Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Matrix vs. Pontiac Vibe - Compare Notes

285 messages,  Last post on Nov 12, 2010 at 7:29 PM

You are in the Toyota Matrix Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix, Wagon

Messages Page 28 of 29

#266 of 285 I like the Matrix better, but Vibe is close. by kevinarnold

Jun 13, 2007 (8:43 pm)

1. The Matrix looks better inside and out. The Matrix has a sleek look for a wagon, the Vibe is more box shaped. Matrix has tighter interior.
 
2. The Vibe is a little less expensive, but doesn't hold its value as well as Toyota. Is the Pontiac name associated with quality or cheap plastic? What is your visual when you hear the Toyota name?
 
3. The "Matrix" has a cooler name, the "Vibe" would have a cool name if this were the 60's. "Matrix" might be the coolest car name after the "Mustang". "Vibe" is a cooler name than "Yugo".
 
4. Vitamin D is not overrated. Sun roof is cooler than a luggage rack.
 
5. Carpet in the cargo area is just stupid.
 
I give the edge to the Matrix in every aspect except price, where you might see a $400-$500 difference depending on options. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative, look at the Ford Focus Wagon.
 
Both the Matrix and the Vibe are the two best SUV alternatives on the market in my opinion. If the 2009 Blade doesn't get better gas mileage than these two its not an improvement.
 
These two models have the smartest engineering I've seen in terms of efficiency and functionality. I predict they will be popular used cars for years to come.

#267 of 285 Re: I like the Matrix better, but Vibe is close. [kevinarnold] by kiawah

Jun 14, 2007 (5:59 am)

Replying to: kevinarnold (Jun 13, 2007 8:43 pm)
kevin,
 
Why do you think these cars (Matrix/Vibe) don't appear to be selling very well? I'm interested in one of these as a vehicle for daughter. Haven't test driven yet, but have talked to a couple owners who absolutely love them. Looks to me to be a pretty nice package, but I don't see many on the roads, and see diminishing models/options (awd dropped). I would want all the latest safety (side curtain air, vsc), and find availability slim to none.
 
It just may be that it's coming to the end of the model run and everyone knows it, like I've decided to wait.

#268 of 285 Dodge Caliber by oubaasjohn

Jun 14, 2007 (7:08 am)

What about this car? The Dodge Caliber seems directly designed to be competition for Matrix and Vibe.
- The Dodge Caliber looks almost military (an interesting design trend for a country at war)
- The Dodge C has bigger wheels than the Matrix or Vibe.
- The Dodge C has a built in cooler (for beer?)
- The Dodge has a (I think stupid) removable sound system and cabin light.
- The Dodge is about $2000 dollars cheaper.
So why is Chrysler not selling these like hot cakes?
I will answer that question as I drive a toyota - the quality is not there. Some not so obvious differences are that the door seems on the Japanese designs are filled with resin while the Dodge relies on a paint coat to protect the seems. The Dodge Caliber design leaves body panel overhangs around the wheels which appear unsupported and look cheap. The Dodge C also looks cheaper on the interior and some of the seat covers looked poorly designed with colour stripes - these may appeal to younger drivers but I look for classic long lasting appeal in a car not flashy, get tired of it tomorrow trendy bits.

#269 of 285 Sorry, Door seams not "seems" by oubaasjohn

Jun 14, 2007 (7:10 am)

Correction to my message previous.

#270 of 285 Not selling well? by suydam

Jun 14, 2007 (7:10 am)

I was looking for a used Matrix/Vibe and they are not easy to find! They sell quickly too. Probably the high gas prices are a factor. Around my area, dealerships would get maybe one or two and they would be gone in a week. Same for the new ones. I finally found an '04 Vibe. So far we really like it. It would be a good car for a teenager. It has enough power to do what you want but isn't a pocket rocket. It handles very well and would be forgiving of new driver mistakes like oversteering or misjudging room to turn (very small turning radius).
 
Because they are considered an economy car the safety equipment has not tended to be standard until very recently. For new small cars like the Vibe, Honda Fit and NIssan Versa, only the Honda Fit has side airbags and ABS as standard equipment, and talk about hard to find! In our area there may be one or two in all the dealerships. Nissan Versa has side airbags standard but not ABS.

#271 of 285 Re: Dodge Caliber [oubaasjohn] by caliberchic

Jun 14, 2007 (11:27 am)

Replying to: oubaasjohn (Jun 14, 2007 7:08 am)
They are selling them well, at launch they were back about 9-16 weeks on orders. You couldn't find them anyway. The intial numbers were way higher than anticipated.
 
With that said I do agree the interior is cheap looking, the color matched interior is an option not standard so those who like a classic look can opt out of that.
 
Oh the sound system isn't removable but the overhead light IS a flash light and does remove easily.

#272 of 285 Re: Dodge Caliber [caliberchic] by mikey00

Jun 14, 2007 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: caliberchic (Jun 14, 2007 11:27 am)
Consumer Reports listed the Dodge Caliber/Jeep Compass as the "Most Disappointing" cars for 2007. There are lots of facts in the mag to back up their claim.

