This may help you some

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uziOLU81Yk



Yes, There are GM parts, for the radio. I'm not sure about the heating and A/C. For what it is worth, you'll get a much better deal on the Vibe than Matrix, since it and Pontiac are no more. What year(s) were you interested in?

 

This may help you some

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uziOLU81Yk



Yes, There are GM parts, for the radio. I'm not sure about the heating and A/C. For what it is worth, you'll get a much better deal on the Vibe than Matrix, since it and Pontiac are no more. What year(s) were you interested in?

I'll probably end up with a 2004. Maybe a 2005.

 

I'd go for the matrix myself. I live in the ******* land and most of them even drive tundras or tacomas- if someone doesn't like a foreign car, they haven't tried Toyota.


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Vibe is not a bad car at all, even with parts from GM

 

The Vibe uses an AC Delco A/C system vs. the Denso system used in the Corolla/Matrix. This is similar to the unit in the Tacoma and both take the same cabin filter (Vibe and Tacoma).

With the A/C change comes a different drive belt.

Short of that, they are identical. Both Matrix and Vibe have the standard crap GM radio.

I like the looks of the 2005-2008 Vibe with one color better than the Matrix. However that A/C system is crap. Blower motor resistor failures, blown up compressors, and leaky lines are much more common than the Denso. Neither is a guarantee of failure or reliability.

It also seems the early model Matrix and Vibe are prone to broken door handles on base models (those with non painted handles).

Short of that, they are crazy reliable and the issues are either mostly rare or minor in nature.

 

Matrix used the radio until 2004. Toyota used its own from 2005 onward.:smile:

I think for both models 2008 may be the best year.

 

funny how my 05 Denso AC is working great, but my 04 Vibe AC is dead, lol

 

I'm telling you, it's just the American build quality. I'll admit- there are some excellent American cars, but they are far and few.


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What dealership would I go to make sure that the recall stuff on a Vibe has been done? The Pontiac dealerships were typically paired with either Buick or GMC franchises. A Toyota dealership would know how to fix it all though.

 

For a Vibe you need to consult any GM dealer (Chevy, Cadillac, Oldsmobile).

For a Matrix you need to consult a Toyota dealer.

Even though both cars are nearly identical they are still handled by different manufacturers. If you called Toyota with a Pontiac VIN number it wouldn't show up in their system, and vice-versa.

 

Would you say that American or Toyota parts are more expensive for buying OEM?


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Probably American, but the only GM specific parts are A/C parts. Everything else short of body panels is identical.

 

I meant to say American was cheaper. However most the parts on these cars are American anyway. Also the Corolla was built mostly in NUMMI and has a ton of GM parts on it (recalled ECU's were mainly Delphi models), headlight connectors, and batteries (from factory).

 

How would you know the difference between an American parts over Toyota (other than denso of course).


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