GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

My Reasons for picking Vibe over Matrix:-I had GM points -I had to trade in my 96 Z24 with 192000 km on it. (Toyota offered half what I got from GM)-GM had a lower lease rate than Toyota-I like the dealership and salesman -I prefered the look of the Vibe-It had the 5 year powertrain warranty to match the Matrix.I imagine this decision is harder in the USA where Toyota offers the 5 year powertrain warranty and Pontiac doesn't.

- The Vibe looks better- Waiting time shorter when ordering (4 months for Vibe, 8-9 for Matrix)- The Vibe looks better- 4,9% rate instead of 6,95% for the Matrix- The Vibe looks better- Always had GM product- Did I mention the Vibe looks better?

I agree with Sub-Vibe-R the Vibe looks better. I also choose the Vibe because of possible JDM body kits for the Voltz. I already want the factory grille that is available in Japan. it looks different and unique.

easy - GM employee discount, and $2000 cash back.

-Vibe looks so much better to me (I love the two-tone look)-Pontiac Salespeople were much more friendly and less pushy

Cleaner look.Dealer more responsive. When I mentioned the only Vibe I was interested in would be a solid neptune base, one appeared on the lot the very next day.$2000 rebate.All variations (base, AWD, GT, used) available to test drive. Toyota dealer only had a small selection (2 or three), and all similar in specification (decked out/marked up).Dealer willing to haggle. Stopped playing pricing games as soon as I said I wouldn't tollerate it. No "surprise" fees after negotiating on a final price.Dealer had plenty in stock. No waiting. I could buy when I was ready to, what I wanted to.

I am sure there is a thread out there like this....Anyway......... 1 The Canadian Matrix XR FWD isn't offered with ABS. 2 My Mrs. liked the Vibe look better. She likes SUV's, she thinks the Matrix is too wagony looking. She hates the idea of a wagon, but loves the utility (if you figure it out let me know). 3 My sister-in-law works at a GM dealer, which didn't help make it arrive any faster.....That is it.

quote:I am sure there is a thread out there like this....Found one of them! http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=934

I come from a GM family, and have always bought GM cars.I am entitled to a GM employee discount, since my Dad is a GM retiree.Even so, I like the Vibe styling much better. - Earl

vibert whad ya get on that trade in????

I leased a 2000 grand am GT from a local dealrship near my house, and when i traded it in i was like 5000 miles OVER my milage and i put some nice dents and scrath's in it, and since i knew the guy a the dealrship (this is like my family's 7th car from them) He gave me a great deal on the Vibe AND he didnt charge me ANYTHING from returning the grand am which saved me alot of money.

Lets see:-I like Pontiacs-The Vibe looks SO much better than the Matrix. The Matrix looks like any other Toyota, but the Vibe looks like nothing on the road.-0% financing. It would have cost me more to buy a matrix XRS, even though they're cheaper.-The "Thats a Pontiac?!" I get from people. LoL-It's a Pontiac!

GM PointsHigher trade-in for my 99 Civic.Better priceLower interest rateBetter servicePlus, the Vibe seems to look better than the Matrix.

Simply put................Better looking

I chose the Vibe because:- The Vibe looks better - I had GM points - GM dealers more friendly than the Toyota dealer - Better service from the GM dealers- I fell in love with the VIBE the first time I saw one - There is a lot more standard equipment in the base Vibe than in the base Matrix (Air Conditioning, 120 V outlet, driver seat heigh adjustment, clean air filter, wipers variable intermittent, fog lamps) and the Power Package is available with the base Vibe.- I like GM products

--GM employee discount (in-law)--$1000. Olds loyalty coupon--interest rate--But I really love the look and the concept of this car. Fell in love with it at the Cleveland Auto Show in 2001.

quote:vibert whad ya get on that trade in????$3500.It was in a bit rough shape

PROS:-Vibe is way better looking then the Matrix ..... A guy at my work called the Matrix an S.A.A (Space Age Ambulance)........go figure!CONS:-I think toyota is better knowledgebale on the these cars then GM

I picked it because1 Looks2 Gm visa points3 Gm Employee discount4 The Wife liked it5 It drove like my Honda Si6

I notice a lot of people have had poor treatment at Toyota dealerships. They tried to ignore me and then when I asked them questions they acted as if they were doing me a favour by answering them. When I asked about trading in my car ('96 Z24), they guy looked at it as if it was a giant turd that I'd left on his doorstep, then he offered me $1500. At The Pontiac dealership I had exceptional, friendly service. They offered me $3000 for the trade in and ended up giving me $3500. I though it was very fair since it had 192000 km and it needed about $2000-$3000 worth of work in the near future. Tranny, brakes, tires plus a lot of other stuff.

