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Comments
Base Matrix (Manual tranny) (2 wheel drive)
(optional equipment as defined by window sticker)
All weather guard....$250
cruise control......$250
Power windows & locks...$980
carpet mats......$88
Total price to me, delivered, including Oregon plates,
$16,291.00
Be aware, I only wanted the rear window wiper option. But was stuck with buying this other stuff cause there isn't a lot to choose from. ( I positively HATE power windows!) Got stuck with Silver color when I wanted Red or White, also.
Went thru an Auto buyer in Portland, and got the rig inside a week.
Took her out and about today, and am proud to say; everything seems to be in order and working. So far, so good.
http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm366575.html
I also found a link that, among other things, mentions a Swedish study claiming pink is the safest color for a vehicle and black is the most dangerous:
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/fascinating-facts/safe-vehicle-colours.html
Price--tax---title--license ? Please
I have had similar problems with my 03 plus a whole host of others.
I originally bought the car hoping to get great milage. The average with auto trans is 29mpg with a majority of highway miles. Ok so I'll deal with it it's not the mid 30's I was hoping for. First it comes time for tires. I find out these are a special low profile tire that only comes in high performance styles $150 a tire mounted and balanced. "Outch" this is a matirix not a porsche!
I decide it's time to change the transmission fluid because it is getting dirty looking. I find out the trans. pan gasket/ filter is not available and the fluid is a special Toyota blend at $12 a quart. Again I'll deal with it.
Now I am coming up on 90K and the check engine light comes on. I take it to Autozone and they tell me that the O2 sensor and the coolant sensor are bad. The O2 sensor is only available at the dealer For the modest price of $140 and autozone has the coolant sensor for only $50. At this time my brakes are starting to squeal telling me I need my second set of brake pads for a meer $50. When I go to install the pads I find the reason for the premature brake wear is the driver side caliper is rusted up another $140.
So for $380 in parts total I think I have my car back in shape. Mind you this is more than the car payment. Five days later my check engine light comes back on. I have not had the chance to look at it again. I'm sure it'll cost me another $200.
The car just lacks quality!!! The heater blows lukewarm in the winter and the air blows luke cold in the summer. The position control for the heat is just there for looks as when it is on floor it comes out of the vents and defroster almost as hard and likewise for the other positions.
Rust is rediculous for a car this new. Around all four door handles there are rust stains and around the rear window there are numerous rust bubbles. I swear on a quiet night you can hear it rusting.
VERY DISAPPOINTED II
2) Maintenance: replaced tires (85k) and a CV joint (106k)
3) I expect at least another 100k miles.
4) Performance: my base/manual will smoke a 2003 v6/automatic Mustang every time.
5) After about 300 miles, the seats get somewhat uncomfortable.
6) Absolutely comfortable. Driven in high winds, 100+ degree temps, -15 degree temps, high winds (hurricane force), jeep trails (did I mention hard miles?), heavy rains (hurricane again) and snowstorm (1-2"/hour in NE Ohio) and have had no problems controlling my 2003 Matrix.
-----------------
If you were AVERAGING 78 mph, 27 mpg sounds pretty good. Optimal gas mileage is supposed to be at something like 55-58 mph.
My father has a Buick (Century, I believe) with V6 and also has reported some highway trips averaging 35 mpg when wind conditions were favorable (basically no stiff crosswinds). He drives 65-70. Keep in mind that the low-profile sedan has better aerodynamics than the SUV or station wagon shape, so fuel efficiency isn't reduced as much at higher speeds as with cars like the Matrix/Vibe.
Today's paper had an article about new EPA testing that is supposed to better reflect real-world driving -- hard starts and stops, highway speeds greater than the current 60 mph, etc. Bottom line is that the EPA rating on most vehicles will decline, some being as much as 30 percent lower than today's ratings. Hybrids are supposed to take the biggest hit.
I finally purchased my Matrix XRS and I am looking for some accessories online(bumper protector, pet screen, wheel locks, etc). So far, I have found toyotapartspeople.com to be cheaper. Do you have any other recommendations? Also, they seem to have only up to 2005 model accessories, were there any changes at all at the 2006 model? I highly doubt it, excuse me for my ignorance.
Thanks a lot.
Somehow, it's nice to know I'm not alone.
Thanks
the starting problem is confined to the matrix, since the vibe does not have a passive theft deterrent system.
-Mathias
My wife's Civic always had decent air conditioning. After a ride in my Matrix one day she starting complaining about how weak her AC was. So since the car was a few years old I took it in to get AC checked. It came back within spec. No leaks, no refrigerant loss. Nada.
If you buy a Matrix without side airbags, crash performance will likely be similar, (but not necessarily identical) to the Corolla, since the Matrix has a higher seating position and weighs slightly more.
Another thing to consider when deciding between vehicles that may or may not have side airbags is resale. In 5 - 10 years when you might sell this vehicle, side airbags will probably be standard on every car sold. A car without side airbags would be harder to sell, or would sell at a reduced price.
In my opinion, the initial extra cost of side airbags is worth it when you consider that they might save your life, or that your car's resale will be that much better. (I just wish that Toyota would make them standard equipment like Honda is now doing on all of their vehicles, or at least make them more readily available without having to custom order from the factory.)
