Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Comments
I think it is FANTASTIC how many people read these boards and then end up buying the model being discussed.
I will probably fit that criteria soon. But instead of the Vibe/Matrix I THOUGHT I wanted, it will probably be a Mercury Marauder!
john cline ii who cross-shops the dangdest cars (in 1992 it was Nissan Maxima SE vs. Toyota Corolla LE. Honest! Probably should add I ended up cancelling a Prizm order back then and buying the Maxima SE. Somehow I think the Sales Manager at the Chevy dealer still tells that story!)
Anyway, I saw my first Matrix today at a dealer in Westbury, NY. The ground effects under the bumper was already dented and loose!!!!!!! Instead of putting useless nonsense like this on a car, how about folding mirrors instead!!!
The cargo area is very roomy and the seats are comfortable. I appreciated that the cargo area and most other vulnerable surfaces are plastic and vinyl. Some other cars like the Jetta and Outback Sport have cloth where there should be vinyl.
However the Matrix has some kind of electronic dash that you cannot see unless the key is in the ignition. What if this breaks? Then again, my Lebaron GTS had an LED dash and it never broke.
This is a nice car, but lose the fragile ground effects and give us heated folding mirrors instead!
Going to see the Vibe Friday at the Toronto Auto Show.
Hi jvkalra- (Post 499) Thanks for pointing that out. When discussions are created, they should automatically default to "read only" access for those that are not logged in. Occasionally the system has a hiccup, and the access list get's thrown off. Anyway, corrections have been made, and you should now be able to read the messages here when you're not logged in. Let me know if you have any other problems. Happy motoring!
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
The hard part is colors and options. I'm VERY picky, and the dealer here is telling me I can't get the charcoal interior with Indigo Ink Pearl in this area (DC). I think this is total BS as they have an Indigo Ink Pearl one coming in with the stone interior and figure they just want me to get that....sigh.
Does anyone have dealer cost on the accessories? I know what the costs are on the options thanks to Edmunds, but I would like to know what they are on the add-ons.
For current US Matrix owners, did you all pay sticker? Did anyone pay under sticker? Did the dealer try to hit you with a "processing fee" that they seem to be charging these days (it's about $225 here, and I refuse to pay it on an MSRP car).
I priced it out, and my Matrix will be $22,259.00 MSRP. A similar Vibe is almost $2000 more. what the heck is GM thinking.
I'm shocked to see that the break in period is the exact same as my 1988 Toyota Supra (can you imagine being 18 and keeping a sports car under 55mph??? it killed me, but I did it). I'm wondering now how realistic that is. If I go 55mph on the DC beltway, I'll get killed. Any mechanics out there with an opinion?
Any US dealers out there that will actually let you "order" one, or did all of you buy off the lot?
Thanks for all the great info.
After talking to various tire stores, I figure the best and most cost effective tire/rim will be 195/65-15. Has anyone here had to put winter's on their Matrix yet? Also, What bolt pattern does the celica GT-S have (5-100 or 5-115?).
Thanks.
Deagled! My dealer told me that only one Atlantic Canada Toyota dealer ordered in an XRS in the initial order run....I guess you got that one! They were afraid the XRS would run closer to 30K not 24!.
As for breakin, my dealer told me it's not as important as it used to be as they bench run their engines now. Actually the Subaru dealer told me to ignore breakin periods and run the car hard so the engine seated itself in such a way as to provide good performance. He said if you baby them that they then not perform as well later on. I generally take it a little easy on cars for the first 1000KM or so. Opinions do vary though.
My wife and I test-drove a FWD Matrix last night. Extremely impressed. The one word we came up with to describe the vehicle is "solid". If we can find a buyer for her 1998 RAV we may purchase a 4WD XR. Not an easy decision, her loaded RAV is in excellent shape (including new tires) and only has 64,000kms on it.
About the "flimsy front ground effects"...
I would like to say they are no more flimsy than most aftermarket parts, which are usually fiberglass and don't fair so well in our climate. The matrix has poly-urethane cladding which make it more durable/flexible and less likely to crack, as oppose to fiberglass.
Also, I should note that the Matrix is only 265lbs heavier than a GT-S with the same engine and 6-speed manual. This makes it an amazing value, considering you also get practical cargo space WHEN YOU NEED IT, and good looks. It's not like you'll always be driving around town with all seats and the trunk full.
BTW, just got our windows tinted on our Black Matrix (20%...not mafia glass) and I think it looks terrific.
I bet the tint looks slick! Especially on the black. I am not a fan of tint on most cars because thieves just think you have something to hide. But with 20% you should have no problems.
New Corolla, he just walked by and said I only have one(matrix) and It's sold we're cleaning it and I have one Corolla and walked on. This guy was so unhelpful. He could have offered to at least walk me around back and show me the Matrix or atleast try to sell me the Corolla he did have. What a loser this guy is. I am looking to replace
my 95 civic and based on my impressions at Butler Toyota, I will not buy it there.
This has been going on almost since you were born or whatever that 1964 means!
Thanks
Damax07
Yes, you can get a moonroof with the XRS. I am thinking about ordering mine with it. That is the problem though, to order it will take 3-5 months.
p.s. I haven't seen one on the road yet!!!! If anyone in Toronto travels between Ajax and the DVP, you'll know it's me as I drive that streak of the 401 every day!!! I have personalized plates too!!! XXXXX M, we'll see if anyone spots me. I'll buy the first one who does a cyber beer or two.
p.s. Canada vs. Sweden 6pm GO CANADA GO.
Thank you for the senseless hockey plug.....lol
I plan on getting it with 16" and a moonroof, then purchasing aftermarket 17" for the summer, and put winter tires on the 16". Also, you will notice that the 16" tires come with 205/55/16 tires. When you plus size these you should get 215/45/17. The dealer installed 17" tires are wearing 215/50/17. This will throw off you speedo, plus change your final drive ratio. No wonder people are complaining about the performance with the 17's. They have a taller tire than needed on them.
Now I can see it effecting acceleration because of the heavier weight of the wheels, but I don't think it would be a safety issue with it riding a 1/3 inch higher.
IMHO, the skirts and spoilers may appeal more to Toyota's typical customer (45+), rather than the intended target customer (20s and 30s). Toyota should make these add-ons optional, in the true sense of that word.
It is a shame if Toyota isn't really allowing them to be optional. That alone could tip the scales to the Vibe for me, especially since I happen to like the Vibe's appearance better anyway (if one can judge from the pictures).
but in congested traffic it cannot be enjoyed.
The lack of low end torque makes it easy to kill
the engine but I would adjust to that.The sticker price was $19.5K which is a bargain when compared
to the inflated CRV prices.The sad thing is the salesmen lie.He said things like you cannot order one and moonroof is not an option.Ignorance I can
understand but deception I cannot.I have always said a good car does not need a salesman.
Luckily for you with the XR model, the parking brake is just on the rear drum brakes. Cars with rear disc brakes use a special small drum brake that is not as heavy-duty as full drum brakes. I don't think you can warp the drums like you can do to rotors but I could be wrong. I'd see how well it stops, how well the parking brake holds the vehicle (while stopped in neutral) and if there are any funny sounds, especially while backing up. If you're worried about it, take the car in and have them do a brake inspection -- most shops will do this for free. At worst, machining the drums and putting new pads on shouldn't set you back much more than $350 CND with tax (my '95 needed that last year, just due to normal wear).
I'm glad our new Saturn last year has an annoying "bong-bong" seatbelt like warning for when you've left it in park as it is an auto (I'm used to stick-shift) and when shifting out of park I occasionally forgot to take the parking brake off on the first occasion or two.