD in at least some years and I think for both Pontiac and Toyota versions. I do see these on the road up here in New England. Hope we get to follow up on this after you’ve had it on the road for a while. Thanks.
I owned a 2003 that I bought brand new. I was 22 and in the service and college. Was an incredibly reliable and functional vehicle. I replaced the stereo, speakers and added a subwoofer and amp ( it was the times). I also added Yakima roof racks for my mountain bikes. Lots of friends could fit in that little car. I loved that car. Eventually I'd trade it and get more into Jeeps and trucks. Great memories.
Wife had a 2004 Vibe, but it was a base auto. Sunburst Orange Metallic (I think that was the name of the color). Served us well for the 8+ years we owned it until a grandma in her big-ass Buick ran a stop sign and totaled it. Loved that the rear seats could fold completely flat and even the passenger seat could fold flat. Also liked the fact that the hatch glass could open separate of the hatch for hauling long items. Only thing that went wrong was the heater core went out (a $1000 repair - ouch). I also briefly owned a 2nd gen Vibe (2009), but it was a manual with the Camry's 2.4L engine. Good enough car, but was smaller and the hatch glass was no longer openable separate of the hatch.
I had one of these. 2003 or 2004. It was my first new car. I worked for a subsidiary of a subsidiary of a company that GM owned so I got employee pricing.
I've owned three Vibe GT's over the years. Best bang for the buck mods are suspension on these things. monkey wrench racing sells tons of parts. But to start I would change out the shifter bushings on the trans and swap the rubber mounts on the shifter base for the solid metal kit. Stainless steel brake hoses and some EBR red pads. And throw in some poly control arm, sway bar , and steering rack bushings. If you can find a set of stock 17's you can fit 245/45R17 tires. Anything after that will start to cost a little more money. ALSOOOO the spoiler were dealer add ons. They had a ground effect kit too (good luck finding that)
Our kids share a 05 Matrix AWD auto and it's been a very reliable car. Has something like 265K miles and it doesn't even have any rattles. Only complaint is the oil leaks that are going to be difficult / expensive to fix.
brother got a 2004 vibe GT a few years ago. amazingly underrrated car. the toyota components have held up perfectly, but the GM components have mostly failed...for the most part he AC system
Pretty rare find. A lot of people who buy the Vibe/Matrix usually go for the automatic transmission. Also, this first generation lasted from 2003-2008. 2nd generation was 2009-2010, 2009-2014 for the Matrix. This 2004 is a prefacelift model, facelift models (~2005-2008) look better. The Matrix wasn't built in Freemont, BTW. Those were built in Canada.
@@Blakecryderman7244 I used to rent a car to drive 930 miles to FL a couple times a year , not taking my work truck or an old Explorer i just keep for winter. I decided after i bought the Vibe to drive it one time and 8 trips later ... can't beat it. I was gonna buy a new hybrid Camry or Corolla Cross but keep holding off.
I just bought my mom an 09' Matrix S AWD, it has the front and rear fairings, spoiler and 17" wheels. It's a metallic blue, it's a good looking car imo. Best thing about it is how much stuff you can carry, with the front passenger seat folded flat, you can carry pretty long stuff. I fit a whole king size bed in it (Mattress on top)
Have a 05 Vibe (auto… sigh) for the past 15 years. 195,000 miles. Plenty of quirks (on a bright day, good luck seeing the gauges), but it has been bullet proof! Replaced the starter… other than brakes and oil… and if I keep my foot out of it, it gets 30+ a gallon. Wife calls it my truck.
I just bought a 2003 GT 6 spd manual. It has 168k on it and everything works. Cool little car, bought it for an extra car and to teach my grandkids how to drive a stick shift. We have a Subaru outback and a new Ram truck so this is just for fun. Thinking about some car camping in it.
I paid $2800 for a 2003 Vibe 5 years ago (automatic - not a GT) with around 120,000 miles. Prices are way higher now - especially for GTs and 4WD versions. 5 years ago - the market discounted it for being a Pontiac but that is not really true anymore. Anyone looking for a Vibe knows is essentially a Toyota Matrix. Damn good car - sitting at 160,000+ plus now - leaking some oil but everything else is working fine.
I never considered one of these as my first car, but it's exactly what I'm looking for. It's got a manual, it's reliable, it's cheap, and I can throw my drums and speakers in the back! Thanks for the review!