I don't know whether or not you also own a Camry with which to compare the Matrix (I don't); but if you compare EPA mileage estimates for the Camry with the Matrix (both with 4 cylinders, 2WD, and automatic transmissions) you'll note that Camry estimates are 34 highway and 24 city; while the Matrix is estimated at 34 highway and 28 city. Mileage estimates for the 4WD Matrix are a bit lower at 31 highway and 26 city, while estimates for the XRS model, with the more powerful engine, are 32 highway and 25 city.
Bottom-line, in most cases the Matrix will get better MPG (based on EPA estimates) than the Camry, with possible exceptions being the 4WD and XRS models of Matrix, neither of which represents a sizable percentage of sales. My own experience with a 2WD XR 5-speed Matrix suggests that Matrix MPG is very good and exactly what I should have expected.
My lowest mileage is 18mpg, for a normal local only driving.
***Breaking News***
2007 major model change.
- 2.4L (2AZ-FE)
2.4 Litre
4-Cylinder
16-Valve
2AZ-FE specs
VVT-i
Sequential Multiport Electronic Fuel Injection
Balance Shafts
Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle [ULEV]
Compression Ratio - 9.6:1
Horsepower (kW) - 157 (119) @ 5700 rpm
Torque (N.m) - 163 lb.ft. (221) @ 4000 rpm
- available all wheel drive (new one) 5 speed tranny
- solid hatch door (no more separate opening glass)
- XRS will be discontinued
These are confirmed for the major model change in 2007 either for the 2007 model or early release 2008 depending on how the new Woodstock plant launch goes.
With the XRS being discontinued, this means that the GT Vibe is being cancelled. Also the AWD Vibe is being cancelled.
What's the difference between the newer models and the existing: Are there more engine power, change in mpg, any cosmetics improvements?
I've read the compliants about weak heat/AC, and rattling...these problems didn't give me a warm and fussy feeling to just go out and get it.
Gets heat within 3 or 4 blocks here in Dayton, OH even when it is in the teens and air is nice and cold in summer. No rattles or squeaks in first 6 months of ownership. Very well built.
The only thing we can say even slightly negative is that economy is not as good as the EPA ratings of 28 city and 34 highway. Actually it may get 34 on pure highway, but we have not ran a full tank through doing nothing but highway. City and suburban we get about 26 average; sometimes a little more.
As a comparison, my Miata is rated 23/29 mpg and in the same urban and suburban driving I average about 28-29.
Very nice cars though. Never see many on the new car lots and never see them advertised on TV. What the dealers get, they seem to sell quickly.
We bought both for invoice plus $50 title plus 7% tax. On the second one we bought I had the dealer order it in to coninside with the fall sale Toyota Corp. has around Thanksgiving. They put out $1000 coupons, so on the second one I got it $1000 under invoice.
At least in my market (OHIO) Toyota has two of these $1000 coupon sales a year (at least the past few years).....one at Thanksgiving and one in the Spring.
Steve
As for reliability I've had a DRL light sensor and the rearview mirror replaced under warranty and those are the only problems I've ever had with the car.I'd consider buying the new model,but it looks like Toyota is going to ruin it with a bigger engine and poor fuel economy like they did with the Celica replacement- the TC! I'm also disappointed to see that they're doing away with the rear window opening on the 07 ,as I use that most of the time,much more convenient than opening and closing the big hatch.
I once rented a 04 Chev Impala in March and drove it more than 1K miles at a speed around 90mph and sometimes 100mph. It got 31mpg even with some local miles. I also enjoyed how quiet it was. I didn't have to increase the volume to listen to the radio. Inside my matrix, I have to double the volume.
I did read people reported both 28 and 38 mpg for matrix from different websites, with the 28 ones claiming they drove like grandma and the 38 ones 10mph above speed limit. Maybe it is a quality control issue. But, all of my friends who have corrolas complained how noisey they are, and none liked the rev-happy sound. Seriously, my matrix changes gears at 6K rpm when I floor it, which I did less than 10 times as there was no fun doing that, but it is still too sluggish to be called sporty.
My previous 10-years old, beaten-up, oil-leaking, tires-evened accord got 31 mpg at about 80mph. When I bought the matrix, I had a lot of hope to see an increase to 33 or 35 from what I read on different websites. I kept hopping after the break-in period, the second oil change, the 7.5K maintance, the 1.5 maintance, but it never happended, and I began to read more and more complaints about its poor gas mileage.
I think negative reviews from experienced owners are more helpful for potential buyers. When I was doing research on Matrix, all I read was how wonderful it was, and none mentioned the exccesive noises on highway. I believe they do know their cars are noisey, but reluctant to say it. I can accept the poor gas mileage because it is not too bad after all. But, the noises are killing me on highway as I drive a lot on highway and have to turn the volume up to listen to the music. I was often surprised to realize that the music was at an ear-deafening level after I got off the highway and stopped at a stop sign. Having said that, I don't think I am a picky person, neither I am rich enough to be picky. However, from my own experience, I consider Camry, Accord, Tauras, Impala are comfortable cars. Matrix, Corrla, Civic are certainly not.
My wife can get 35 mpg in the car, I've never been over 30. I don't believe there's anything wrong, it's just physics at work. Drive 65-70 mph on level roads and with low winds and I think you'll see 35 mpg or so.
"The Laws of Physics Are Strictly Enforced."
-Mathias