Used 2009 Pontiac Vibe Consumer Reviews
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2009 Vibe 1.8 automatic
I bought this car with 8000 miles on it and put on an additional 60,000 miles before it was totalled out in a crash with a 4 wheel drive pickup truck. We were driving almost 50 mph when the truck turned into us from the turn lane. We hit drivers side bumpers and came to an instant stop. My wife and I were banged up and bruised but able to walk away. We found out it had 4 and 5 stars in crash tests. We loved this car and got between 32 and 36 mpg depending on driving habits and time of the year. We never had a single problem with it and are now in the process of finding another one to purchase.
Great little car
Very reliable. Found many good condition cars with 200k miles.
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This car does everything well (almost)
This car is a real looker. It's what the Kia Soul should have looked like, if the Soul were a hatchback as in a normal, not boxy car. The engine is great, starter is quiet for an economy car. This model was equipped with GM's auto-crank technology (flick the key to start and release, the starter will keep cranking until the engine catches.) It's the Toyota 1.8 from the Corolla and it's excellent in this car. Great match to the automatic 4 speed transmission. Easier to get into and out of than lower slung cars. XM radio and stability control are nice touches, although I've tried to provoke the VSC and it seems to kick in a little late (this could be due to Pontiac's marketing of a "sporting" demeanor.) They put an actual 115 volt household outlet in the car too, although there is a cutoff point to how many watts the plugged in object can be. The outlet will shut down if the limit is exceeded. A good driving position for tall people still leaves your feet a little closer to the pedals than you'll really be comfortable with, but, minor issue. Handling is stable but not sport worthy. The ride can best be described as firm but not punishing, well controlled. Climate controls are Toyota and very easy to figure out. Lots of cupholders and storage space. There's even (flimsy) cup holders in the back and storage space under the trunk floor (it's not much space though). Cargo space is good and expandable to one back seat down, both and even the front passenger seat folds if needed. Overall a great driving car for what it is. 4 speed automatic transmission shifts VERY smoothly. if it doesn't something's wrong. Keep up on the maintenance and repairs and this car will run forever. I did the normal maintenance (update 1-15-21), and have not done any unexpected repairs, replaced shocks and brakes (normal wear/tear), and the car has been very good to me. Road and engine noise are not the best, but hey it's an economy car. The VSC computer has a feature, where if it senses you are rolling downhill and if you apply more than a certain amount of pressure on the brakes, the transmission will actually downshift to keep your speed in check. Nice feature.
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Fantastic Little Hatchback
I have only had this car a month and I love this thing. It is really fun to drive and seems to be really solid on the road even in the turns. It is no Mazda 3 but for me it is sporty enough with a lot of practical applications. I really wish GM had not killed this car off, they could have re-badged it to a Chevy or Buick nameplate which is a shame that they just let it drop instead. The cruise control takes a bit to get used to. The Engine is nice too, a little torquey on take offs but it is a solid engine and great for quick merges.
Good Vibes!
I was looking for a luxurious sporty car, and test drove the Vibe on a whim because it caught my eye. I fell in love with this car and could not be more happy with my purchase. The Vibe is well built for a car of it's class. I feel confidant that I will be driving my Vibe for many years. Mine had 36k on it when I bought her. I was able to buy a GMAC warranty for a whopping $1100. due to the low miles. I have my oil changes done at the dealership due to the type of oil the Vibe requires. I have my dogs kennel tethered to the child seat restraint hooks in the back seat.