Originally Posted by simple_gifts
My friends 06 vibe is the best car he's ever had; early on those engines tended to burn oil IIRC but that was resolved in maybe 05.
If a toyota drivetrain surrounded by a GM car is great, imagine what one surrounded by a Toyota car could be....
The Matrix/Vibe was just that. The Pontiac version was designed and built by Toyota at a Toyota factory and had only some cosmetic differences between it and the Matrix.
The Pontiac was a much better buy for a long time, too, given as you could often get insane discounts at the Pontiac dealer but few, if any, from Toyota.
That said, the Matrix/Vibe was a great car. One of the best small cars Toyota ever made, IMO. Very practical, reliable, and the top models were actually pretty quick for their time. It's essentially a Corolla hatchback, with optional AWD. It's not a drag racer and never will be, but it's adding even more good stuff to an already good car.