quote:I notice a lot of people have had poor treatment at Toyota dealerships. They tried to ignore me and then when I asked them questions they acted as if they were doing me a favour by answering them. When I asked about trading in my car ('96 Z24), they guy looked at it as if it was a giant turd that I'd left on his doorstep, then he offered me $1500. At The Pontiac dealership I had exceptional, friendly service. They offered me $3000 for the trade in and ended up giving me $3500. I though it was very fair since it had 192000 km and it needed about $2000-$3000 worth of work in the near future. Tranny, brakes, tires plus a lot of other stuff.I had the same with the Toyota dealer I came. He gave me $14 000 (can) for my '01 Montana, with 28 000 km ( 17 500 miles). I paied it 30 k and 18 month after, they gave me the hlf of the price. My GM dealer took it for the rest of my payment (21k).

Two reasons while I chose the Vibe over the Matrix.The Toyota sales staff at the dealer I went to were very arrogant and basically ignored me when I walked into the dealership. I walked across the street to they Pontiac dealership, and they treated me great. Test drove the Vibe, decided the next day I wanted it and in a month I owned it.The second reason is that the Vibe is a much better looking than the boxy looking Matrix. Looks like a Corolla on steroids.

I had almost the reverse experience. Toyota was really great, took the Matrix (2 different models) out for 3 test drives and got a lot of information from them.The GM dealer was stooooopid. Couldn't describe any of the vibe specs (I had to teach him) and didn't have a vibe for a test. I guess Toyota sold me the Vibe! We had GM points ($3500... hard to pass up) and the GM dealer is very large and convienent with an "award winning" (what ever that means) service dept.

1. Looks nicer2. Roof rack3. GM Supplier discount

I had a hard time making the choice.but after seeing about 5-6 matrix around my area in a few days that helped make it more to the vibe. that and i had almost $2000.00 gm points. one thing i dont get. alot of you say you had to wait or order your vibe. i guess i got real lucky. i went to the dealer the day after turkey day. and they had the exact one i wanted. Nuptune/mono paint/16 aluminum rims/ power all. sticker was $19.130 paid $16,660 cuz of the deales bottom line pricing and gmc 2000 back.And one more thing. when looking at the matrix. i said my wife likes the vibe more. the dealer siad. "gmc most not be very good if they ASKED toyota to HELP them make the vibe" the guy was a (removed).the pontiac sales guy was cool as hell.!GO VIBE!

If the Toy dealer said that, he dont know his *** from a hole in the ground.

I like the way they both look, I simply picked the vibe beacause I had gm ponts to give me better deal good vibrationsfaultline

I like the look of the vibe better. It also has a roof rack like my pathefinder had. i can put my dog pens on the roof giving me more room inside for the dog crates.

I too liked the look of the Vibe better than the Matrix. Really don't like the skirting around the bottom of the Matrix and love the two tone Vibe. Plastic clading is great for those who drive lots of gravel (like me). But there are a couple of other reasons that I haven't heard mentioned:- side airbags (was told they weren't available in the Matrix)- sunroof (not available on the Matrix in Canada, go figure)I also planned to put on a roof rack so the factory rack was a bonus. Had good response from both the Pontiac and Toyota dealers so that didn't really play into it. The wait for a Vibe was actually longer since it had to come up from the US to Alberta. Plus it was a bit more expensive (probably something to do with the canadian/us dollar exchange rate?).

I choose the vibe over the matrix 'cause:1). 0% interest for 5 years.2). $$$$ on my gm card points.3). More body protection from door dings and road chips.4). I'm a Pontiac fan.However, if it wasnt for the $$$$ and 0% loan, I probably would have taken the Matrix due to the reputation of the dealership. But I'm not a fan of the Matrix's street racer look.

My reasons are too many to list, but among the strongest influences are:- I like the Vibe's looks- More factory options- I'm a GM guy at heart- 0% interest for 5 years- dealer treated me well/had the exact car I wantedMy sister bought a '03 Corolla S a few months back. Some Toyota dealers sucked (I wanted to throw her one salesman through the dealership window because of his comments directed toward my sister, but unfortunately wasn't with her that day), but the one she bought the car from was awesome. The salesman was honest (can you believe that?), understanding, helpful, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the cars he was selling and the business he was in. That's why he got the sale. That and he did a nice deal for her on price. I wish he sold Pontiacs too, or I would have bought my Vibe from him. I absolutely wouldn't buy the Matrix, even though I could have got a great deal on it, because I don't like how it looks. I'm very happy with my Vibe!

