Used 2008 Pontiac Vibe Consumer Reviews

So good I bought it twice!

I bought my 1st Vibe in 2003. I loved it. I am a park ranger but grew up in the city, this car was the best of both! It has nice style for the city yet it was perfect when I moved to Yellowstone. The back has ample space to fit all sorts of gear and the roof rack adds extra space. Front pass. seat flips down so when I bought 10 foot 2X4's they fit perfectly. Even if they had been longer I would not worry cause back window pops open! While traveling X country I recharged by AA batt. using the 2 prong outlet in dashboard. After hiking I throw my dirty boots in the trunk & never worry about a mess cause it is durable plastic. Never had a prob. In June I got 2008, gave 2003 to mom- she loves it

Rides better than larger cars

This car has great fuel economy and plenty of power. The fold down seats and accommodating hatch allows me to put down movers blankets and haul things. The good quality seat construction and the well-designed suspension give it a surprisingly comfortable ride for a car this size. I am confident that the car will still be quite usable when I give it to my grandson to use for college in 2029!

Who approved the '09 design?

I've had the Vibe for a month and I'm liking it so far. As mentioned in other reviews, it seriously needs a telescoping steering wheel. The despicably low center arm rest can be replaced with a Corolla arm rest for much better comfort. The roof rack- less roof rack makes no sense. The cross bars used to be standard. Have to unscrew the antenna to use it anyway. The upgrade stereo is nice, so are the alloys. I like the head rest positioning, never had a car that I could actually rest my head on the head rest while driving. Plenty of rear seat room, and cargo carpet and bungee tie-downs are a must-have. Getting 32-34 mpg using 10% ethanol.

70k miles, no issues

This car is outstanding. We also own a 4 years newer, $10,000 more expensive Subaru and the Vibe blows that car out of the water in nearly every area. Two things that I'd like to see better on the Vibe would be: better snow/ice handling. If you don't have the ABS option and live in a snowy/icy climate it's a little bit of a lightweight car. The second would be acceleration, as the Vibe seems a bit underpowered. When I put the gas to the floor for a quick highway onramp, for example, it's a veryyyy slowwww acceleration. But otherwise it's a fantastic car. The reliability is absurd, especially for what you might hear about Pontiac, I've never had to do any non-routine repairs. I attribute that to the joint-venture with Toyota (all of the guts of this car are Toyota with the superior trimmings/finishing touches of American manufacturers - really the best of both worlds). They redid this car for the 2009 model year and the newer Vibe I found displeasing. The sightlines of my 2008 are outstanding but they shrunk the rear window and some others are harder to see out of in the newer ones. All in all I have no complaints, I could see this being a 150,000+ mile car at the rate it's going.

best in its class

I never owned this vehicle but was assigned one of the 4 owned by the place i used to work.I got it with less than 50 miles basically brand new i used to drove 200 up to 500 miles daily and have to say this car was great in every way. First lets call things by their name this is a 4 cylinder economy base car you can't expect great acceleration or killer looks or comforts found in luxury cars.I put 108k miles in 14 months besides oil changes(cheap oil by the way every 7500 miles) and wiper blades it never gave any problem if that is not reliable i don't know what it is.Even the tires it came with lasted for about 13 months.Sometimes i question the ability of some people to review cars.

GREAT CHEAP RELIABLE

Unfortunately Pontiac isn't making them anymore. I got a consistant 30 miles to the gallon hiway (don't drive city enough to care). Engine (Toyota Matrix) lasted 244500 miles and cost less than 3.5K to replace. Eats headlights, paint job not that good. Lots of cargo space. Original radio not so good but easily replaced. Tire sensor computer component is generically inferior.

240,000 without major repair. the Vibe is now dead

Well the Vibe was involved in a accident which totaled it. It went 240,000 with the original spark plugs. I will miss it. Acceleration is not great, but not bad. Road holding is great. Just turned 200,000 miles without major repairs, mostly brakes and 2 recalls. Had some tires that were so noisy I thought it was front bearings.

Love this little work horse

Overall great car that I would buy again if an updated model was released. Back hatch glass opens along with a fold flat front seat and split back seats. I can easily fit 2×8s; 2 × 10s and 2 × 12s can hang out the back glass. I have used this car to move furniture, washers/ driers, ect. It fits! Good milage and an engine that will last 200k miles easily.

Great Car, Great Rebates

We were looking for a family car and came across the Matrix and then realized the Vibe was less $ and had a lot of rebates. We like the Vibe styling better the the Matrix. We have the base model with no options, it's perfect for us. It is a undertaking to make sure all 5 doors are locked. Good power/gearing. A/C seems on the light side. Can't turn off head lights at night! Check the vibe forums to find out how to turn off seat belt beep for passenger seat (if you put a backpack on the passenger seat it will loudly beep at you. Blind spots are bad, buy blind spot mirrors. Nice stock tires. Lots of cool little storage areas. Love how the seats fold down. Liked 08 better than 09.

