GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Our 2006 Vibe was recently totaled and we are shopping for another. Consumer Reports says 2006 has better reliability than other years. Does anyone know what this is based on?

Just more generally, are there particular years that are better than others? I have seen the long post comparing all of features across years but I didn't get the sense from reading it that in the end it matters a lot. Is this correct? Are there big differences between 2003/4 and 2005/8 that I'm missing from that post?

Somewhere I saw which years had the electrical outlet in the front dash and now I can't find that. Can someone remind me which years have that?

Thanks!

The standard style electrical plug is in all the 1st gens, don't know about the 2nds (09+).

Main diference between the 03/04 and 05-08's is that the earlier ones have cable throttle and the later models have drive by wire which leaves more of the engine throttle and management up to the computer. Both are equally reliable in my experience.

Also they made slight styling changes between the two, earlier models had the plastic cladding and sunken in grille, later ones had color matched cladding and a more flush looking sparkly grill.e

There is no tangible reason to think an 06 is better or worse compared to any of the other 05-08 models.

That's right. There is no tangible reason to think one year would be better than the other.

Here is some statistics. IMO the differences between the model years could be chalked up to sampling errors.

http://www.truedelta.com/Pontiac-Vibe/reliability-238" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One comment on the electrical outlet, on the 09-10 it is a 3 prong outlet vs only a 2 prong on on the earlier cars. But otherwise, I would consider the Vibe reliability to be very similar across the years. It would more hinge on how well it was maintained and second on the miles IMO. I'm currently looking at an 09 - 1 owner with decent maintenance records so I'm not worried about the reliability of it.

Good luck in your search!

Consumer Report's vehicle reliability is determined in large part by what owners report on yearly surveys sent to them asking about repairs that have been required on the vehicle(s) they own.

My Vibe is listed on http://www.truedelta.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and I suggest that everyone here also list theirs.

I have a 2010 Base with Auto Trans. Never had a repair other than the normal stuff...Brakes, Tires and the every 3K oil change. I think that makes it rather dependable

Thanks for all of the helpful replies, everyone!

One more question about features: Are anti-lock brakes standard or optional on the Vibes of 03/04 and 05/08 years?
Thanks again!

nugentc wrote:One more question about features: Are anti-lock brakes standard or optional on the Vibes of 03/04 and 05/08 years?
Thanks again!

On the 03/04 models, ABS was a $500 option (I know because I still have my window sticker). I'm not sure about '05-'08.

ABS was an option on the 05-08 Vibes also. My son's 06 does not have it, but a lady I know does have it on her 05.

trb wrote:ABS was an option on the 05-08 Vibes also. My son's 06 does not have it, but a lady I know does have it on her 05.

Not until 2009 were ABS Brakes, traction control and additional airbags made standard. I almost bought a 2008 but the numbers didn't work for me and my 2003 Vibe only had about 27,000 miles. The added safety features of the 2009 plus a slightly lower price and some great incentives made buying my 2009 a no brainer. The difference between what I paid the dealer for my 2009 and what I got in a private sale of my 2003 was $3,654. Not bad for 6 years and 33,000 miles.

Houston wrote:
My Vibe is listed on http://www.truedelta.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and I suggest that everyone here also list theirs.

Awesome advice Houston Both of our 2009 Vibe GT's are listed there and have been for four years+. Also, to this day, other than the normal wear & tear items which will need addressed, we've had no problems at all.

[quote="nugentc"]Our 2006 Vibe was recently totaled and we are shopping for another. Consumer Reports says 2006 has better reliability than other years. Does anyone know what this is based on?

Just more generally, are there particular years that are better than others? I have seen the long post comparing all of features across years but I didn't get the sense from reading it that in the end it matters a lot. Is this correct? Are there big differences between 2003/4 and 2005/8 that I'm missing from that post?

Somewhere I saw which years had the electrical outlet in the front dash and now I can't find that. Can someone remind me which years have that?

Thanks![/quote

Yes to your question about years better than others. Answer 2005 and later ones, not only for the DBW, which did away with hoses and cables for cruise and throttle, but also the chance to get Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which was not offered on the 2003-2004 models. What also goes in favor of the 2005 and later models, the oil consumption issue that plagued some 2003 and 2004 models, was greatly if not completed reduced or eliminated. If you're in a Northern climate, there is a good chance that it would be harder to find a 2003-2004 without rust. Finally, since Pontiac and Vibe are no more, you can swing a very good deal on a later model for not much than a 2003-2004. That being said, 2008 may be the best year in terms of reliability, features and value. Thanks for the informative thread

Mine is on True Delta too, but not for years. I just bought mine recently. True Delta has helped me in deciding for a Vibe. They have a forum called "my next car" and while discussing my requirements I found that the Vibe fits most of them.

Thanks again for all of the helpful replies!

