From 2002 until 2010, Pontiac sold the tiny automobile known as the Pontiac Vibe. GM and Toyota, the company that makes the mechanically comparable Toyota Matrix, collaborated to build it. The Chevrolet Prizm was replaced in production by the Toyota-GM joint venture NUMMI in Fremont, California. Like the Prizm, the Vibe was derived from the Toyota Corolla, making it the final S-body vehicle that GM and Toyota jointly produced.
A Vibe with right-hand drive that had been rebadged as the Toyota Voltz was imported into Japan from 2002 to 2004. Due to its unpopularity in Japan, the Voltz was withdrawn after two model years.
With the Pontiac brand being discontinued in 2009 and NUMMI collapsing as part of General Motors’ Chapter 11 reorganization, the Vibe’s production came to an end. Because the Toyota Matrix was produced by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Cambridge, Ontario, and was untouched by NUMMI’s closure of operations, it continued to be produced for three more years for the American market and four more years for the Canadian market.
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When did the Toyota engine first appear in the Pontiac Vibe?
This Pontiac hatchback was jointly produced by General Motors and Toyota and had two alternative engine options: the 1.8L 1ZZ-FE and the 2ZZ-GE, both of which are from the Toyota ZZ Series.
With a new range of engine options and a revamped body, the Vibe launched its second generation in 2009. A motor from the Toyota ZR Series or a different motor from the Toyota AZ Series might be selected by customers.
Only one year later, in 2010, GM announced that the whole Pontiac brand would be discontinued. Along with the Pontiac ship, the Vibe and its robust Toyota motor perished.
Is the 2009 Pontiac Vibe’s engine a Toyota?
The 1.8-liter 4-cylinder 1ZZ-FE engine, which also powers the Toyota Corolla, is the standard engine for the Toyota Vibe from 2003 to 2008.
Another Toyota engine, the 2ZZ-GE, which is a variation of the same 1.8L engine with variable valve lift added for more power, is used in the Vibe GT.
A 132-hp 1.8L DOHC 2ZR-FE Toyota engine, which is also used in the Corolla and Matrix, is the standard engine for the 20092010 Vibe. The Toyota Camry and RAV4 both have a 2.4L 4-cylinder 2AZ-FE engine with 158 horsepower as an option.
There are some 2.4L engines that are known to use up oil. Overall, we believe that the 1.8L engine is preferable because it is more dependable and may last a long time with frequent oil changes.
Is there a timing chain or belt on the Pontiac Vibe? There is no timing belt; timing chains are used in all of Vibe’s engines. Only if it is strained does the timing chain need to be replaced.
Who made the Pontiac Vibe?
At the New United Motor Manufacturing facility in Freemont, California, General Motors and Toyota collaborated to produce the Pontiac Vibe, a small automobile. It could only be purchased as a five-door hatchback. Toyota Corolla and Matrix engines and components are shared by the Vibe. Different factories produced the Vibe and Matrix. Due to low sales and the discontinuation of the Toyota Sprinter, the Vibe had replaced the Chevrolet Prizm in 2002. (Prizm was a mere rebadged version of this car). Toyota marketed the Vibe as the Voltz from 2002 to 2004 in Japan. Due to the closure of NUMMI by General Motors and Toyota, the Pontiac Vibe was discontinued in 2009. General Motors revealed that the Vibe would be replaced by the Buick Verano when Pontiac declared it would cease operations (a badge engineered Opel Astra). Although it had limited AWD, it was sometimes referred to be a tiny crossover and went up against the Dodge Caliber.
It is possible to make this brief transportation article longer. Contributing to Wikipedia will benefit it.
Is Pontiac Vibe a reliable vehicle?
The Vibe boasts excellent dependability, outstanding fuel efficiency (31 MPG highway with the 1.8L engine), and a compact handling style with a station wagon’s passenger and load volume.
What issues are there with Pontiac Vibes?
The failure of the transmission has been a frequent issue in many 2003 Vibe redesigns. Despite having fewer than 100,000 miles on their odometers, owners of the impacted models have reported having trouble shifting gears. Their engines likewise abruptly stopped working.
Does Pontiac resemble Toyota?
Many buyers still find two compact automobiles that have been discontinued for some time to be appealing options, particularly small families on a budget who don’t require anything difficult but need something convenient.
Although they compare favorably to a number of current sub-compact SUVs, the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix do have an appealing design, dependable and efficient engines, a flexible interior, and a high level of equipment.