One other aspect of vehicles like this is a combination of low lift in and higher roof meaning you could put garbage cans of yard waste or other tall items in with no difficulty. Newer models seem to have much less floor to ceiling height.
Had a Matrix - it was a solid utilitarian vehicle. Took that thing everywhere - comfortable and economical. Only downside was the heat shield on the exhaust - had to have that repaired 3 times as it rusted out at the bolts.
My second car was a 2006 Vibe AWD. Didn't have the extra hp and fun of a GT manual model (AWD units were detuned), but it was good on fuel and great in the winter. Sometimes regret trading it off as I did keep it well kept, would have made a good fuel sipping second car compared to my truck now lol. Was a lot of plastic though on the body where the clips could pop out if not replaced over time, and those darn fog lights would always break from scooping up rocks, even with protective covers.
With 260k on the odometer, you have 39k left before the display stops working. For all of Toyota's smartness, they put in an odometer that literally stops working at 299k. And if you are in an area that uses Kilometers instead of Miles, you'll effectively hit that limit far sooner.
I own an '03 Matrix XR, it's got all the packages that the XRS had just without the 2ZZ, but it is a manual. I have the most fun in this car during canyon drives, I went camping in the Rocky Mountains and did a ton of highway type driving, and even with running the engine around 4k or higher, I got some of the best mileage I've seen in my life (41 mpg) without going hybrid or mega economy car like the Yaris. Highly recommend taking the Vibe to twisty roads, hatchbacks just handle the curves so well and it is so much fun. Hope you enjoy the Vibe!
I have a 2008 Toyota Matrix base model. 130HP 5 speed manual. Yes it has the ever typical Toyota reliability, starts & runs no matter what. Just wish it had more power. 150k miles. It looks just like this Vibe. I'd take $2800 for it.
I LOVED my Vibe! Miss that car so much. The folding front passenger's seat is tremendous for hauling lumber. Fit whole 2x4s in there with all the seats down and the rear window hatch open if necessary.
My youngest bought this car earlier this year in the 2010 AT version, 1 out of 97 in US. It is the first car as a new driver, just like you said! And it's been great despite the accidents it's had with prior owners. I recommend it.
I absolutely love my 2005 Pontiac Vibe it's such a practical vehicle. I am converting mine into a micro overland camper for my hunting and fishing trips.
I have a non GT with 250k i use to haul junk, the dogs and even to drive long trips. Just a workhorse. However these videos have driven up prices since i bought mine in 2019... they used to be cheap... Handles great. Geared to get better mpg in mixed driving than hwy, pretty buzzy at 65-75, rpms over 3k. 30mpg around town, 32-34 hwy depending on speed. Holds alot of stuff with seats down too. Keeps the miles off the guzzling truck and suv, saves $. Great car for anyone who doesn't need a rolling laptop with cooled and heated seats. Only rather drive the Element than this... should of named it the Pragmatic.
Ive driven all around North America in my '09 Vibe . With a 2' x4' piece of plywood I have a 73" bed. Its the perfect solo camper. Yesterday I was looking at a new car. No I couldn't give up my Vibe. Maybe I should pimp it up a bit.
These are very long lasting cars. They often had small issues with plastic body panels and some interior pieces. The mechanics were great! I had friends & acquaintances driving them with well over 300,000 kms or about 200,000 miles at 320K
daughter needed a car, she young and broke so i searched around. found a 2006 Vibe (not a GT) with 66k miles. paint was awful and all the door handles aside from the drivers door were broke. i took it home for 3k, put a semi cheap paint job on it, oil change and replaced all the handles and it was golden. been a year now and she loves it no issues
I bought my 2006 Vibe for $2,000 at 120,000 miles. It took a sticker with no problem, and has no major problems at the moment. It’s clean, minimal rust and scuffs, and overall was an amazing deal!
My first car from a dealership was a used 03 Vibe GT. It was a manual, a lot quicker than the other wagons in my price range and could fit all of my stuff so I could drive half way across the country. Car served me well for 10 years although the clutch is weak on these, it needs to be upgraded if it hasn't been already. Other then that the only issues I had were the interior falling apart and it was semi difficult to find the pieces that weren't shared with the matrix (even before Pontiac went out of business).
my dad was on the R&D project for this car back in the day, he went on many trips to Japan and introduced me to the R34 via toys, and all these years later i work at Tesla!
I had a matrix for a while with the five speed. Great little car. My radio display also didn’t work. Only downside was the complete lack of sound insulation. It was unbearable on the highway!