Besides the fact that I work at the Dealership and got an employee discount, I didn't like the front/rear styling as much. On the Matrix, I felt that the body panels looked wierd with the rolling sides. They didn't have any seperation on the car. The body panels also felt more solid and it didn't seem to have as much wind noise.Mainly the styling, It looked more rugged/manly than the Matrix too me and the Shadow color sold me on the Vibe. It's the best color I've seen on a car in a long time.

liked the look better than the Matrixside air bagsGM points$2000 rebatecloser dealer

I agree whole heartedly about the color Shadow. I waited over a week for the dealer to find a shadow vibe in the configuration I was looking for!

Factors weighing in favor of the Vibe:I have a friend at Pontiac who could've scored an extended warranty for cheap.Roof rack! The optional rack on the Matrix looks like crap.Attending union meetings in a "foreign" car is dangerous.Somewhat nicer front styling, although tainted by similarity to the Aztek.My last car was a Pontiac.Reasons I ended up with a Matrix:Good engine + automatic tranny. I can't ask all my friends to learn stick, simply to help drive on a long trip. Automatic is mandatory in a roadtrip car, and the 1ZZ engine is just undriveable. Why doesn't Pontiac offer this combination?Things I'm still pissed off about:At least in Toyotaland, it's impossible to get the 2ZZ engine without all the ground-effects crap. I removed the front "parking block muncher" soon after getting the car.NOWHERE does it mention that the 2ZZ engine requires premium fuel. You don't find this out until putting 300 miles on it and stopping to fill up.The Matrix nose still looks, as my brother put it, "aesthetically challenged" even after removing the factory rice.The Toyota aftermarket roof rack is nothing like the Vibe factory rack. Anyone taken off their Vibe rack and want to sell it? Would it fit?Oh, and my Toyota salesman was quite friendly and knowledgeable. If he didn't know something, the old guy at the dealership did.

quote:Good engine + automatic tranny. I can't ask all my friends to learn stick, simply to help drive on a long trip. Automatic is mandatory in a roadtrip car, and the 1ZZ engine is just undriveable. Why doesn't Pontiac offer this combination?OK I can see why you think the 1zz is a little starved for power, but you got an auto. The difference is almost unnoticeable between the two engines with the auto tranny. Hell a 1ZZ with a manual will beat you off the line and in traffic. (We have numerous posts proving that claim on this site. So basicaly you wasted a couple of grand going for the 2ZZ auto tranny combo, and now have to get premium gas for the life of the car. BTW the Vibe rof rack will not fit your car. Happy driving

1. Looks2. GM to a chance

Rebate, Rebate, Rebate!I also like the fact that the vibe has the flares and door moldings (e.g. hopefully prevent door dings

1. GM Family Member Discount2. Rebates3. American Nameplate with Import Reliability4. Apperance5. 2 Previous Cars Were Pontiacs

quote:1. LooksJust to mention an observation. Most people on I meet that make comments on my car thinks it's a Matrix to begin with. Other than that, they might as what it is. Not one to date has identified it as a Vibe, well to me at least.As for appearance I actually like the way the rear quarter window is done on a Matrix.As for my purchase of the Vibe, I didn't even research it much and didn't even know it was related to the Matrix until afterwards.My original purchase decision was for the Mazda Protoge5, but my co-worker's wife (who works for a GM dealer), suggested I test drive a Vibe anyways.Once I got into a Vibe GT I changed my mind so fast I didn't have a chance to think about it. Definately one of my better impulsive decisions.

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Well, I guess this makes sense.You guys say the look is better than the Matrix. A majority of us with Matrixes like our look better. Heh. Whatever I guess. I do really think that the monotone Vibe looks great. It was weird, but when I was shopping around, I found the Vibe to be more expensive and I could not talk down the dealers. I personally found the Toyota dealers to be easier. Locale, locale, locate -Slink

RebateLooks

The sales people at the Toyota dealership wouldn't drop below MSRP and gave me the "holier than thou' attitude.

I've had my vibe for ten months now. I still prefer the styling of the Vibe over Matrix, but I am getting used to seeing matixes , and they don't look as bad to me as they used to.I still think maybe Toyota would know how to support the vehicle better than Pontiac, and although it;s the same car, the resale value is supposed to be better on Toyota than Pontiac, and the Toyota warranty is better than GMs, and the matirx rear windows provide a bit better visibility. At this point, if I had to choose again, I would buy a vibe