Is one preferable to the other? They share so many characteristics since they were jointly developed by Toyota and General Motors, so no, really. They could even be considered non-identical twins.
Even if their bodies are slightly different, the interior is identicalwith the exception of the emblem on the steering wheel and a few accessories, of course! Driving is not made more difficult by their high front seatsin fact, it improves visibilityand their back seat offers plenty of space. Another point worth noticing is that the trunk floor is entirely made of plastic, making cleanup a breeze.
By the way, the Vibe was available in basic, GT, and AWD models, whereas the Matrix was commonly found in basic, XR, XRS, and AWD variations. The 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine in the simplest model produced 132 HP, while the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder in the most advanced models produced 158 HP. Both all-wheel-drive systems were available as options.
Let’s not forget that the Matrix was a proudly Canadian product built in the Cambridge facility in Ontario, whereas the Vibe was put together in the NUMI plant in Fremont, California, despite the fact that they are two mechanically similar vehicles. But don’t worry, the job quality at these two plants was rated extremely well.
The Vibe is now sold for less money than the Matrix because Pontiac’s name and reputation are no longer as well-known. But even though some people continue to have this opinion, the first was actually made just as well as the second. Both cars are in excellent condition and have passed an inspection, so you can confidently choose between them.
Pontiac Vibes last how long?
Some of us find that the best way to get long-driving, dependable wheels without going broke is to purchase a well-reviewed old car.
The driving and maintenance practices of the previous owner will have a considerably greater impact on a secondhand car’s longevity than the brand, Lang is eager to point out. Therefore, it is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that the vehicle passes a reliable mechanic’s check before taking it home.
Despite the fact that their manufacturers no longer produce them, the following old automobiles can provide second (or even third) owners with unexpectedly good reliability for years to come.
Chevrolet Prizm
Only produced from 1989 to 2002, this compact vehicle has the kind of forgettable 1990s style that made it simple to misplace in a crowded parking lot. But underneath the uninteresting shell was an engine that was mechanically the same as the Toyota Corolla’s and had a comparable level of dependability. The industry average is 126,358 miles, while the average mileage on a Prizm, as documented at dealer trade-in, is a respectable 136,402 miles, according to the LTQI. There are also very few problems with the engine, transmission, or drivetrain. The Prizm earns a dependability rating of 69.1 overall.
Pontiac Vibe
When Pontiac went out of business in 2009 (model year 2010), this small five-door hatchback’s seven-year stint in production came to an end. The engine design was based on the Toyota Corolla, just like the Chevrolet Prizm, so it likewise delivered high reliability. The Vibe’s average mileage according to the LTQI is 125,455 miles, and the model receives a respectable dependability rating of 72.8.
A 2010 Pontiac Vibe with just 60,000 kilometers is accessible for under $15,000.
Ford E-Series Van
The Ford E-Series full-size vans, sometimes known as Econoline vans, were produced from 1961 until 2014. They were terminated last year, and the Ford Transit has taken their place. The few families you see driving them typically have their own TLC television show. These are typically classified as work automobiles. This van is ideal whether you need a work van or a powerful family transporter that can accommodate a large family of tuba-playing hockey goalies. (Side airbrush art is optional but recommended.) The E-Series receives a commendable 77.8 dependability grade from the LTQI, which also notes that the average mileage is 131,483 kilometers.
Is there a timing belt or chain on a Pontiac Vibe?
Timing chains are a feature of every Pontiac Vibe engine from 2003 to 2010. From 2003 to 2010, every Pontiac Vibe engine is interference.
In a combustion engine, the timing belt (or chain) maintains the correct synchronization between the various engine parts.
Serious engine damage may result if the belt or chain strains or breaks.
Timing chains are typically rated for the lifespan of the engine, while timing belts have a suggested replacement interval, however they do need to be inspected on occasion.
Understanding the timing system in your car or a potential purchase might help you save future costs and hassles.
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Mazda uses a Toyota engine, right?
The issue with Japanese automakers is that they all hold a small portion of one another. Sharing is therefore necessary because neither party wants to lose their investment in the other, even when there is competition. For many upcoming Toyota vehicles, Mazda has been discreetly developing a straight-six SkyActiv engine. Lexus would be a part of that. The first of what should be a fleet of potent vehicles from both Toyota and Lexus will therefore be this new Mazda6. Additionally, it means that the Mazda6 will ditch its transverse/FWD layout for the first time in favor of a straight-six engine with rear-wheel drive. This could indicate that the following Mazda6 will destroy Mercedes.