I have another question about possible 03-04 vs 05-08 differences. We sat in a 2003 Vibe today with leather seats. I found them to be really uncomfortable compared to our old 06 Vibe with cloth seats. They felt really hard overall and the seams seemed to push in my lower back in the driver's seat. Is this a difference in seats between 03-04 vs 05-08 years? Or is it a difference between the leather vs cloth in most years?

have another question about possible 03-04 vs 05-08 differences. We sat in a 2003 Vibe today with leather seats. I found them to be really uncomfortable compared to our old 06 Vibe with cloth seats. They felt really hard overall and the seams seemed to push in my lower back in the driver's seat. Is this a difference in seats between 03-04 vs 05-08 years? Or is it a difference between the leather vs cloth in most years?

Leather wasn't a factory option until 05. I never got a chance to try the leather factory seats out but I am convinced they were either seats from a dif car or catskins in that '03 you sat in. Seats are extremely expensive to change (mid model cycle) for a manufacturer because crash testing would need to be redone. (This is why Vette seats suct for so long) so I can positvely say the Vibe had the same seats from 03-08.

Most likely it was the difference between the cloth and whatever they put on for leather, leather can tend to make seats less comfortable than their cloth equivalents if the leather is not of good quality.

Thanks for the help. The leather was different colors in different sections (navy blue and an off-white or tan) and it had a Vibe logo on it. I'm not sure it was real leather.

Another factor that might have added to the discomfort is that they were heated seats. I'm not sure how those work, but it would make sense that it might not be entirely comfortable to have that system in there with the padding.

Nasmfell wrote:

nugentc wrote: Yes to your question about years better than others. Answer 2005 and later ones, not only for the DBW, which did away with hoses and cables for cruise and throttle, but also the chance to get Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which was not offered on the 2003-2004 models. What also goes in favor of the 2005 and later models, the oil consumption issue that plagued some 2003 and 2004 models, was greatly if not completed reduced or eliminated. If you're in a Northern climate, there is a good chance that it would be harder to find a 2003-2004 without rust. Finally, since Pontiac and Vibe are no more, you can swing a very good deal on a later model for not much than a 2003-2004. That being said, 2008 may be the best year in terms of reliability, features and value. Thanks for the informative thread

The 3rd generation 2009-2010 might be considered a better value if you want 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction/stability control, and extra air bags that were standard starting in 2009. This was an issue with my wife - not as much for me as I considered those to be something else that can go wrong though we only drive 6,000 miles a year so less of an issue with us. But with all of that the deal we got on the 2009 was about $2,000 less than the 2008 we looked at a year prior. The 2009 base eliminated a few features - roof rack, fold down front passenger seat, hatch window that opened - none were of significant interest to us anyway. Glad I have a 2009 vs. 2008.

jake75 wrote:

Nasmfell wrote:

nugentc wrote: Yes to your question about years better than others. Answer 2005 and later ones, not only for the DBW, which did away with hoses and cables for cruise and throttle, but also the chance to get Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which was not offered on the 2003-2004 models. What also goes in favor of the 2005 and later models, the oil consumption issue that plagued some 2003 and 2004 models, was greatly if not completed reduced or eliminated. If you're in a Northern climate, there is a good chance that it would be harder to find a 2003-2004 without rust. Finally, since Pontiac and Vibe are no more, you can swing a very good deal on a later model for not much than a 2003-2004. That being said, 2008 may be the best year in terms of reliability, features and value. Thanks for the informative thread

The 3rd generation 2009-2010 might be considered a better value if you want 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction/stability control, and extra air bags that were standard starting in 2009. This was an issue with my wife - not as much for me as I considered those to be something else that can go wrong though we only drive 6,000 miles a year so less of an issue with us. But with all of that the deal we got on the 2009 was about $2,000 less than the 2008 we looked at a year prior. The 2009 base eliminated a few features - roof rack, fold down front passenger seat, hatch window that opened - none were of significant interest to us anyway. Glad I have a 2009 vs. 2008.

It''s good you got a good deal on a 2009 compared to 2008, but some on here have lamented the appearance of less interior room and the elimination of the separate opening window in the hatch which would help for carrying long items. For some reason, Toyota decided to make the PCV and its hose hard to access on the 2009 and later 1,8 engine ( under intake manifold), which could be an issue for some. I still think 2008 is the best out of all years of the Vibe.

In many respects for some the 2008 might have been the best Vibe/Matrix year. Everything is negotiable. For what a 2008 would have cost me I think I would looked elsewhere but I really had no compelling reason to replace my low mileage 2003 Vibe anyway. In 2009 the numbers made it a no brainer. Saw the ad in the Saturday morning newspaper and was at the dealer by noon to buy the car.

Here's a question related to my original post, so I'll keep with the same thread. Which would you choose:

- an 06 for $5,500 somewhat negotiable from a dealer, has a one-owner history with 151,000 miles (no warranty above 150K miles)
- an 03 for $5,500 with not much wiggle room at all from a private party (original owner) with 83,000 miles

Both have some similar options (ABS, moon roof, tinted glass and side air bags, I believe). The 06 has alloy wheels.
The 03 has an issue with the AC flapper clicking in the dash, which I've read about how to repair elsewhere on this forum.