@ChallengerDood yes they won’t have the quietest highway ride, most enthusiasts that own them either put in sound deadening kits, which work very well, and they turn the radio up too. These things do work, don’t always have to buy a different car for a quiet ride
My wife and I literally bought two Vibes this month. First we found a 2005 Red vibe and we bought that for her. Two weeks later the same small dealer had another Grey 2006 Vibe. Bought both for $4500. My wife's has 146k miles and mine 141k. Both in excellent condition
My mom has the face lifted 2010 vibe, not the gt though. She’s been driving that thing forever, and I think my brother might get it when he gets his license
Both my son and my my sister has this car and same year the only thing that is not reliable is the odometer that stops running at 299,999 thousand kilometres. A fact here in Canada 🇨🇦 don’t know in miles but kilometres yes. I guess the manufacturing engineers didn’t figure it was going to last for twenty plus years 😅
@Ernie Arruda eh, I just put in an aftermarket speedometer and odometer like those one that look like motorcycle speedometer, just put it somewhere with good reception. There’s a solution to every problem.
I’d say the styling of the Vibe has held up better than the Matrix but back in 2003 I chose the Protege5 because it was more nimble and had a nicer interior. Had Toyota offered AWD with the 2zz though, I might have been sold on it.
For the seatback table, you need to adjust the recline to a completely upright position (using the normal recline adjustment) to get a flat seatback table
Dwayne, I've been looking for a comment like yours. My wife has a 2009 Matrix with the 2.4L, and these motors (specifically the ones built from '07 to '09) have a known oil consumption issue. Apparently, the oil rings and their associated pistons were designed poorly, so that oil is forced past the rings into the combustion chamber. There was a class action lawsuit and a technical service bulletin issued by Toyota. Look it up online under "Toyota 2AZ-FE engine oil consumption." The fix is replacing the pistons and rings.
@@Edyth_Hedd I have the 2009 as well. Edited. If it didn’t run so well I guess I would be looking at a rebuild. I have a feeling the whole car will fall apart before that happens.
@@smashy_smasherton Yeah, my wife's car only has 78K miles, and it's in mint condition, so we can tolerate throwing a quart of oil into it every thousand miles.
My 07 base model, is sitting somewhere around 360-400k (I lost count after the Odo stopped at, 299,999k) but it's been a tank of a car and keeps on trucking. Other than basic maintenance and a new alternator Its been worry free driving for the last 3 1/2 years I've owned it
I bought a 2009 vibe base manual, after 15 years it is still running good and still in the familly. Someone offer the current owner 6000$ (cdn) for it....i paid 17000$ back then for it...amazing!
That household plug in should be standard on EVERY vehicle. Who’s with me??
120v?
@@puzzlebow2158 I think it said 115 on the car. Anything from 110-120 would suffice.
We need one regardless
Pretty much every new car does have a 115V AC plug. But back when this car came out, it was actually pretty rare.
What do you use it for
It's a great car.
A lot of people have no idea that it's really a Toyota matrix with Pontiac emblems on it.
Hence why it's a good car
Nice! I'm listening to this as I'm driving my 06 Vibe that just passed 452000 miles on another I cross country trip. You're gonna like driving that Vibe.
Any advice for my 04 with 156,000 on it? Curious what potential issues I should be looking out for. Maybe things a mechanic could look at now to prevent or just replace . any tip.beyond shocks, struts appreciated.
@Speedslip-bq2gk no parts that i recommend replacement other than when they wear out/begin to fail or owner manual recommended. Watch for gasket leaks (valve cover & timing chain cover, not hard to replace), replace spark plugs every 120K miles, stay consistent on oil changes (5K miles) and transmission fluid, replace coolant (100k/5yrs). Go to a junk yard and pull spare parts off 03-08 Vibes, Matrixs, and Corollas to learn how they come off/go back on. The spare parts I gather are alternator, starter, Denso ignition coils, engine cooling fan, fuel pump&housing (surprisingly easy to remove/install),
Bought a 2004 GT for my daughters to learn how to drive a manual, over 4 years ago. Car now has over 230k miles on it, both girls love the car and it has been very reliable. Fun to drive around town, good on fuel, and yes everything still works! Ours has no wings on the rear 😂
I bought my 2003 Matrix XRS brand new in 2002. I put and aftermarket exhaust and intake on it and it was pretty quick. It had the 6 speed and was fun to drive on windy or hilly roads. I sold it last year with about 215,000 miles on it and bought a Camry hybrid. The Camry is more comfortable, quieter and gets better gas mileage, but the Matrix was way more fun. I should have kept it for driving around town. One of the best cars I have had in 55 years of driving. I hope you keep yours and drive it a few years.
😢 wow man, I thought you would’ve kept it after being so loyal to you. Life is crap, gotta hold on to what isnt, lol. Go find yourself another one brother & trade that Camry in for a Tacoma / Tundra with a Off-road Package 😤😎🤙🏽🤣
Just wishful thinking.
Hell yes, the Pontiac Vibe is one of the best and most underrated cars you can buy! I don't have a GT, I have a regular 2003 automatic, but it's 20 years old and still chugging along. Starts right up every time, rain or shine. I bought it from a single owner in 2021 for $1,400 with 145k miles. Put about 10k miles on it so far and only maintenance has been routine oil change. Perfect car, and it fits my bike in the back so I go to many parks and trails with this car. It's great, and great on gas!
Yes it’s a great car for LGBTQ community members 😂
@@speedracerjeff the fuck?
My 2007 Vibe has 79,000 miles and runs and drives like a new car. It’s way better than my wife’s new car
Crazy I paid 4200 for a 05 with 168k
I’m paying $1000 to my choir director for the 2003 automatic base of the base model. Seriously I think the original owner didn’t get any options. No cruise control, theft prevention (not like any one would steal it), or power anything. Bought it with 179k miles in February 2024 and I’ve put 500-1,000 on it already. Very good first car
I remember my 2004 Pontiac Vibe. Owned for 4 years and was incredibly reliable. Most reliable GM I ever owned. Returned with only a busted fog light (rock impact). After this I've owned three Toyota. All great cars :)
The Toyota Matrix, once sold in Canada, is still in demand (10+ years after cancellation) this is a cheap way to get the same car.
I wonder how many Pontiac Vibes converted traditional GM/American buyers from that time to Toyota or other Japanese manufacturers for their subsequent cars, lol
5:35 For longer objects with all the seats folded down you can rest them on that plastic cover without tearing up the back of the seat. Planks of wood or steel fence posts, etc.
Also, an ottoman for the back seat passenger
We bought our 03 Vibe AWD 14 years ago and other than maintenance, have only only replaced ignition coils, a water pump and suspension mounts. Still runs great and get great gas mileage
Sounds like a POS lol
🤩 Neither the Matrix or the Vibe were real lookers, but the platform was one that I find near perfect . . . a small wagon. I had a chance at a '06 Vibe back in 2012, but didn't have the cash at the time.
The 2009 and up are pretty modern looking. I have a 2005 but would like to find a 2009-10 to replace it.
Had a 2003 Vibe, base model, manual everything. When the clutch went out at 145k miles, I swapped in a 6speed from the GT. Never should have sold that car. Damn.
Probably one of the most underrated cars of the era.
Just bought a 2008 Vibe. It's just the basic 4cyl automatic model. It has 237,400 miles on it. It starts up right away and is super quiet and drives incredibly smooth & straight. I couldn't be happier with it👍
I have owned my 2003 Pontiac Vibe for 20 years it has 138,000 miles and it is still going strong.
I had a base '05 Vibe and really liked it. I do really prefer the front end styling on the `03 / `04 model like the one in this video where the hood comes right down to the grill. I even kind of like the grey plastic molding some of them had around the wheel wells.
One nice thing about the hatch is that the window can open independent of the door. Kind of a handy feature that I don't think you see very often.
Probably cheaper than the Toyota Matrix version, too.
More expensive in my area.
@@fortheloveofnoise yeah same here in the Midwest. A car that was supposed to be sold cheaper because it’s a secret rebadged Matrix is now more expensive than Matrix itself.
I bought one for $900, my son drove it for two years. Great station wagon!
The vibe and matrix are going same price rang in my area of Colorado in November 2023. A dealer has a 2006 vibe 170k $3500, a private seller has 2006 matrix 5sp 170k $3500.
My dad bought this car new in 2003, eventually gave it to my brother many years later. The odometer stopped counting at 299,999 miles and it was driven for probably two years after that. Also what I learned how to drive stick on. Excellent car!
I can't wait until our Vibes get to 300K too! What does the odometer do when it rolls over 299,999? Does is just stop counting or does it go back to 1 and start counting up all over again?