Loved it the. Best I have had

Paint job is rather poor that's endemic to the vibe the tire pressure sensor goes bad easily but otherwise it's very very reliable turns on a dime sufficient speed and Road handling I got a lot of highway miles on it and it has stood up well.

almost 1/4 million Km

More interior space than you throw a stick at. More reliable than the majority of cars on the road. Very comfortable, good all-round visibility and comfort - even for tall people. Respectable economy & cost, sensible maintenance coats - nothing to complain about. I have tools and bulky kit to drive around with, and with its 2x side doors access, I find this vehicle 10x better than a truck. I would strongly recommend this vehicle - perhaps especially for a New driver who does not want maintenance/repair surprises.

A car with heart--it would go forever it seems

Given the snow and curving hills where I live I should have bought the 4wd model. It was with sadness I said good-by to my 10 year old car. It had a lot more to give, , had good body condition, handled well, and was very reliable until the end. The end was caused because it was failing Vermont state inspection due to the evaporative system sensors. I doubt I'll ever have a car with such good mileage, good design, and reliability.

So good I bought three!

First car was a 2006 vibe and have since owned two 2008’s. Hands down the best vehicles I’ve owned for the price. Amazingly reliable, fuel efficient, easy to maintain/work on, and great cargo space especially with the seats down. All have gotten well over 300,000 km (odometer maxes at 299k) with no issues. Highly recommend - Toyota reliability at a fraction of the cost!

Std. Vibe

Still running like a champ with 193,000 +

2004 Pontiac Vibe 4 door.hatchback

I love my bive, i bought it new with 4 miles on it. I have had it 10 yrs. has been a great car for me, if I had the money and could get another car I would search for another Vibe... I am sadden they don't make them any longer. I don't like sun roofs, but the inside of the 2004 vibe is the style I would search for .. 2004--2008/// Great car in my eyes and heart.. Love my vibe wouldn't get another if I had to and couldn't get a Vibe I'd get the same company that made mine a Toyota.. maybe a Matres.. I would have to do some searching...

From a Dodge Ram to a Vibe? Great car!

We looked at cars for over a month and decided on the Vibe. It has plenty of room for me(6'-2") and my wife(5'- 10"). It has good looks, great fuel mileage, and comfort all in one affordable package. Great for weekend trips as it has plenty of room for all our things. Overall a great car.

Cute, but not as stable as our Suburu

Defintitley notice the change going from a Forester (AWD) to the Vibe. It handles slick roads rather poorly, spinning the wheels as we turn corners on wet roads. But the mileage has ranged from 24 mpg city to 36 highway, doing better than our old Forester. Very cute and hip! Love the size and larger backseat.

Impressed but not thrilled.

Nice reliable transportation that offers acceptable gas mileage at the cost of acceleration, performance & in cabin comforts. I am experiencing a few rattles in the cabin during acceleration that gets louder the harder you push the small 1.8 L. Sunroof is disappointing, 2 visits to the dealer has made the leaking almost stop. Versatility of fold down seats and cargo capacity are spectacular.

Hatchback Problem

As you can see from our ratings, we are enjoying the comfort and gas mileage of our Vibe. However, we are experiencing one problem other Vibe owners do not seem to be having: a poor fitting hatchback. We live on a dirt road and dust accumulates inside the hatchback top, bottom and side ridges. Moisture, leaves, and twigs also are in evidence when it rains. Daylight is seen through the top of the hatchback when it is closed. This is either a poor design or a fabrication error. We intend to pursue this problem directly with General Motors as the dealership was unresponsive.

First Time Owner

The visibility, fuel economy and cargo space for us is outstanding. GM is missing the boat by not promoting it more on TV. The joint venture between Toyota and GM is evident regarding the motor and drivetrain quality. Our experience in wind, rain and snow has been good. Vehicle has good heater and air conditioning. Can't afford a convertible so the sunroof gives us our fresh air fix. We have driven it on 500 mile trips and at 2600 rpm it is just whispering down the road. Sitting comfort for 2-3 hours at a time was excellent. The car is only half of our joy. The other half is the dealer who takes care of it for us. Most of our driving is in the city but I would recommend it to anyone.

All around great

Only problem I've had was the auto trans not shifting into the next gear at the end of a 550 mile trip, but that could have been the terrain. The seats are nice and hug you so that if you drive sporty you wont slide off on sharp turns. Tons of space if you need it. I got a loaded sun and sound, auto, preferred, monotone 08 Vibe for 18K out the door because they redesigned them for 2009 and pushing the 2008's out. Get a 2008 if you can! The MPG is great, really worth it because you get a nice zip without ruining your wallet.

Love this vibe!

Poor gas mileage

Bought this to save on gas mileage, commuting 1 hour a day to work Hwy. I'm only getting 25 mph, sticker says 26-31 and am not happy. We planned on traveling and using luggage carrier ( we unfortunately discovered rails to hold carrier don"t come with car so you need to spend extra to buy that) but where to put carrier as radio antennae is on roof? I do like driving it tho, not sure if we will keep car tho with gas mileage poor.

Great car!

