The 2005 Pontiac Vibe GT Is A Dependable Used Hatchback With A High Revving Lotus Engine

[@theredline]

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Welcome to a full review on a used vehicle! It's literally been YEARS since we filmed something from the used car market and if this is something you'd like to see more of! Let us know in the comments and we will work on doing more of these. Big shoutout to @martymotoring for letting us borrow his 2005 Vibe GT to film and please also extend a big welcome to him because he has now joined the Redline crew in helping us edit and you may even see him on camera in the future hosting a video. We'll be off to drive the new Honda Prologue tomorrow in Napa, CA and our review on the new Lexus GX will post this Thursday! Stay tuned!

[@AlphaShark]

Do I sense the possibility of a certain Saturn review in the future?

[@undefined7141]

Now I want one

[@vinh291]

Acura TL 2005 Next!!

[@rizzystaydizzy]

Can you review my 2020 Mazda 2

[@Boxcarphilly]

A friend of mine has a 2014 Accord V6 2DR coupe, it's really grown on me. I never paid much attention to them prior to me getting to know her, now I love it, I notice them everywhere. Oh, and it's a six speed manual transmission. Maybe a review of this car could be in the future?

[@naveenthemachine]

You need to do more of these. This will really tell you if older cars are really better quality than new ones

[@BigAltimaEnergy719]

Well why do you think people just keep their old cars instead of going into debt buying new ones that are overpriced and lower quality

[@BCJDM]

@@BigAltimaEnergy719 depends on the vehicle really. Are 90s early 2000s Korean cars better quality than today's ? No.

[@MacI-1970]

I would rather have these than those modern computer on wheels.

[@EternalSkeptic27]

Yes! Old is gold when it comes to cars in my opinion. They don’t make them like they used to.

[@00_UU]

Nothing even close to Scion xB or Nissan Cube or Honda Element. 2003 Honda Element was way better built and fun to drive than 2024 Honda CRV Hybrid I tested a few days ago. It was also 3k cheaper than CRV at that time and lost no value over time. We only have Kia Soul left now, but it is getting slowly eliminated as Kia is following the same strategy of offering only high margin crossovers.

[@BraveBoyQ8]

At last Sofyan Reviewed an old car !!!!

[@fluffysharkdatazz9460]

Honestly wish we had more in depth old reviews like this. Why new ones get all the attention?

[@supersteve1585]

Few years ago he did do Keith's TL Type S. But still it has been a while.

[@MrFiskerUK]

This is how he started out, reviewing older models. It's really refreshing to see him go back to where it all started.

[@chrism869]

we definitley need more of these

[@LafemmebearMusic]

@@fluffysharkdatazz9460I want both honestly.

[@confusedscreaming2335]

It's been eons since Redline reviewed a used car. Takes me back to the 2TheRedline days.

[@davidd5213]

I ordered a brand new Toyota Matrix in 2003. Loved that car. Drove it for 12 years over 330,000 miles.

[@EseJandro]

What happened to it? Did you end up selling it or did it finally break down?

[@HelloMrVelo]

Xrs or base?

[@TonySmith-j1g]

I picked up an 05 last year for 1000 bucks. It was a beater with a heater. It has 286,000 plus miles and still runs great. Toyota and pontiac created a gem.

[@No_timezone77]

YES more of these! Its like stepping back in time! Very refreshing.

[@LuisUrbieta]

Nice Pontiac Vibe I think it looks great. By modern standards it's low on luxury features & tech but I feel it's cool.

[@elioneil]

Agreed!!

[@LuisUrbieta]

@@elioneil The only zonk, they don't make them like this anymore!

[@craigidycraig]

i own a 2003 GT and i love it, redline it every day without problems, 217,000 miles

[@elioneil]

Good to see you not forgetting about your roots and those of us that were there in the earlier years. ❤

[@00_UU]

Pontiac Vibe - Toyota Matrix was an amazing car. It was HUGE inside, probably similar to modern compact SUVs. Lots of cargo room, reliable engines and an optional manual transmission. It was also priced like a Toyota Corolla at that time. Amazing ride for its time. Scion xB, Honda Element, Scion tC were all amazing value vehicles ahead of their time.

