Lookin to buy a used car to get me back and forth to work. Looking at stuff like honda civic or toyota corolla/matrix. The toyota stuff is way expensive for year and mileage up here in Canada but I've found a few pontiac vibes for way better pricing so I'm wondering if I'd still get the reliability and parts availability if I went that way
I have both a 2005 Matrix awd, and 2005 Vibe 2wd. Matrix has 235k miles or so, the Vibe has 135k. Not much difference in them really. The AC compressor in the vibe is different, and the radio I think, but I always replace those.
Just don't get the GT version of the vibe, or the XRS version of the Matrix. Those had the Yamaha made Lotus engine that produced around 180hp, but they had a flaw that when running them hard, the oil wouldn't go in some places that it should have, and toasted many engines. Also avoid any 2.4 engines if you are looking to get the 2nd gens, stick with the old reliable toyota 1.8.
Parts are readily available online, and even at the toyota dealerships.
If you still wonder if they are pretty much the same, take note of how many Pontiacs you see on the road still.
in 2005, 438k pontiacs sold, vibes were only 64k. I rarely see anything but a Vibe anymore. That alone tells me they did something right with it.
I think it looks tacky as heck to stick aftermarket radios in cars, at least in newer ones. Haha. The stereo in my Catalina is aftermarket, but it doesn't look too bad.
@justin-shepherd I just love having a double din radio that can use bluetooth for music and phone calls, not to mention a usb drive full of stuff. I also add a over the mirror backup and front facing camera, that has provided me protection against false claims against me. I like having some modern amenities in my old cars.
I'm dedicated to old school I guess. My 2017 Mustang has a backup camera and I don't use it, partly because I forget it's there. I've been programmed to watch my mirrors when backing up, not looking inside the car. I more or less listen to the radio or CDs. In the case of my Ranger, I hooked up to Bluetooth with my existing radio because it has a tape player, and I can play Bluetooth that way. Keeps the old style look while still Bluetooth capable.
I've found a few pontiac vibes for way better pricing so I'm wondering if I'd still get the reliability and parts availability if I went that way
All mechanical parts are Toyota so those should be no problem. Pontiac-specific parts like interior, trim, and front clip body panels might be more of an issue.
Lookin to buy a used car to get me back and forth to work. Looking at stuff like honda civic or toyota corolla/matrix. The toyota stuff is way expensive for year and mileage up here in Canada but I've found a few pontiac vibes for way better pricing so I'm wondering if I'd still get the reliability and parts availability if I went that way
They're basically the exact same car, with different bodywork and an interior. They were both made by GM and Toyota. They were partners for a few years. Underneath the bodywork, it's pretty much the same car. It uses an Asin transmission. If it checks out by an independent mechanic, it could be a good car without as much of an expense, because Pontiac usually means GM.
They are so much the same that I've read a GM Tech2 (dealer scan tool at that time) will work not only on the VIbe, but also on the Toyota Matrix as well as Toyota Corollas produced the same years as the Vibe. You just specify in the scanner that you're working with a Pontiac Vibe.
Didn't know that, thanks for the info, haha.