- #233 of 282
-
Is there Toyota Parts beyond the engine in the VIBE?
by ronald711
-
May 17, 2006 (6:22 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: maxx4me (Oct 13, 2005 11:36 am)
My concern owning previous GM products, is I had problems with altenators and stuff like that failing eary in the vehicles life. I am wondering how much of the vehicle is toyota parts vs gm contributed parts? Who made the transmission, etc? Or is it safe to say Toyota really has a complete hold on this car and its made with pretty much all their parts except for maybe the onstar and vehicle stability, etc... Just trying to get a grasp as the incentives being offered makes this a great buy over the Matrix with over $2000 customer incentives (Conquest incentive $1000, trading vehicle non GM $500 and $500 cash incentive, and thats on top of my work related GM Supplier Discount, he advised I would be under $15,000 on a base. So Im very interested in going this route, but very scared form my past GM experiences in vehicle reliability. any comments?
|
- #234 of 282
-
Re: Is there Toyota Parts beyond the engine in the VIBE? [ronald711]
by herzogtum71
-
May 18, 2006 (7:01 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: ronald711 (May 17, 2006 6:22 pm)
When the Matrix was first introduced, people in this forum commented that the interior design was GM and that the engine and other mechanical components were Toyota. The Matrix is built in Ontario, while the Vibe is built in Fremont, California. A year or two ago there were complaints about the paint on Vibes, and I would suggest going back through previous posts to see what other issues there might be with the finishing details on Vibes that you don't have on the Matrix. There also have been issues with how Toyota responded differently than GM did to problems. One issue I experienced first-hand was with the headlight sensor in the dashboard, which on vehicles sold for a few months in 2002 was overly sensitive and resulted in frequent switching from running lights to headlights and back again. Toyota issued a service bulletin that took care of the problem (though I did have to argue with the service technicians at my dealership who claimed it wouldn't solve the problem), but to my knowledge GM never did the same thing for Vibe owners. I do know people, though, who have had good luck with Vibes and who have been very happy with the car.
|
- #235 of 282
-
Re: Is there Toyota Parts beyond the engine in the VIBE? [ronald711]
by jstant01
-
May 18, 2006 (9:01 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: ronald711 (May 17, 2006 6:22 pm)
I have a 2005 Vibe. I understand your concern completely. I bought the Vibe for two reasons - GM had employee pricing for everyone at the time, and the car was mostly Toyota. I also wanted to support an "American" company, if possible. I had my sights on a Corolla or Civic until I saw the Vibe.
Anyhow, to answer your question - from all the reading I have done in several Forums, it is my understanding that the Vibe is entirely a Toyota mechanically. That means, the engine, the suspension, the controls, and all the other parts you mentioned. GM's role was limited to the styling of the vehicle. In other words, it was "engineered" by GM but built with all Toyota parts.
I did hear a rumor that I was never able to corroborate that perhaps the Engine Control system (i.e. "computer") was GM's as well. However, I don't think that would make sense, since it would be controlling a Toyota engine.
The Vibe has rated "better than average" for all of its production years thus far with Consumer Reports. I believe that puts it at the top of the pack as far as "GM" models go.
Mine has been trouble-free, except for a periodic "weird" starting problem. Sometimes it doesn't like to fire up right away on a warm re-start. If you read through the maintainence and repair forums, you'll see others have had the same issue. However, it's never left me stranded, and does always start up eventually.
For the deal coming your way, I would take it in a heartbeat. The Vibe is an excellent product. I haven't heard or read anything about early failure on any of it's parts or components.
|
- #236 of 282
-
Toyota parts or GM? RE:#235
by roy15
-
May 18, 2006 (7:09 pm)
-
|
Ronald 711, my owners manual says auto tranny made in Japan
I'm not sure about the rest but i think at least suspension & tires are made in U.S. Too much uneven wear on rear tires too soon. I would have bought a Matrix rather than my 04 Vibe, but I didn't want to be bottoming out with the low rider rockerpanels.
roy15
|
- #237 of 282
-
Re: Is there Toyota Parts beyond the engine in the VIBE? [jstant01]
by ronald711
-
Jun 03, 2006 (6:38 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: jstant01 (May 18, 2006 9:01 am)
Thanks for your input, you know the starting problem you are referring to? I just wanted to go on record, I did an overnight in a Corolla before I looked at the Vobe, and I had 2 instances where the Corolla didn't start on the first or 2nd try, I was concerned, but then it did it on another corolla (different model), and I just think its something goofy, it eventually starts if you just crank it longer, it seems completely normal for a toyota to do this.. It sounds like if this is the problem people are having, then Im not too concerned. I am very very close to purchasing the Vibe. My thought as much as I would like 39 mpg out of a Yaris, the vibe is 10X more what I want only a little over $1000 more, and I can get this paid off in 3 years, and the Yaris will still be around then and be a nice 2nd vehicle. to offset my high mileage.
|
- #238 of 282
-
Re: Window Noise [goodvibrations]
by ronald711
-
Jun 03, 2006 (6:40 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: goodvibrations (Aug 17, 2005 5:10 pm)
I had an 06 vibe for an hour from the dealership tonight I took the 4 bolts and lifted up the center console. there is a connector for powering the outlet already mounted with power, just have to buy the accessory, Im assuming if you cant get it through Pontiac, you would be able to get it via Toyota as the Matrix has this feature, and I bet it possibly may be the same mounting... Ron
|
- #239 of 282
-
Re: Is there Toyota Parts beyond the engine in the VIBE? [ronald711]
by nanc3
-
Jun 04, 2006 (8:21 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: ronald711 (Jun 03, 2006 6:38 pm)
Ron, I've had my Vibe two weeks and several times I had to turn the key two or three (or four!) times to start the car. I'm not concerned; I think it is just different than my old car, which doesn't need me to hold the key in the Start position. Or maybe it's because it is in a different location and therefore has a different hand motion. My son said, "Mom, you just need to hold the key until it starts. How hard is that?"
|
- #240 of 282
-
Need Info
by jackpot2
-
Jun 16, 2006 (11:51 am)
-
|
I have a 2004 xrs Matrix with 17in wheels also I have 2004
Pont. Vibe standard model with 16in steel wheels. question is can I swap wheeles between the two? 
|
- #241 of 282
-
Possibly
by capitano
-
Jun 16, 2006 (6:31 pm)
-
|
Check Tirerack to do the circumference calculations based on your tire/wheel combos. You can switch them, but unless they are close in size your mileage and speedo will be off.
It would be the same thing as putting aftermarket wheels on either car.
|
- #242 of 282
-
Re: [dudleyr]
by pdrake
-
Jul 08, 2006 (5:06 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: dudleyr (Apr 22, 2002 12:55 pm)
I have an article from MANUFACTURING ENGINERING magazine from last September. The Vibe and Toyota Tundra are made in the same factory in California. The plant manager is quoted as saying " like all other NUMMI plants that I have been involved with NOTHING except for shareholding is GM everything is TOYOTA made and engineered". If anyone is interested in this article I will see if you can read the entire article (through backlog perhaps). GM has NOTHING to do with the VIBE except for shares....
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Wagons 