@@cape3015 it stopped counting haha, just said 299,999
@@1mlb704 Interesting. Do the trip odeometers continue to work? If so, I guess you could use them to keep track of your mileage.
@@cape3015 yeah trips still worked
Love TFL classics. I own a 2007 Vibe. Very reliable. Vibes are awesome
Fun Fact: Though the Toyota Matrix was our rebadged Vibe with some cosmetic changes, the Matrix was not sold in Japan.
Instead, the Pontiac Vibe in it's complete form was sold in Japan as the Toyota Voltz.
The Toyota Voltz has an exclusive badge similar in shape to the Pontiac logo, but made to look like a letter "V".
It is thrilling to see the Vibe on the channel. 👏👏👏I have been living the Pontiac Vibe dream for 18 years and 15 of those years have been free of car payments.😁The Matrix and Vibe are some of the most efficiently adaptable cars we have ever seen. The raised seat height and generous headroom made them suitable for just about everyone. Too bad sales fizzled in the US. They were both incredibly popular in Canada over their entire production run and Toyota actually provided an additional model year (2014) for Canada. People looking for a Vibe/Matrix in the used car market should be aware the 2nd generation was sometimes equipped with the 2.4 (2AZ-FE) engine which became notorious for oil consumption issues.
You didn’t mention that these were also available with AWD/4WD in at least some years and I think for both Pontiac and Toyota versions. I do see these on the road up here in New England. Hope we get to follow up on this after you’ve had it on the road for a while. Thanks.
I owned a 2003 that I bought brand new. I was 22 and in the service and college. Was an incredibly reliable and functional vehicle. I replaced the stereo, speakers and added a subwoofer and amp ( it was the times). I also added Yakima roof racks for my mountain bikes. Lots of friends could fit in that little car. I loved that car. Eventually I'd trade it and get more into Jeeps and trucks. Great memories.
Wife had a 2004 Vibe, but it was a base auto. Sunburst Orange Metallic (I think that was the name of the color). Served us well for the 8+ years we owned it until a grandma in her big-ass Buick ran a stop sign and totaled it. Loved that the rear seats could fold completely flat and even the passenger seat could fold flat. Also liked the fact that the hatch glass could open separate of the hatch for hauling long items. Only thing that went wrong was the heater core went out (a $1000 repair - ouch). I also briefly owned a 2nd gen Vibe (2009), but it was a manual with the Camry's 2.4L engine. Good enough car, but was smaller and the hatch glass was no longer openable separate of the hatch.
I had one of these. 2003 or 2004. It was my first new car. I worked for a subsidiary of a subsidiary of a company that GM owned so I got employee pricing.
Have a 2006 with 249,000 miles and everything still works. No major work needed since new. Really reliable.
Bought mine new in 2003. First Monochrome Vibe in Canada. Still my daily driver!
Good video Brendan! I drove one in '07 as a service vehicle. Loved that car. Brought back some great memories! Thanks
I love my vibe. I track it too as well as daily drive it. Nothing beats the noise of these hitting 8400 rpm.
I've owned three Vibe GT's over the years. Best bang for the buck mods are suspension on these things. monkey wrench racing sells tons of parts. But to start I would change out the shifter bushings on the trans and swap the rubber mounts on the shifter base for the solid metal kit. Stainless steel brake hoses and some EBR red pads. And throw in some poly control arm, sway bar , and steering rack bushings. If you can find a set of stock 17's you can fit 245/45R17 tires. Anything after that will start to cost a little more money.
ALSOOOO the spoiler were dealer add ons. They had a ground effect kit too (good luck finding that)
Our kids share a 05 Matrix AWD auto and it's been a very reliable car. Has something like 265K miles and it doesn't even have any rattles. Only complaint is the oil leaks that are going to be difficult / expensive to fix.
My former boss had a Vibe that she daily-drove to > 400K miles. Cars don’t get much better than that for reliable, comfortable transportation.
My Brother has had one for years and it just keeps going, A car that is on my list for when my Daughter finally decides she wants to drive
brother got a 2004 vibe GT a few years ago. amazingly underrrated car. the toyota components have held up perfectly, but the GM components have mostly failed...for the most part he AC system
Glad to see these cars getting love last few months. Only downside is I've noticed their prices going up. Ours has 290k and still rolling.
We had one of these. 2005 Vibe(not GT) and it had 272,000 miles on it when we finally sold it and it still ran just fine
I have a 2006 Matrix, I love it. It has never given me a problem.