#273 of 285 Re: Dodge Caliber [oubaasjohn] by pdrake

Jun 23, 2007 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: oubaasjohn (Jun 14, 2007 7:08 am)
I have a 2006 Vibe GT (every option) that I bought in Feb of 06. I am very fond of this car (to be modest) and never get sick of driving it. The problem is that it keeps getting hit - last June 17th a young woman driver hit my front end and this June 18th (Monday night) a driver with a 1987 Jeep Cherokee plowed into it at 11:30 P.M. while it was parked in front of my house and rolled the Jeep over and has PROBABLY totaled the VIBE (insurance company not sure yet). Antway I have a Dodge Caliber rental for now and just let me say that THIS IS NOT THE SAME QUALITY AS A VIBE BY FAR!!! I want my Vibe back!...
                                  Patrick

#274 of 285 Caliber and Vibe? by nippononly

Jun 23, 2007 (8:41 pm)

Worlds apart. My car is a Matrix, not a Vibe, but I have driven the Caliber now (with the very annoying CVT no less), and there is just no comparison between the two. The Vibe may cost a little more in the real world, I'm not sure, but it is so much nicer in every way, it's worth the extra grand or whatever.

#275 of 285 My Experiences with XRS by foreverchaos

Jul 27, 2007 (9:15 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jun 23, 2007 8:41 pm)
Just over a year ago I decided it was time to get rid of my old beater car and find something new. I had never purchased or leased a new car before and decided it was about time to start. I had a few requirements I wanted filled when looking: Standard (wanted to learn), sporty looking, fairly fuel efficent, had some "spunk", large cargo room for everything that seems to be to big to move in a conventional car when you are a home owner, and it also needed to fit a large dog crate (folded), for my large dog, without needing to put down a seat to do it.
 
  I considered many options including the caliber (which simply wasn't wide enough on the rear interior for the crate), and Honda Fit (which surprisingly met all the requirments I had set out other then the looks and spunk.
 
  That left the Matrix and Vibe as the final considerations, and in all fairness I had seen the Matrix first and had practically fallen in love with it before I even looked at the Vibe. However my opinion of the Vibe was it had a bit to much plastic on it and I really prefered the way the Matrix side windows flowed to the back window. After a year's option of buyers remorse I still am VERY happy with my final choice and would have made the same one again knowing what I know now.
 
  Final Decision: Radient Red '06 Matrix XRS
Additional features added at time of purchase: Electronic rust protector, Ipod interface, Roof Spoiler, Winter Car Mats.
 
Since then: First I didn't actually own a Ipod at the time of purchase of this car and was for some reason assuming that I could use other types of mps players, that was an error, so it gave me a good excuse to buy an Ipod which I had been considering anyways. I borrowed a few otherones first and to my dissappointment I couldn't get the interface to detect them (trying both a standard and Nano).
  I went to the dealership with the issue and it was decided that the interface wouldn't work with the 6-cd changer deck that came standard with the XRS so as I cared more about playing MP3's over have 6 cd's in (which worked alright while I had it by the way) I asked them to instead give me a credit for the interface. I planned on pulling the deck and getting an aftermarket one so I talked to a service guy and got the old deck replaced with a lower model (as I was not planning on using it anyways) and he threw in a rubber cargo mat (which I love by the way and would suggest this).
 
  After searching I decided on this deck http://jvcmobile.co.uk/product.php?pr=27 by JVC (KD-G721) as it matched the red interior lighting and did everything I wanted coupled with the factory suggested ipod interface for it, which works VERY well in my opinon.
 
  I recently also tinted the windows which made it look even better.
 
Problems I had:
  Over the past year I have had a few problems beyond the Ipod interface. First, the car is fairly light and with the 17" tires it does not handle snow conditions well with the current tires. I was expecting this however as my brother has a Mazda 3 coupe and had the same issue the year earlier (so I think it has more to do with that general style of car and the 17" tires)
 
  I also had an issue with the rust inhibitor continually falling off for the first little while (the double sided tape they used apparently wasn't holding)
 
  Additionally, I had a rattle in the muffler which required them to change out and tighten a few brackets for it.
   
  All of the above were either somewhat expected or fairly minor issues. The only one I am still a bit concerned about is during last winter I had two instances of powerloss within a few days time to nearly the entire car unexpectedly within about 5 minutes of driving from initial start up, usually after it had sat for a long period of time. The issue went away and they never did find the problem as they couldn't get it to repeat the problem at the dealership after multiple attempts nor find any reasons that may have caused it after multiple tests. So I am interested to see if it comes back this winter.
 
My overall feelings about the car:
 
  I love it, it looks great, is fun to drive, is fairly efficent on gas (despite the fact I use premium fuel in it as it suggests), has excellent cargo capacity when I need it (I moved a full sized teachers desk inside it with the hatch nearly closed and I have yet to not be able to get anything I wanted home in it since I bought it), and handles well. I would buy the same car again if I was to go back. I even picked up a matching die cast version of it in red to show my future children what "dad's first new car" was in 25 or so years!

Messages Page 28 of 29

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement