2006 Pontiac Vibe consumer reviews

My wife really likes this car. I like the functionality, sunroof, and the 1500 lb towing capacity (not common in a small car). The huge blind spots and choppy ride I could live without. The drivetrain, while reliable and economical, leaves much to be desired. I don't know if the problem lies with the engine or four speed automatic transmission but it downshifts for the smallest of hills. It wouldn't be a such a big deal but the shifts are slow and in two stages. First the engine revs as it disengages, thanks to the standard "sport" exhaust it's very noticable. Then it revs a little higher as it completes the shift and reengages. The process takes about a second. At first I thought it was shifting into third and immediately into second but it only sounds that way because of the two stages and the fact that third gear is so much lower than overdrive. It's really annoying! If you're the kind of person that pays attention to the car you're driving you'll hate this thing. If not, enjoy.

Have owned this Vibe for a yr now from a rental car co as used certified and my husband and I love its versatility, handling and fun-factor. I am a big person and had test driven several sub-compact cars and even on short trips they were uncomfortable and difficult to get in and out of - but just after 10 min of testing this Vibe I knew I found my car. I owned a Plymouth Acclaim for 14 yrs and those seats were just wonderfully plush so I had to get used to the *harder* cushioning of the cloth bucket seats in the Vibe and wish they were as soft as the Acclaim's were, but still they are more comfortable than the PT Cruiser and other sub-compact cars I tested. Ours has the sunroof, power windows/doors, a/c and radio with cd/mp3 4spd auto FWD - I wish the arm rests were taller and the steering wheel was telescopic, but they at least got the steering wheel telescopic in the 2009 version. This car is great for a small family of 4 and esp. wonderful if you have a baby. Excellent cargo space and roomy. If you can afford it, get premium tires added on. Excellent gas mileage as well and handles wonderfully in the busy streets of NYC.

I love my Vibe. I like how high I sit in it and it has plenty of space. I think it is one of the most functional and practical vehicles on the road today. I only wish I had bought a manual transmission. Over the last two summers I have averaged 35 mpg (mostly highway and interstate driving). The Vibe is one of the top gas efficient gasoline cars as of 2008. If you can avoid going off road and towing large loads the Vibe is your best option if you are looking for a somewhat compact wagon or SUV. Note: Drive safe, slow down and you will save on gas, check your tires at least once a month, I see many cars every day that are running on low tires and that is dangerous.

I bought the 2003 VIBE, absolutely love it! No major problems beyond normal maintenence. I average 31 mpg or more with mine, and regulaqrly 40 mpg on long highway trips! This after over 70,000 miles on the vehicle! Now we just added the 2006 VIBE and couldn't be happier! You get Pontiac styling and Toyota mechanics in this great car. Don't hestitate to buy this if you communte, have trips to the home improvement store or like to take weekend trips. This car can handle it all!

I purchased a certified used 2006 Pontiac Vibe AWD. Overall I would say the car is fun to drive, has thoughtful appointments and good fit and finish. The upgraded stereo and power features give it a nice touch. I have owned at least a dozen 4WD SUVs and pickups so I was expecting a stable and secure drive. This little vehicle either has something terribly wrong with it or I just don't understand what AWD stands for. We swapped out the fairly worn tires for a new set of premium all season radials. No improvement. The car fishtails severely in even the slightest slush or small ice patches. Having a lifetime of experience driving FWD and 4WD vehicles in snow and ice I thought certainly the new tires would solve the problem. Because of the poor winter driving performance of the 2006 Vibe AWD, I have to give a significantly poor rating. It is just not delivering what it should.

I bought my vibe in January of 06. It's been a year and a half now and I have had absolutly no problems with it. It's a great car, and although I bought it before I became pregnaunt, it has turned out to be a great baby-car. Lots of room for baby stuff! I am 6 feet tall, and I was immediately impressed with the head room. Oh, and the gas milage is great too! My only minor disadvantages are that on LONG trips, the seats aren't all that comfortable, although they are great for a regular commute. I also wish there was more power...but then again, I bought the basic, basic model with no extras, so that's kind of on me. I have only owned Hondas, Toyotas and VW's (foreign cars) in the past, and was skeptical about buying a Pontiac at first, but this was a great decision :) For the money, you can't beat it.

The 2006 Vibe is a very comfortable car with excellent gas mileage. I average 30.5 in mixed driving. On the highway I average 35. I have gotten as much as 39.6 on the highway. The seats are soft and supportive. The engine which is used in the Matrix and Toyota Corolla sounds sporty in this car. I highly recommend this car for commuting or for small families. With the luggage space and the fold flat seats, you can't go wrong.

Get the stick, and get it loaded.You'll keep this car forever. 36-40 mpg on hwy. This car will carry a bunch of stuff.

I traded down from a Torrent because i drive about 100 per day and the fuel bill on the Torrent was exceding 500 per month...THis was summer 06 when gas was 3.00 per gal. I traded down to the Vibe , took a lose on my Torrent and have regretted it ever since. The car is 10 months old and i have put 23, 000 miles on it. It is the worst car i have ever owned. The ride is horrilb,bumping,jumpy,even worse when its below freezing. No power(of course its at 4cyl, gas milage is below recommended, getting about 26 mpg.Can wait to trade in a yr...... Buy the Torrent

Over all this is a good vehicle, however, I found on trips over 150 KM the seats were poor. I could not get a proper driving position and suffered back pain, which I have never had in any other Pontiac. The seat cushion is to short and the back and side bolsters could not cut it. I ditched the car at great expense so that I could be more comfortable.