I have a Vibe GT. I will NEVER get sick of lift kicking in. In a car like this, it's so unexpected and fun.
Tfl classics is the best because they show cars working class people can actually afford to buy.
Pretty rare find. A lot of people who buy the Vibe/Matrix usually go for the automatic transmission. Also, this first generation lasted from 2003-2008. 2nd generation was 2009-2010, 2009-2014 for the Matrix. This 2004 is a prefacelift model, facelift models (~2005-2008) look better. The Matrix wasn't built in Freemont, BTW. Those were built in Canada.
The 2nd gen look much sleeker, my 2005 looks dated but still runs great.
@@dewdew34 2003-08 models have great simplistic styling in my opinion, not a lot to it, the K.I.S.S. Theory worked
@@Blakecryderman7244 I used to rent a car to drive 930 miles to FL a couple times a year , not taking my work truck or an old Explorer i just keep for winter. I decided after i bought the Vibe to drive it one time and 8 trips later ... can't beat it. I was gonna buy a new hybrid Camry or Corolla Cross but keep holding off.
I just bought my mom an 09' Matrix S AWD, it has the front and rear fairings, spoiler and 17" wheels. It's a metallic blue, it's a good looking car imo.
Best thing about it is how much stuff you can carry, with the front passenger seat folded flat, you can carry pretty long stuff. I fit a whole king size bed in it (Mattress on top)
Have a 05 Vibe (auto… sigh) for the past 15 years. 195,000 miles. Plenty of quirks (on a bright day, good luck seeing the gauges), but it has been bullet proof! Replaced the starter… other than brakes and oil… and if I keep my foot out of it, it gets 30+ a gallon. Wife calls it my truck.
I just bought a 2003 GT 6 spd manual. It has 168k on it and everything works. Cool little car, bought it for an extra car and to teach my grandkids how to drive a stick shift. We have a Subaru outback and a new Ram truck so this is just for fun. Thinking about some car camping in it.
Love these cars-the Matrix, too. My buddy, Doug, had one-we worked a floor cleaning business out of it.😂🤣😂
I paid $2800 for a 2003 Vibe 5 years ago (automatic - not a GT) with around 120,000 miles. Prices are way higher now - especially for GTs and 4WD versions. 5 years ago - the market discounted it for being a Pontiac but that is not really true anymore. Anyone looking for a Vibe knows is essentially a Toyota Matrix. Damn good car - sitting at 160,000+ plus now - leaking some oil but everything else is working fine.
I had an 03 XRS Matrix it really was a great little car! sounded cool, was practical as hell and it could be fun if you got good a quick shifting!
Good job Brendan..... HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE ✌️
Love it when they make non sports cars sporty
A manual base 1.8 would be cool. I love my 2015 Scion XB manual transmission. Its extremely reliable, versatile, cool looking, and fun to drive.
I love the a vibe and would have bought one had I not found my 2009 scion xB for 2700, its been a great family vehicle
I've owned two Pontiac Vibes. Not GT models, but we still really liked them.
I never considered one of these as my first car, but it's exactly what I'm looking for. It's got a manual, it's reliable, it's cheap, and I can throw my drums and speakers in the back! Thanks for the review!
My nephew’s wife has a 2006 and it was Free. Great for them as they have 2 Kids now.
I had a 2006 vibe and kept for eight years and sold it with 120.000 km and it was the best car i had !👍👍👍👍
@Vince Buono shame you didn’t keep it 120,000 km is absolutely nothing for a vibe!
Own a 2003 Vibe GT in San Diego with 192,500 miles! This gas saver is so much fun and super reliable. And it’s for SALE!!!
One other aspect of vehicles like this is a combination of low lift in and higher roof meaning you could put garbage cans of yard waste or other tall items in with no difficulty. Newer models seem to have much less floor to ceiling height.
Good point, the roof height of today's Corolla hatch is about 6 inches lower than the Matrix/Vibe.
Had a Matrix - it was a solid utilitarian vehicle. Took that thing everywhere - comfortable and economical. Only downside was the heat shield on the exhaust - had to have that repaired 3 times as it rusted out at the bolts.
The rails on the plastic floors have attachments for tie-down
My second car was a 2006 Vibe AWD. Didn't have the extra hp and fun of a GT manual model (AWD units were detuned), but it was good on fuel and great in the winter. Sometimes regret trading it off as I did keep it well kept, would have made a good fuel sipping second car compared to my truck now lol. Was a lot of plastic though on the body where the clips could pop out if not replaced over time, and those darn fog lights would always break from scooping up rocks, even with protective covers.