[@rightlanehog3151]

👏👏👏👏

[@jllen729]

Literally one of the most reliable and best cars I ever owned, bought a 2003 gt and drove to 100k miles and never had one single problem, only regular maintenance. Thanks for the review

[@rightlanehog3151]

Sofyan, I thought you were digging deep into the 'Redline Archives' or retrieving a long lost video file when I saw this pop up. I would like to thank Martin for sharing his Vibe with us. 👏👏In base form, the Matrix/Vibe represents a blend of practicality, space efficiency and affordability that Toyota has abandoned with today's low slung TNGA cars. For example, today's Corolla hatch has lost almost 4 inches of headroom compared to the Matrix/Vibe and it is so small, it will almost fit inside a Matrix. As the owner of a 2005, non-GT Pontiac Vibe, I heartily endorse this video and this car!🤩🤩As a public service, it should be noted the second generation Vibe GT and Matrix XRS were burdened with the Camry's 2.4 engine which is known to burn oil. Lastly, the first generation of the Vibe GT and Matrix XRS had torsion beam rear suspension while the second generation had IRS. Both generations of AWD models had IRS.

[@tylerhauk6737]

This was my first new car when I was younger, and it was an absolute banger! Drove it across Canada twice, the flat back seats folded down and gave me so much room for helping myself and friends move stuff. Such a dope car!

[@colbywalsh4610]

I love the Pontiac vibe. When I was in high school my mom had an all-wheel-drive first generation. I don’t remember the exact year I wanna say 2005. I think she drove it about 220,000 miles or so. It had like 200 and90,000 miles or so when she sold it. But a lot of it was highway miles because she had like a 50 or 60 mile commute back-and-forth to work each day. And it’s nice to see reviews of older vehicles on this channel :-)

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

I love this car review~~ I've seen several of these around my neighbourhood, and let me tell you, I never thought of Pontiac highly before, but reading about this car, it surprised me just how reliable and cool they were back in the day. I see a lot of used Pontiacs, and honestly, they aren't bad cars. It's sad that GM bankrupted them in 2008 when the financial crisis hit, so it would've been cool to see how they could have evolved Pontiac. Also it's nice how Sofyan is going back to his roots to when he started the channel, doing used car reviews for us :) My favourite used car review that he did back in the day was that 2008 Acura TL base with navigation, and it's refreshing to see a used car back in the channel :) Also welcome Martin! Nice to see a new addition to the Redline Reviews team~

[@atmartens]

I used to think that it was sad that Pontiac was killed off… however think about it differently now. The Pontiac G8 was a rebadged Holden. G6 was on a multi use platform but similar to a Malibu. Torrent was an Equinox. G5 was a Cobalt. Vibe was a Matrix. Grand Prix was OLD. Solstice and Sky were both shared. Pontiac truly didn’t have anything that was their own. It was a dying brand. Even the GTO was a rebadge. As much as it’s odd, Saturn’s concept would’ve make more sense now. Flat pricing is something people would love to see again, and do with online shopping. I appreciate the old review!

[@dsmolevski]

I had an 87 Fiero and LOVED it dearly...would've bought one right now in a heartbeat...and what about the Firebird?

[@JeffyPieRocks]

It's more of a hatchback Corolla than it is Pontiac. But sure looks better.

[@philricci2012]

It makes perfect sense to look at all of the options available to drivers, including used cars. It’s like Sofyan going back to his roots, reviewing that 2012 Honda Fit.

[@johnwjeromejr]

Absolutely provide more of these used car reviews, especially cheap cars that are sporty or semi-sporty and in such good condition. This review knocked it out of the park in terms of vehicle selection and amount of detail in the review.

[@dh12.]

I had an 06 vibe and now an 07 matrix. The two most reliable and affordable cars I've ever owned. Even better than my civic and fit.

[@TonyKimtheamusementparkfan]

It's nice that Pontiac collaborated with Toyota for this car, and it was a smart move in my opinion, because you're going to get Toyota reliability no matter what mileage. Like what Sofyan said, the Lotus Elise even had this engine and Lotus also collaborated with Toyota to kind of build it (like they did with all their cars), so anyone who collaborates with Toyota to build cars is going to get a product that lasts forever.

[@DS..69]

Crazy. Civic and Fit drive circles around this vehicle.

[@dh12.]

@DS..69 can't fit shit in a civic, and I could fit almost twice the amount in my vibe/matrix as the fit. Id also freeze to death in the fit because their 1.5 litre engines barely produce enough heat in winter. I've owned all of them, so your opinion means nothing.

[@lesran]

@@dh12. I've been shocked what I have been able to fit in my Vibe. I've had mine 9 years and honestly I will eventually replace it with another Vibe or Matrix. Most reliable car I have ever had, not even a close second.

[@sophaman9193]

I owned a matrix 2.4 2010 158 HP 161 pound feet of TORQUE good power 5 speed automatic transmission i love it take care bye from milton Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

[@LucidDreamer54321]

I have a 2005 Vibe base model with 5-speed manual transmission. I bought the car new and have driven it 195,000 miles including using it to commute to work, using it as a work vehicle in construction, and using it as a work vehicle in farming. The car looks like it has been through a war, but is still running (and falling apart). During the past couple months, I have spent a lot of time looking at information about 2024 and 2025 model year vehicles. So far, I haven't found anything I like as much as the Vibe. Guess I will look for a good used Vibe or Matrix.

[@jasonsong86]

Good to see older cars getting reviewed. It's like a trip down the memory lane. We are all conditioned by all the new cars and features these days and this shows how far cars have become.

[@paulm6481]

Fun fact, these were built in joint GM/Toyota plant in California, that eventually was sold to Tesla amd now has become the Tesla California manufacturing plant

[@mark_u]

Loved this generation of the Matrix/Vibe. Both still look better and are more functional than the Corolla Cross.

[@rightlanehog3151]

🙌🙌🙌🙌 Toyota would have to send us their Probox or Corolla Fielder to come close to the Matrix.

[@bobbyyagakechannel]

It’s really cool you and Martin got to talk about the Vibe GT! I really like learning about the GM brands that were discontinued like Pontiac, Saturn, and Oldsmobile. I didn’t get a chance to drive them, but I like learning about the brands I didn’t get to experience.

[@Bobo_Plantain]

Wow! This was a big surprise! I haven't seen a Vibe in years, let alone any Pontiac, really.

[@EternalSkeptic27]

Old is gold, as they say. When it comes to cars, that’s a true statement in my opinion.

[@DRBG444]

Yesss! These used car reviews are totally a VIBE!!! Love this so much, thank you Sofyan!

[@keithrodes1591]

These were such cool little cars.... and still are! I've always liked these!

[@bryy2053]

I actually think this car looks better today than when it came out in 04. Id say it aged like wine to be honest. And for @ $3k, that's a great deal.

[@jbshp2011]

Yeah sofyan you need to some more of these classics vs. the new cars man!!

[@cencio_1976]

Please more of these videos. Especially for us gen X it brings up great memories, and getting a retrospective with the cars we learned to drive with is just amazing.

[@stevenspecht001]

When I was 19 (im 34 now) I drove a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe and I absolutely loved it. Its great to see you doing a video on an older car!

[@justin9152]

Time to review the G37 Sedan once again my friend. That was the first redlindes video review I had seen you on back in the day. I never did pick one up but it's still one of my favorite good looking vehicles in my opinion.

[@ned8249]

Is it just me but I really want a Pontiac GT Vibe. Keep doing the retro reviews 👍

[@wompa70]

I had an 03 or 04. The grill changed for the 05 MY. I loved mine. It was a fun little hot hatch.

[@lemonherb1]

I still have my 03GT since new. I even take it ice fishing, though if there's more than 3" of snow on the surface of the ice, I can still get stuck I think some of the differences between the 03 & 05 is mine still has the cable driven throttle and doesn't have the smog pump. The GT's typically comes with the 16" wheels, although you could get them with 17", but those didn't have a sunroof. And I believe the rear subwoofer was introduced with the 05 model

[@jimmieromero8181]

I own the 1st gen Matrix “bloated corolla”, mine is the 1zzfe not 2zzge. Its still pretty quick for what it is. It’s Awd and an automatic but at 228k miles and doing amazing. Probably the most reliable car I have owned to date. Its my work daily and it does what it needs to do which is sips gas but cheap to maintain.

[@rightlanehog3151]

The Matrix/Vibe were incredibly practical and reliable* cars. Too bad Matrix sales slowed to a trickle in the second generation and Toyota decided not to build a third generation. * The oil burning 2.4 Camry engine in the second generation was their only major fault.

[@RebelPMP]

With new car prices getting more out of reach for most of us, I welcome the used car review content. there are a few models that were out of reach when new that have depreciated and become more obtainable,

[@WestCoastChicano]

Love this video.Pontiac is actually my favorite brand, then Chevy. My heart broke when GM cut Pontiac. I had 2 Pontiacs, a '78 Firebird and a new '96 Trans Am. I bought the '78 without an engine so my buddy at the time installed one from the junkyard. I actually drove that car from Virginia to Texas and then to California with that junkyard engine. Absolutely zero problems. My Trans Am only had to replace each headlight motor once under warranty, other than that it was absolutely bulletproof. My dream car which I still plan on owning some day is a '77 Trans Am Black Special Edition. Currently I'm driving a new Chevy Bolt EV which I also love. 🚗🇺🇲

[@Ricky_H]

Great review as always. Yes, more used car reviews would be great.

[@paulm6481]

I had a base Vibe with the Corolla engine. It was so reliable and with folded seats roomy. After 70,000 miles gave it to my nephew who had it to 150,000 miles before crashing it. Good times.

[@bobkaloki]

Love this review format! Reminds me of my 2005 Toyota Matrix base, I regret selling that car. Very practical.

[@dchrish]

This video is refreshing. U reviewing older used cars.

[@stevebowzer]

My parents rented one for a trip and I had such a weird crush on this car. Thanks for taking me back!

[@bulletproof1395]

Much appreciated. Reviews of older vehicles such as this are more in range for buyers trying to make smart financial decisions in a difficult economy where the price of new vehicles has skyrocketed.

[@miguelvega7769]

Heck yea, love the used old cars, especially ones that’s reliable. Keep it up👍🏾👍🏾

[@blazingsynth4314]

I never clicked on a Redline video so fast before!!!

[@jcat96]

Now this is the type of content I can vibe with!

[@et9300]

Love to see this kind of review. It brings back good memory. Most of the new cars today are just an appliance.

[@mikeyveloster7615]

Longtime fan of Sofyan, started watching videos back in the day when he would review used cars and always wanted him to return to this format. Glad it has come full circle now and hope to see more.

[@jkim8282]

This review has just rekindled my viewership of this channel. 2ZZGE!

[@mhassouneh]

This is such a practical car, with lots of features.. Love the older-car-review 😎

[@JasonMacKenzie]

I used to have a 2003 Matrix XRS with the Celtics engine. It had 180hp and redlined at something like 8300 rpm. It had no torque at all but man it was fun to wind out!

[@G-Rated]

2025 model year you say, Soyfan? I love it! Can’t wait to see what Pontiac does with the redesign 2026 Vibe! Lol. No on a serious note this was actually very refreshing. Soyfan, what about some teaching videos? I wanna learn how to drive a manual you make it look so easy and you’re good with explaining things.

[@rightlanehog3151]

I earned manual after almost 20 years driving automatic. If I can do it, anybody can.

[@cybermgo]

I hade a Vibe… sold the car with almost 400k miles and the car was still running

[@DimoS...]

Vibe Gt with 2zzge engine ? Or vibe with 1zzfe?

[@jamesstuart3346]

Drove the GT back in 2003 but bought a Base. Still driving it 😊

[@miguelkennedy9520]

Redline Review’s videos make me smile 😊

[@somejackball]

my Sister-inlaw had one back then, we used to use it to Storm-chase in. really comfy ride, reliable. ☮

[@ryb2189]

I had a 2005 Matrix XRS that thing was fun 😊.

[@eightbll1017]

Bought a vibe little over 2 yrs ago. 2200 after tt&l. Over 280k miles. Now son uses it. Over 300k miles. Still running. And it's a base. Has the fog lights. Great little car.

[@vapor4den]

Yes ! You should make more video with older car model but only the good car from the past like this one(don't tell everyone price will go up lol) Also older Ferrari modlel could be cool to watch !

[@KhrissyDaDon]

I remember my friend’s brother had a Matrix XRS, the good ol days 😊!

[@graysonpfluger6051]

Amazing video, keep doing these review his LS and Is350 too!!

[@PurlCat]

Im getting an 03 Vibe GT from a local here in Washington State who specializes in 1st gen Vibes and Matrix's. You give him a call, set a date and you show up to his house and point at a Matrix or Vibe in his lot and he gets to work, or rather you get put on a list and he works through the list until its your turn. He redoes EVERYTHING, goes through the entire drivetrain and replaces all the seals, makes sure all interior and exterior trim and panels are perfect, makes them essentiakly brand new again. He doesnt advertise at all, only by word of mouth. Im the 4th person in my friend group to buy a car from him, 2 XRS's, one XR, and my GT which is in the shop as we speak. I cant wait.

[@score1two]

Hey where is he located? Does he just sell or does he do repairs as well? I would love his contact info

[@davidcamacho3513]

Nice video. Refreshing to see old, quirky cars getting showcased. Didn’t know this much about this car. Would enjoy more videos of cool, unique cars. Especially with new cars being sooooo pricey & over complicated.

[@Charris4358]

We had an 06 Vibe in 08 to about 13 or so. Loved that car! It was not a GT but it was bulletproof reliable. I dont remember having to do anything except brake pads and oil changes. We had our 1st 2 sons when we owned that. The fold down front seat is a great place to change a diaper when on the run. 😂 i would buy one now if i needed cheap transport.

[@rightlanehog3151]

I have been driving my Vibe for nearly 19 years. The fold-forward front seat comes in handy a couple of times per year for carrying ladders or 2X4s. Every hatch, wagon, CUV, SUV and minivan ought to offer that type of front passenger seat but they have almost disappeared from the industry. As far as I know, the only Toyota that offers one today is the 2 door Tacoma.

[@Jelee_Tea]

Yes! More old car reviews! Would love for you to get your hands on an 02-03 Maxima with a 6 speed manual to review!

[@wero1986as]

Yes, I love this kind of reviews, not everyone buys new

[@JarmelSingsKaraoke]

👏👏 Nice job switching it up a little with an older car Sofyan ...

[@jsto330]

Definitely need more of these reviews!

[@ShibaNugget]

I miss these. I remember 9 years ago when I binged your entire channel when you were still doing cars from Jerry Automotive to see older cars that everyday people drive!

[@sengsythao1896]

Missed the old car reviews, a breath of fresh air! 😎👍

[@TheChevyBwoi]

Very refreshing, bring back used car reviews!

[@CudiFan224]

Collab of the year

[@spedison_3824]

awesome review! please do more used car reviews for some variety compared to all the expensive new cars. i have a toyota solara coupe you are welcome to review

[@GautamAtri]

I would really like to see videos of 2015 and older luxury cars since their values drop like rocks and they're bargain buys. SUVs, their reliability and what to expect.

[@superglue46]

I had one of these for a couple years back in the mid teens. Never should have sold it.

[@Roddy451]

More of these, please... with sugar on top. Ironically, I've been looking at this model and the Matrix for a daily driver for a little while now. I am in no rush, of course. The term crossover came from these kinds of cars. There was a model from Suzuki, Aerio SX, where the latter meant "Sport Crossover". Eventually, as these disappeared, the industry conveniently moved the "Crossover" designation to the car-based "utes" that had their platform roots in cars. I do not call a Ford Escape an SUV; to me, it is a X-over, whereas I call the Explorer an SUV. (IMHO)

[@rightlanehog3151]

I have been driving my 2005 Vibe for nearly 19 years, I refer to it as a wagon with a nicely raised seat height and very generous headroom. 😁

[@Roddy451]

@@rightlanehog3151 You have a very good and super practical car. 👍👍

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@Roddy451 I drove a lot of old jalopies before I finally got a decent car.

