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
Second, empty the glovebox. My glovebox contained the grommets to hold down the floormat and two little plugs that go under the car and fulfill some unknown function. These were easy for me to install, but you should check before you drive off in case you need assistance.
Third, check all the usual things, particularly the lights and tire pressures (my tires were a little low). If you're concerned about the DRL sensor issues some people have reported, be sure the salesman shows you where the sensor is.
Fourth, remember the break-in procedures. If you're coming from an old beat-up car like I was, a new car like the Matrix can drift up over 55 without you really noticing.
Fifth, and this is just my opinion, take time to decipher the stereo _before_ you drive off. There's nothing like trying to divine how to skip tracks or set the equalizer while negotiating intersections at speed.
As for my impressions of the car, I like it. No visibility issues with the instrument panel, though giving pride of place to the external temperature gauge seems to me a questionable decision. No problems accelerating, within 55 mph anyway. Many many storage compartments - you will end up losing something in these sooner or later. Also many attachment points for things like luggage tiedowns and child safety seats. Very thoughtful additions. The steering column is unusually short, which can be a problem in the long-legged because we want to put the seat all the way back, but then stretching our arms to reach the wheel makes the shoulders move forward and puts stress on the back. I'll probably just move the seat up. I'm not terribly impressed by the stereo or the cheap black wheels with plastic covers, but I suppose at $15,600 I got what I paid for.
peace
It's funny - I used to work for a car magazine and drove lots of Toyotas and Lexi, and I never noticed that the cruise control did that. But if you guys say that this is the way Toyota cruise control systems work, I'll take your word for it. Thanks again for you help.
Remember that this is a COROLLA. You'd be smokin the stock clutch and differential with 250hp faster than you could say BURNOUT.
Stephen
It's been about a month since I placed my order (Gulf States Toyota region), and my dealer still can't tell me what the build date will be. Any help would be appreciated.
Cars built in Japan, dealers do not know til about 2-3 weeks before the car arrives at port. But, Matrix, if the order is true, it's kown immediately what build date is.
Also, a friend of mine just bought a 2003 Corolla. he was told that he has to come in for an oil change at 2000 km. I asked my dealer's service rep twice, and he said that my first oil change should be at 8000 km. Who is right? Thanks for your help.
Looks like your driving style above will be perfect for a break-in.
8000km is the first scheduled oil change in both the Corolla and the Matrix. Your friend is having the dealership make a little more money of him. It does not hurt to change the oil early, but it is not a requirement on the maintenance schedule. Hope your are enjoying the Matrix. I am less than a week into my XRS and loving it. That 6spd is one sweet transmission...the closer ratio it provides really makes the car feel like it has a lot more torgue than only 130 ft/lbs.
1100km and counting...
Stephen
Like everyone else, I too am enthusiastically waiting to hear about a TRD supercharger. I picked up a XRS a month ago and am quite happy with it. However, I'd love to increase the torque generated by this engine. Hence TRD's supercharger is the answer.
I know its hard to supercharge a high compression engine, but if you only add 4-7 psi boost, you can significantly alter its torque characteristics. Just remember, cooling is key!
Here's a TRD link which hints at whats coming. If they use it on a pace car, they can market it for the street.
http://www.toyota.com/motorsports/cart/inside_track/solara_is300.html
Styling is a very subjective thing, and for me the base Matrix is the most stylish of all. But Toyota doesn't offer (even as options), many essential features like power mirrors and a seat height adjuster on the base trim. What was Toyota thinking%@&!*#???:(
My favorite dealer (Boch) has 21 Matrix in stock (their inventory is growing). 20 are base units with automatic. 1 XR with automatic. No ABS.
This car is targetted at young people. Would you send your kids out in a non-ABS car here.
No way.
Time to wake UP Toyota!
You are probably right, though it's my understanding that the 'allocation' is done regionally by Toyota tops down and different dealerships get to take from the allocation.
Where in the Mid-Atlantic should I look at a dealership to see what they have that meets our needs: XR: 2WD, ABS, Manual transmission?
Thanks for the feedback
Toyota has to sell 70,000 Matrices the first year. They know they will sell every one of them, regardless of whether the hundreds of possible configurations are frustrating customers trying to find the right vehicle. It's hard to fathom how Toyota, with all the smart people working for them, doesn't understand that these option games result in customer dissatisfaction, and increase manufacturing cost.
In Japan, virtually every Toyota is custom ordered by the customer and delivered in a few days. In the US, trying to place an order with a Toyota dealer is like pulling teeth, with no guarantee that the order will be delivered correctly. Toyota needs to either clearly offer a customer friendly build-to-order system in the US, or have 2-3 trim levels all easily available at the dealer (without factory options), just like Honda.
Of the XRS Automatic owners, have any problems arisen with the transmission?