With 260k on the odometer, you have 39k left before the display stops working. For all of Toyota's smartness, they put in an odometer that literally stops working at 299k. And if you are in an area that uses Kilometers instead of Miles, you'll effectively hit that limit far sooner.
I had one of the first year models. Not the GT, but I still loved that little car. We sold it when the family out grew it.
I own an '03 Matrix XR, it's got all the packages that the XRS had just without the 2ZZ, but it is a manual. I have the most fun in this car during canyon drives, I went camping in the Rocky Mountains and did a ton of highway type driving, and even with running the engine around 4k or higher, I got some of the best mileage I've seen in my life (41 mpg) without going hybrid or mega economy car like the Yaris. Highly recommend taking the Vibe to twisty roads, hatchbacks just handle the curves so well and it is so much fun. Hope you enjoy the Vibe!
I have a 2008 Toyota Matrix base model. 130HP 5 speed manual.
Yes it has the ever typical Toyota reliability, starts & runs no matter what.
Just wish it had more power. 150k miles. It looks just like this Vibe. I'd take $2800 for it.
I LOVED my Vibe! Miss that car so much. The folding front passenger's seat is tremendous for hauling lumber. Fit whole 2x4s in there with all the seats down and the rear window hatch open if necessary.
I am sure you have seen a station wagon or van with a vertical rear window. The upper wing helps keep the window free from dust.
My youngest bought this car earlier this year in the 2010 AT version, 1 out of 97 in US. It is the first car as a new driver, just like you said! And it's been great despite the accidents it's had with prior owners. I recommend it.
What a talking point to have. "Yeah, she's got the Lotus Elise engine."
I loved my Pontiac Vibe! I had a later model and absolutely loved i! It really could haul a lot of stuff.
I absolutely love my 2005 Pontiac Vibe it's such a practical vehicle. I am converting mine into a micro overland camper for my hunting and fishing trips.
I have a 2005 vibe and it’s the most practical vehicle I’ve ever had. The glad opening in the back is so useful.
I have a non GT with 250k i use to haul junk, the dogs and even to drive long trips. Just a workhorse. However these videos have driven up prices since i bought mine in 2019... they used to be cheap... Handles great. Geared to get better mpg in mixed driving than hwy, pretty buzzy at 65-75, rpms over 3k. 30mpg around town, 32-34 hwy depending on speed. Holds alot of stuff with seats down too. Keeps the miles off the guzzling truck and suv, saves $. Great car for anyone who doesn't need a rolling laptop with cooled and heated seats. Only rather drive the Element than this... should of named it the Pragmatic.
Ive driven all around North America in my '09 Vibe . With a 2' x4' piece of plywood I have a 73" bed. Its the perfect solo camper. Yesterday I was looking at a new car. No I couldn't give up my Vibe. Maybe I should pimp it up a bit.
These are very long lasting cars. They often had small issues with plastic body panels and some interior pieces. The mechanics were great!
I had friends & acquaintances driving them with well over 300,000 kms or about 200,000 miles at 320K
These performance vehicles from 20 years ago just keep up with the average new car, but I still think that's pretty cool
Probably one of the most underrated cars of the era!)))
daughter needed a car, she young and broke so i searched around. found a 2006 Vibe (not a GT) with 66k miles. paint was awful and all the door handles aside from the drivers door were broke. i took it home for 3k, put a semi cheap paint job on it, oil change and replaced all the handles and it was golden. been a year now and she loves it no issues
She us so lucky to have you for her Dad!!
My daughters 2nd car - taken her to grad school in Tennessee to work in Seattle. Very solid car
It's yes, literally, an upsized Corolla. This car, after a little refresh, can have a great place in Europe.
I bought my 2006 Vibe for $2,000 at 120,000 miles. It took a sticker with no problem, and has no major problems at the moment. It’s clean, minimal rust and scuffs, and overall was an amazing deal!
Yup. I love my '09 Vibe GT. Even with the less powerful 2.4 liter 2AZ-FE engine. I've logged more than 180,000 worry-free miles on it.
This is very very high on my list of buys.