[@celsovera91]

The matrix/vibe were the last cars built in the NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA before it got sold to Tesla

[@blakefadem468]

Not all were built there. Some came from Ontario, Canada.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Corollas and Tacomas were built at NUMMI until April 2010. The last Vibe was made in August 2009. The Matrix was made exclusively in Cambridge, Ontario.

[@MukhtarMuhammad-zx6rt]

Congratulations redline 1 m subgribers

[@hypershadow87]

*I've seen Matt Maran doing older vehicle reviews lately and I'll be honest, for some reason I'm really feeling this. I'm not used to this from you, but I like it.* 👏😤

[@theantman14313]

This gesture is great once-in-a-while

[@nathanvbrown3630]

I love used car reviews! Sofyan heading back to his roots. 😂

[@Yousaf_Iqbal]

YES!!! please start uploading more reasonable and rational videos of cars that people can actually afford and not fantasize about.

[@emblematic1]

Very cool Sofyan, definitely do more - would love to see reviews of old cars. Here's a few suggestions - Preludes, Civic Si, Integra, Legend, 300ZX, Audi S5 and S4, 3.2 TL

[@MegaRetr]

I love this car review)

[@ContentinMesa]

Love this. Would also suggest a second channel dedicated to cool cars from the past. And if I could suggest a car a srt6 crossfire would be awesome

[@stephenfitzgerald9740]

Thanks for bringing this back. I love you reviewing used interesting cars

[@bla9ckcob5ra]

I had an 09 base with around 80k miles on it. Still felt tight and had an old lifetime Sirius account still on it. Great gas mileage. Everything work, it leaked nothing, and was great for the time I had. I’ll buy another in a heartbeat.

[@oaklavegas8779]

I’ve got a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (base) w/ the 1.8L 1zz-fe that now has 228k miles! I have removed ALL Pontiac badging and replaced with all Toyota badging and a custom name tag of “VOLTZ” which never sold in the US and was never made in 2005. It’s definitely a VIBE

[@innerg6164]

I love my 03 vibe GT. Mine is under 200k drives so good in the snow too. Can’t complain with the 6speed manual. Car is a tank will last forever with good maintenance.

[@PurlCat]

Also whats that head unit? Looks great, thats going to be my first upgrade when i get my Vibe.

[@chrism869]

yes, we definitely need more of these older car reviews

[@stingray120]

Please review more used cars, greetings from a follower in Colombia

[@jaimeramirez-perez7198]

Yo this is a surprise, an old car review 👍

[@adrianmorales7368]

I have been looking for this specific generation FOR MONTHS

[@toyotabrony]

I would never thought to see the day. Redline review, review a used vehicle. Oh happy day. And of course Pontiac Vibe in disguise, Toyota matrix ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 @RedlineReview Would u be considered review the 2011-2015 Scion xB please?

[@sockmonkey201]

I had a 2003 Matrix XRS w/ 180hp 6spd that I loved. I believe the motor was actually made by Yamaha and was known as a time bomb. It had ZERO torque, but when the VVTLi kicked in, YES SIR!!!!!!!!!! It also had a tall 1st gear which hindered 0-60 times. I can't believe he has 200,000 miles, has to be a record. Really enjoyed seeing this car.

[@blakefadem468]

It was only designed by Yamaha. Built by Toyota.

[@ztune3945]

The 2zz has two design flaws, the first one is obviously the oil pump that self grenades at high RPM's and the second flaw is the oil pan lacks a baffle that can lead to oil starvation while cornering hard nonetheless its one of my favorite Toyota engines alongside the iconic 4age.

[@brandenevans8726]

Yes! It would be wonderful to see some great older cars mixed in with the new ones.

[@LegendLuna]

I still have my 2003 pontiac vibe. lol. Can you let me know what the model of the stereo "Face plate" he put on there?