2008 Pontiac Vibe User Reviews

Pros

I love the size and space! Good gas miles-but small tank.

Cons

Noisey breaks-even when new!

Purchased As Used

I bought this car used...after MUCH MUCH RESEARCH on cars! I was looking for about 6 months. I love the size and the fact the seats go down to make lots of space. It is comfortable and i love my sunroof. I wish there was a jack for my ipod but the new models have that. I do not like the new models because the rear side windows make it hard to see the blind spots. The car has been great for the month that Ive owned it, but i notice that the breaks make squeecky noises when I just start my car. They told me its normal to have some squeak to the breaks but this seems ridiculous!...read morehide

Pros

Good gas mileage

Cons

EVERYTHING ELSE!

Purchased As New

I bought the 2009 September. I thought the ride was a little rough but I could get use to that and that its small inside. Hey it's great on gas and not bad looking either. I really didn't know that the locks were so goofy and really unsafe for women. (I'm a women). All the locks unlock when I turn off the car. I have to take the key out of the ignition to lock the doors again. Then if I open the driver's door, all the locks unlock again....This is truly bizarre to me and THEY CAN'T CHANGE IT! I've had it to the shop more than once for this. The killer for me is the horrible sulfur smell I get when I excelerate! It's awful! The solution I was told was to buy gas from a different station....THAT DOESN'T WORK! Four stations later I'm still getting the smell. Now I'm just waiting to get the amount I owe down so I can trade it for something else. It's sad though because I always wanted a Vibe and finally got one......read morehide

Cons

no cons at thsi time

Purchased As New

I really enjoy my Vibe, it is worth the money you pay for it, a lot of leg room in the front and back seat, and more than enough space in the back of the car for a lot of stuff.
The ride is really nice, a lot better than some cars. and i feel more comfortable driving this car than others i have had. And it sure is economical on gas when taking long trips....read morehide

Pros

fun to drive

Cons

everything else

Purchased As New

we have had nothing but trouble with this car, it has a recurring oil leak that the dealer cannot fix. the check engine light keeps coming on for no apparent reason. it has been in the shop more times then all my other cars combined. i have spent more time driving rental cars this past year then i driven the vibe. i loved this car when i bought it, i hate it now....read morehide

Pros

roomy for a Corolla-based design; outstanding on wet/frozen surfaces;

Cons

fuel economy a few mpg below expectation

Purchased As New

Getting only 27-28 mpg city; 30 on a trip; I had hoped for a few miles better than that. Combination of traction and stability control has yielded high confidence in rain, snow, sleet, ice. Ride on normal bumpy surfaces not quite as smooth as two 2008 Vibes I had test-driven, but still a big improvement on my '99 Prizm. Defogging light years better than my '99 Prizm. I did not take the sound system upgrade and it's still the best car stereo I've ever owned.
For those who like to buy American, this was assembled at NUMMI UAW plant in California, as was the Prizm....read morehide

Pros

Fuel Economy, utility (rear seats fold flat to accomodate larger objects), built-in 120v transformer

Cons

A bit small for a family of four with growing teens. OK for around town, but not for a long trip.

I was looking for a basic family car with good mileage and am thrilled with our Vibe. The price was right (~$13,900) and by driving conservatively, I often get over 40 mpg...and that's mostly around town. We've had it for a cuple of years and have had no maintenance issues to date.

Pros

Good fuel economy, very roomy, stable and comfortable ride, built by Toyota

Cons

Power, radio

I have a 2004 model with 50,000 miles on it now. The car has been superb. It may say Pontiac on the grill, but this is a Toyota from top to bottom (even the gas cap has a Toyota emblem on it). Basically this car is a Toyota Matrix with a few small visual changes. Being such, the reliability of the car has been excellent.

Since I got the car, I have been tracking my fuel economy. Over the past 4 years I am getting an overall average of 27 mpg, which is very respectable for mostly city driving for a car of this size. The car is very spacious, with seating for 5 and the lift gate cargo area for large packages. I bought this car to replace my Ford Explorer and, though it is smaller, it has not failed me once in performing any task that I would have used my Explorer for. This little guy really has a lot of room inside.

Getting such good gas mileage does come with a price, however. It goes from 0 to 60 in 6 states, not 6 seconds, so don't get in a hurry in this thing. But the ride is very solid, and the handling is very good. The bucket seats in the front are very comfortable and long rides in this car are a piece of cake (and that is not a light hearted praise with my bad back). I've ridden in some Mercedes that are not this comfortable.

Depending on your age, this car may give you some other "challenges". As my friends fondly call my car the "Grocery Getter", it is not the "coolest" car on the road. Also, to replace the factory stereo you will need a wiring harness that costs more than most stereos these days. But, once your friends take a ride in it, I promise you they will come around....just like my friends did.

In conclusion, this car is a TERRIFIC car for the money!!! Good handling, great economy, and very roomy. If you want speed, however, you might want to shop at that Porsche lot....read morehide

Pros

Below the advertisement

Cons

Brakes always clank during the cold start and sometimes clank during normal operation

Vibrated noise under the windshield on the driver side. Take to dealer , replaced the day light sensor. After driving a week , noise is coming back. Not very bad but just annoy while driving. The rubber sealing around the door is very cheap.

Pros

great gas mileage, excellent handling and power

Cons

none

I love my Pontiac Vibe, great handling, great functionality, excellent gas mileage. Plus tons of power and speed. This is a GREAT car

THE VIBE HAS A LOT OF INTERIOR ROOM, THE BACK SEAT IS BIG ENOUGH THAT MY 6' 3" 300+ POUND SON CAN SIT COMFORTABLY. I DRIVE 90 MILE ROUND TRIP TO WORK DAILY AND THE VIBE HAS A NICE RIDE