My first car from a dealership was a used 03 Vibe GT. It was a manual, a lot quicker than the other wagons in my price range and could fit all of my stuff so I could drive half way across the country. Car served me well for 10 years although the clutch is weak on these, it needs to be upgraded if it hasn't been already. Other then that the only issues I had were the interior falling apart and it was semi difficult to find the pieces that weren't shared with the matrix (even before Pontiac went out of business).
fell apart how (if you can spare the time to describe) thanks!
my dad was on the R&D project for this car back in the day, he went on many trips to Japan and introduced me to the R34 via toys, and all these years later i work at Tesla!
I had a matrix for a while with the five speed. Great little car. My radio display also didn’t work. Only downside was the complete lack of sound insulation. It was unbearable on the highway!
@ChallengerDood yes they won’t have the quietest highway ride, most enthusiasts that own them either put in sound deadening kits, which work very well, and they turn the radio up too. These things do work, don’t always have to buy a different car for a quiet ride
My wife and I literally bought two Vibes this month. First we found a 2005 Red vibe and we bought that for her. Two weeks later the same small dealer had another Grey 2006 Vibe. Bought both for $4500. My wife's has 146k miles and mine 141k. Both in excellent condition
I dig your review style, good vibes 😂
My mom has the face lifted 2010 vibe, not the gt though. She’s been driving that thing forever, and I think my brother might get it when he gets his license
I have always liked the looks of this things for some reason, allthough they are normal suvs but cool somehow, wish i could get one over here
8 out of 10 Pontiacs I see now a days are the vibe cause of the corolla engine 😂
Pontiac hasn't made cars for over a decade, but the Vibe is still one of the most common vehicles on the road today. They were that good.
Super cool!! I love that we have the same tastes in weird cars
I have a 2004 base Vibe. It has well over 300K and I love it. Even with only 130 HP it is still very zippi.
Nice video .. had two matrix .. looking forward to but a vibe GT this summer … zero complaints.. best GM product ☺️ (reliable)
Both my son and my my sister has this car and same year the only thing that is not reliable is the odometer that stops running at 299,999 thousand kilometres. A fact here in Canada 🇨🇦 don’t know in miles but kilometres yes. I guess the manufacturing engineers didn’t figure it was going to last for twenty plus years 😅
It was a software issue that had the same effect in miles and km.
@Ernie Arruda eh, I just put in an aftermarket speedometer and odometer like those one that look like motorcycle speedometer, just put it somewhere with good reception. There’s a solution to every problem.
2zzge engine mate?
USDM Tuner with Toyota JDM & Yamaha Engineering on the Engine, that 1.8 N/A High Reviving Dual VVT is a BEAST!
I’d say the styling of the Vibe has held up better than the Matrix but back in 2003 I chose the Protege5 because it was more nimble and had a nicer interior. Had Toyota offered AWD with the 2zz though, I might have been sold on it.
I injoy my first generation matrix I just have a xr auto but it's still fun to drive 🚗 plus I have 265k on it a I drive 150 a day very reliable
For the seatback table, you need to adjust the recline to a completely upright position (using the normal recline adjustment) to get a flat seatback table
I have a 2009 AWD. Great car. 2.4 engine seems to use oil, though.
Dwayne, I've been looking for a comment like yours. My wife has a 2009 Matrix with the 2.4L, and these motors (specifically the ones built from '07 to '09) have a known oil consumption issue. Apparently, the oil rings and their associated pistons were designed poorly, so that oil is forced past the rings into the combustion chamber. There was a class action lawsuit and a technical service bulletin issued by Toyota. Look it up online under "Toyota 2AZ-FE engine oil consumption." The fix is replacing the pistons and rings.
@@Edyth_Hedd I have the 2009 as well. Edited. If it didn’t run so well I guess I would be looking at a rebuild. I have a feeling the whole car will fall apart before that happens.
@@smashy_smasherton Yeah, my wife's car only has 78K miles, and it's in mint condition, so we can tolerate throwing a quart of oil into it every thousand miles.
My 07 base model, is sitting somewhere around 360-400k (I lost count after the Odo stopped at, 299,999k) but it's been a tank of a car and keeps on trucking. Other than basic maintenance and a new alternator Its been worry free driving for the last 3 1/2 years I've owned it
I live The work you guys do….remembering so forgotten Classics
I bought a 2009 vibe base manual, after 15 years it is still running good and still in the familly. Someone offer the current owner 6000$ (cdn) for it....i paid 17000$ back then for it...amazing!
I was such a nerd and wanted this (Toyota Matrix XRS) when it came out in the early 2000's.