Maybe this is a no-brainer, but I'm curious how people lean.
Thanks for the great conversation and insight so far!

jake75 wrote:In many respects for some the 2008 might have been the best Vibe/Matrix year. Everything is negotiable. For what a 2008 would have cost me I think I would looked elsewhere but I really had no compelling reason to replace my low mileage 2003 Vibe anyway. In 2009 the numbers made it a no brainer. Saw the ad in the Saturday morning newspaper and was at the dealer by noon to buy the car.

Interesting you could get a better deal on the 2009 than 2008.

nugentc wrote:Here's a question related to my original post, so I'll keep with the same thread. Which would you choose:

- an 06 for $5,500 somewhat negotiable from a dealer, has a one-owner history with 151,000 miles (no warranty above 150K miles)
- an 03 for $5,500 with not much wiggle room at all from a private party (original owner) with 83,000 miles

Both have some similar options (ABS, moon roof, tinted glass and side air bags, I believe). The 06 has alloy wheels.
The 03 has an issue with the AC flapper clicking in the dash, which I've read about how to repair elsewhere on this forum.

Maybe this is a no-brainer, but I'm curious how people lean.
Thanks for the great conversation and insight so far!

Which one has more complete maintenance records?

The 03 has complete maintenance records. I don't think the dealer has any on the 06 but there may be some on Carfax.

I would go with the 2003 Sportier nose on it also

*waves* to everybody
how is it possible I remembered my password, but not username? oh yeah...stress

Anyway, if it helps the O.P., or anyone else in the future, both 2006's, no problems. I believe I parted (not by choice) with Neptune with about 67k-ish miles and Frosty with about 47k-ish miles. Both also had all original tires, only minor maintenance like belts and batteries throughout the 7 year trouble-free ownership.
Although I no longer have my beloved twin Vibes, I still have their birth certificates.

tpollauf wrote:I would go with the 2003 Sportier nose on it also

Yes! And red gauges.

The '06 probably still has a lot of life left in it, I'd imagine. But between the two, I would have a hard time passing up the '03 with a lot less miles and a known history. Spend an afternoon cursing the recirculate door motor replacement job and drive happily for quite some time.

If you get the '03, welcome to the low mileage '03 club! 95k on Kari's, still a great car after all these years.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! We went with the low mileage '03. Thanks to this forum, I found great info on turning the gear around in the actuator through the glove box and also on soldering replacement bulbs into the control board in the stereo for the LCD clock/display. This is a great bunch of people here!

I'm still getting used to the red gauges in the instrument panel.

Another minor difference I noticed is that the interior light in the '03 doesn't have the option the '06 does for coming on when the door opens, not at all, or staying on all the time. In the '03 it just comes on when you open the door.

Good call on the 2003!

The 2003's dome light control is on the instrument panel illumination dimmer switch instead of the independent switches on each light on newer models.

Rotate the dimmer wheel all the way up and the dome lights are off, down one click and they're on, one more and they're on/off with the doors from that point down to the bottom.

ColonelPanic wrote:Good call on the 2003!

The 2003's dome light control is on the instrument panel illumination dimmer switch instead of the independent switches on each light on newer models.

Rotate the dimmer wheel all the way up and the dome lights are off, down one click and they're on, one more and they're on/off with the doors from that point down to the bottom.

You're not a fan of the 2005 and later models?

Thanks, ColonelPanic! I didn't know that about the dome light control--very helpful!

Nasmfell wrote: You're not a fan of the 2005 and later models?

The direction Pontiac took with the 2003-2004 styling-wise was more appealing for many of us old timers.

The 2003-2004's also weren't victims to the shenanigans of the accountants as much as the later years. Simple features that were nice to have and probably didn't cost much to implement were axed. Sure, later years had fancy items added to the options list like leather but fitting the dual level storage armrest or the lighter socket to the console was apparently deemed too expensive to continue offering.

Then the GT model saw power downrates every year until they pulled the plug, and the AWD was dropped at the same time.

I still prefer any year 1st gen over the 2nd though.

ColonelPanic wrote:

Nasmfell wrote: You're not a fan of the 2005 and later models?

The direction Pontiac took with the 2003-2004 styling-wise was more appealing for many of us old timers.

The 2003-2004's also weren't victims to the shenanigans of the accountants as much as the later years. Simple features that were nice to have and probably didn't cost much to implement were axed. Sure, later years had fancy items added to the options list like leather but fitting the dual level storage armrest or the lighter socket to the console was apparently deemed too expensive to continue offering.

Then the GT model saw power downrates every year until they pulled the plug, and the AWD was dropped at the same time.

I still prefer any year 1st gen over the 2nd though.

You're right the 2003-2004 styling was better. Can't really fault Pontiac for going for the Solstice look in their later models, though