I commute several miles each way and this is the perfect car for me! It's very roomy and comfortable! Not to mention not that bad with gasoline. The interior is what amazes me each time I get into it! I had been driving a smaller model car and this is like driving in a dream after hitting all of the bumps in the car!

My First non-Honda Car!

Paid $17,400 out the door..auto & power locks, keyless, etc. no sunroof. I needed a car that could haul a lot if needed AND pull a small boat. This car has so far been great! Had a U-Haul hitch put on and it pulled my boat with ease. I threw a beach cruiser bike in the back with no trouble, plenty of room, didn't even put the front seat down! Had an antenna ipod adapter installed so I can play my iPOD...yay! ONLY thing I am not thrilled about is that I did not get white! This color (a blue-green) shows every speck of dust! And the Black-Charcoal interior is just dumb...draws heat and shows every hair, dirt , etc. I got cream seat covers and has made a difference.

Vibe

This is a great car getting 34 mph highway with a manual. Capable of 150- 200 K easy. Too bad it takes Toyota to design such a great car for GM.

Love The Vibe

This is now our second Vibe based on our great experience with our '05 Vibe. It is used as a commuter and vacationing vehicle - it has great fuel economy and comfort for long trips. We are both over 6ft tall and have had trouble finding a comfortable seating arrangement that is not a SUV. Headroom is great but *watch out for the sunroof if your any taller than 6ft*.

Is this really an American Car

I guess I picked the fully loaded version GT, which has everything everyone wants. In comparison to my Ford Explorer, it is small but roomy. Handles pretty well in wet and slick conditions as long as I don't try to put her on test by making sharp turns. Traction control is awsome, kept me straight on the road in past snowy days. It is not designed by Toyota but GM and Toyota has several projects done together under the name of Nummi. Just like Ford had been building Mercurry Villager and Nissan Quests on the same assembly line but general public does not know the inside facts.

LOVE THIS CAR!

Purchased this car on ebay from a dealer in texas. paid 13,000 car had 13,000 miles on it. i love the roomy interior. i use this more as a truck sometimes than a car. always seems i have something to haul and the fold down back seat is a lifesaver. we used this on a trip from NW indiana down to mississippi and had no problems. we use this car now more than our other one. havent had any problems and have owned for about six months but have made several long distance trips in it.

I love my vibe!

i love this car. its is a reliable, fun, peppy sporty little car, but at the same time works for my baby. getting him in and out is easy as the car sits fairly high as opposed to most other cars you have to bend over into.

Great buy

Lots of extras in the Pontiac version power roof, windows roof rails etc. Very peppy and fun and easy to drive. Bought for my teen who is a new driver and it has been perfect.

Review 2008 Vibe

I was attracted to this car for its potential for versatility and gas mileage. I have owned it for a little over a month, and have been very happy with it so far. It has a fair amount of pep, but will never be mistaken for a six cylinder. To me this is a fair trade-off for the great gas mileage. My average mileage has been 26 MPG with heavy city driving. The steering is responsive on dry pavement and the car is very predictable driving in the snow. This car is a great car to run around town with your kids or take a trip

A great versatile economical fun car

This is proof that you can get great fuel economy without buying a hybrid. drives like a sports car, handles well carries our big Bernese mtn. dogs lots of cargo space even for 8 ft. lumber. the vibe is in my opinion much better, and sportier looking than than the Toyota Matrix version. I get consistently 34 to 36 mpg. which gives me around a 400 mile range I average 37 mpg with non-ethanol gas. It handles well in the snow with the front wheel drive and my manual transmission (which I had to search for) I traded a gas guzzling trailblazer for it and the vibe is just as much fun to drive. I love this car and would definitely considering buying another at trade in time.

Nice little car

I was on a business trip in San Diego and rented a Vibe in 2006. Before I arrived at my Motel, I was very impressed with this car. I am 6 foot 6 inches tall and fit very well in it. What really sold me was how little fuel it took. I now own a 2008 and average 33-35 mpg in town and 36 to 39 mpg on the highway. By the way it is a 5-speed, which is a hoot to drive, especially around town. Thanks for a great little car Pontiac!

2008 Vibe Review

Bought for gas mileage, style, and storage capacity. Mileage varies between 26 - 36, depending on type of driving. Used for vacation and was pleased with capacity, mileage, responsiveness and comfort. Was surprised that there was not much noticeable road noise in most circumstances. A little stiffer suspension than expected on rough roads.

great car

I have just had this car for 3 weeks, but, I am a tall woman (5,10") and this is the most comfortable car to drive, and still be fuel efficient.

Let's be real

I do like my Vibe. Not a lot of power and some road noise. I do get get very good mileage and the car is pleasant to drive. I average 34 mpg on the highway with an automatic.

VIBE

This is well worth your investment it's keep going and going that said it's all!!!

Out of 17 cars owned thye BEST ONE yet!

My second Vibe! My first one was gave to my father inlaw. He is handicap and over wieghtaking it hard for him to get in and out of a car. This car is perfect for him. Also, this gave me a good reason to buy a new one! Only thing is the enlinks went bad on the car while still under warrenty and the dealer will not fix. This is not a mark against the car but a mark agaist the dealership!