Thanks
In four years of ownership, our ABS equipped vehicle was activated only twice. It was scary. It was in icy, snowy conditions and we were not travelling fast. The stopping distance was actually longer than what we had experienced in our non-ABS equipped vehicle (under similar conditions).
I'm not saying that ABS is not beneficial in some circumstances but it is not good in all driving conditions. The one redeeming benefit is that you can steer the vehicle during its application.
Incidentally just received a call from the dealer. Our Matrix has arrived (ordered Feb. 16, 2002). Yes it is ABS equipped.
The only place where I see an advantage is for panic stops on dry roads. Whereas, it is actually very dangerous (and annoying) on icy roads as you mentioned.
I am glad that they still have it as an option on some vehicles.
On the other hand, I still don't understand why Airbags (side) are an option. If they have it, why not put it in each vehicle. Who would not want it? They would just hide it in the price anyway (like they do with the front bags), and no one would ever know the difference.
This part is my opinion, but I'd rather have a small, FWD car with great discs up front and drums in the rear than a small, FWD car with average discs all around. Although discs look cooler than plain old drums :-)
I understand that next year's Formula 1 cars will be using ABS-based trraction control because the cars can go faster, stop quicker, corner better and are safer than those without. But time will tell.
Perhaps there's a superman class foot out there that will come out of nowhere to pilot a 1961 Austin Healy 100-6 with mechanical brakes to victory in Lemans, embarrasing the horde of technically marvelous, safer and faster Porsches, Audis, and other cars in a humbling display of physics, physique and psyche.
Foot modulation forever!
I asked why doesn't this happen in Boston where ABS (for some of those that like it) is much appreciated.
Go to Toyota.com and do a build your own for a Matrix. Put in a Boston zip code and it gives you pricing with a few popular option packages ( as opposed to individually optioning things out ). None of the Boston area 'Popular' option packages have ABS. To get it, you have to special order ....or buy a 4WD auto XR or XRS.
Go back to the toyota.com build-your-own web page and put in the zip code of Jerry's Toyota in Baltimore (21236). Specify a 2WD / manual Matrix and the "Popular" options packages are totally different than in Boston. The first 3 Baltimore ones include ABS.
So, perhaps one way to get the Matrix approximately as you want it is to poke around in the different Toyota regions nearby and see if its "Popular".
If this works then why in the world would I order a car from a local dealer to meet my specs, if I could get what I wanted an airplane hop away and drive it home. The last time I looked that was much quicker than waiting and waiting and waiting.
I understand that next year's Formula 1 cars will be using ABS-based trraction control because the cars can go faster, stop quicker, corner better and are safer than those without. But time will tell.
Perhaps there's a superman class foot out there that will come out of nowhere to pilot a 1961 Austin Healy 100-6 with mechanical brakes to victory in Lemans, embarrasing the horde of technically marvelous, safer and faster Porsches, Audis, and other cars in a humbling display of physics, physique and psyche.
Foot modulation forever!
1. There is apparently some overlap between the driver's sun visor bumps and the rear view mirror.
Since I would be on the road for a couple of hours, I got the mirrors just where I wanted them. Then I was headed into the sun so I had to put my visor down all the way - but when I did, it bumped into the mirror and moved it. Then when the road curved, I moved the visor, which hit the mirror again meaning I needed to readjust my mirror again. After repeating this 3 or 4 times, it became a minor irritant. I do not recall this in other cars I've owned.
2. The arm rests, both on the door and center console, are none too soft. I never realized this on short trips, and when the weather was cooler, I usually had on long sleeves and/or jackets. But with a t-shirt on, my bony little elbows became less than comfy rather quickly during a longish drive.
3. I know I have mentioned the issue of the odometer/temp guage when wearing polarized shades. The clock and radio controls were also invisible. It was a little frustrating to have to keep looking at my watch, instead of just shifting over to look at the clock. And I had to take off my shades to see how much further I had to go. And in bright mid-day sun, I got a bit of a glare off of the chrome rim of the speedometer.
4. I'm not exactly sure what causes this, but both my wife and I have noticed that on certain types of pavement the car makes a kind of rocking motion. I experience it on my street which was just resurfaced last year, and noticed it on an entrance ramp and certain portions of the expressway. Not a huge swaying, but something I did not previously notice in my 98 Corolla over the same roads. Maybe the suspension is just tighter giving more feedback over pavement seams/irregularities.
I admit, minor irritants all, but I thought possibly worth mentioning.
On the positive side, got just under 30 MPG on my 3d tank.
Like I said before, ABS works fine on DRY roads. It becomes a nuisance and hazzard when the roads turn ugly, when you could really use some useful assistance.
1) Does anyone know the power output of the audio system/speakers with the Navigation System and 6-Disc CD-changer?
2) Will it play burnt CD's?
3) Besides the Navigation capabilities, what are some of the other features of the Navigation system/screen?