2005 Pontiac Vibe GT review from North America
"This is a very good car if you need decent cargo room, good MPG ratings and still like to some power"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The air conditioning did not work when we picked up the car. The dealer said it was low on coolant. 4 months later the air conditioning was not working again. It was a bad seal this time. The dealer fixed both problems under warranty.
The clutch pedal needs lube to keep from squeaking every couple of months. The dealer cannot prevent the squeak from coming back.
The power window motor squeaks when the window goes down when it is cold out side. The dealer cannot find the problem.
One of the narrow trim pieces on the roof of the car fell off. The dealer replaced under warranty.
The manual transmission is sloppy. It will not always go into 1st gear when at a stop. I have to be completely stopped, put the car in 2nd gear and then go to 1st. The dealer cannot find the problem.
The tires are almost worn out at 31,000 miles.
General comments?
Overall, this is a decent car with a few minor problems. Being 6-1, I do not have enough leg room on long drives, but my wife drives the car most of the time so it’s no big deal. The stock 17 inch tires on the GT are absolutely horrible in the snow. I'm glad there is a recover hook on the front of the car so I can use my Silverado to pull the car up my driveway in the winter. The driveway has an elevation change of 15 feet over a distance of 275 feet. The Honda Civic we owned several years ago never had a problem, but its tires were much narrower and the car was lighter. The fuel mileage on the Vibe GT is better than I expected; 32mpg on the highway and 27 just driving around.
My biggest complaint with this car is the paint. It is chipping off the bumper and hood like no other car I have ever owned. My '93 Z/28 with 113,000 miles has fewer chips in the paint than this car. Pontiac needs to get better blue paint.
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| One of my favorite cars after 40 years of driving |
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| 2004 - Vibe GT 1.8 High Octane Awesome pocket rocket |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 2005 |
| Year of manufacture | 2005 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 326 miles |
| Most recent distance | 31124 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Date of Entry | 28th March, 2007 |