I have an opportunity to buy a 2007 Pontiac Vibe but I am concerned about future parts and service issues should GM drop the Vibe or do major reorganizing. What’s the thinking on this?
This vehicle was designed by Toyota and is mechanically identical to the Toyota Matrix. The ONLY differences are purely cosmetic ones, such as tail lights, grill, dashboard layout, etc.
So, the really important parts necessary to keep the car running will be available for as long as other Toyota parts are available. As to the trim parts that are unique to the Pontiac version, they will be available for a number of years. The FTC requires that parts be available for a specific number of years, and I believe that this requirement is 7 years.
Just an example of how long parts might actually remain available, owners of Studebakers are still able to obtain genuine factory replacements for some parts of their cars, and Studebaker stopped making cars in 1966. That is an extreme example, but I don’t think that you should worry about replacement parts for the Pontiac Vibe.
Don’t worry, especially given the vehicle is a Toyota Matrix with different interior/exterior that is it. The stuff that wears out and likely will be fixed is shared with Matrix.
Think back have you ever known anyone that could not get a part for a mass produced domestic car? Maybe you could not buy a specfic part of a component but you could buy the component. We get these will I get parts/service when company X goes belly up or stops the model.I would like to hear horror stories.
Well, as I mentioned above, there are still some “New Old Stock” (NOS) parts available for Studebakers. And, to fill in the gaps, mechanical and electrical parts from aftermarket suppliers are available. The only parts that an owner of a '60s-vintage Stude owner might have trouble locating are some body parts.
So, as you implied, parts availability should not really be an issue.
Andrew, I think the issue here is crash parts. If you break the grill on a Vibe 8 years from now, I doubt if GM will have a replacement one (even if GM is still in business), and aftermarket companies are not interested in that kind of low volume business. If a sufficient number were sold you would go to a wrecking yard, and get a used one.
As a last resort you would fit a Matrix grill onto your broken Vibe. Many years ago I crashed into a person with a 1953 Dodge, and ended up having to pay for it, since my insurance had not taken effect yet. We located a 1954 Plymouth with a wrecked rear end but perfect front, and my “client” ended up with a very unique hybrid, half Dodge, half Plymouth. The work was done by a reputable local garage and the owner was happy with the result.
I don’t see where the OP said anything about crash parts.
I’m pretty sure the FTC requires 10 year parts availability.
I own a 1992 Isuzu pickup. I can easily find body parts, replacement lights, etc. from aftermarket sources. Anyway, after 10 or 15 years any major crash damage is going to total the car. So, basically I think parts availability is not going to be a problem.
thanks for the info–i didn’t realize the two cars were twins. that’s very reassuring and i appreciate your taking time to answer me.
With regards to crash parts, auto recyclers are a great source of parts for older vehicles. Crashes in reality are a rare thing thankfully.
The OP did not say anything about body parts, but Docnick points out the parts that may be hardest to find.