Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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For me it drives much nicer than the base automatic I tried a month or so back. At least I was engaged with the car - shift up, shift down.
It does buzz a bit though that was the only operating negative I ran into. I can only imagine what the XRS is like in the power range 6K - 8K rpms!
I didn't get it up to highway speed, so I don't know about road noise at a constant trip speed. The sales guy said it was louder at road speed than the Corolla, since the wheel wells are inside the cabin instead of the trunk.
Overall, it was ok. It drove and handled well on our roads, though it feels more like the small sedan it really is than a cross-over anything.
I think the interior has a kind of deluxe gizmo look to it. The chrome wasn't bothersome, but the red speedo and tach were hard for me to read. I couldn't read the odo while moving.
The radio was only average, reminding me of something from a German car.
The seats felt nice on the back, but were small and short on thigh support - I'm 5' 11" and normal build, 170 lbs.
I still won't buy one without ABS and won't spring for the XRS. Toyota is probably going to lose this sale to the folks at Subaru.
Good luck to you all.
I couldn't afford a 6th gear, so I can't help you there ;-). I do know I havent gone up to 5th as often as I'm supposed to according to the manual.
As far as hitting the sweet spot at 6k...I am not sure why you are not feeling it because I sure can! I do not have to look at the tach to know I hit it because the engine sounds quite differently and the car bolts as soon as it hits...you can certainly both hear and feel the 2nd cam kicking in...and the guy in the Monte Carlo SS the other night also saw it too...in the form of my taillights ;-).
hope this helps...
XRS 6spd with 3700km
I know it soppse to be this way but NO not in mine.
Last night little angry i did 140 km/h on 3rd gera and RPMs was 7000 something and again nothing. Maybe something is wrong with my car?
Sould I go to dealer for check up?
Hmm....it pretty fast and seems to b\e ok but no different noise, no feeling of something kicking in. I know it is not turbo but still.
You may need to go to the dealer for a checkup either way, dude!
On the opposite end of the spectrum.....
Since yesterday afternoon (so basically one round trip to work), I've been doing my best to follow the the factory-recommended 'efficient' shift points (15, 25, 40, 45 mph) to see the effect on gas mileage. This means the engine spends most of its time somewhere between 2.0 and 2.5K RPM, not the peppiest spot on the dial. We'll see what it does for the gas mileage, but it's taken a lot of the fun out of it:(. Maybe this is where all the 'can't get out of it's own way'-type comments are coming from. When I was keeping it between 2.8 and 4K, it was kicking butt (well as much butt as you can kick with 130 horses , anyway)! Even if it does work, I may go back to my lead-footed ways - It still gets as good mileage as my Integra (which always got at or above it's EPA rating of 26MPG, no matter how far I wound it up), and better than my Escort wagon did (~22-24mpg on a good day with a tune up and a tail wind ;-)).
http://www.thecarplace.com/03matrix.htm
On an unrelated to this particular thread note, I got a call today from my friendly neighborhood Ford dealer about new financing deals on the Focus lineup. (I currently drive a '97 Explorer which I would be trading in - they know this, and have been lobbying hard for my continued business). Last thing I think I need is another Ford product though! I want my next vehicle to last longer than my payments, if you know what I mean.
I just hope the Toyota dealer where I live is willing to advance a decent trade offer. We'll see, I guess - I'm hoping to go on a test-drive binge this weekend...
* Selling your 97 Explorer on your own will maximize your real value. For all intents and purposes the 'trade in' value is always wholesale price. If it looks like its more, its in the deal somewhere else on the new car side.
* Get the current issue of Consumer Reports and look at the long term reliability results carefully. The Focus only two years out already has higher than average problems, as does the new Escape. The new Explorer is only average.
* Toyota just swept the truck categories in the 2002 JDPower initial quality ratings and every Toyota truck has a string of favorable Consumer Report checkmarks back to 1994 indicating lower than average problems.
* There's big reason that GM and Ford have had to have 'super financing' and it isn't because they are rolling in dough. It's because they are losing market share month, after month, after month -- to Toyota, Subaru, Honda. Toyota just had its biggest month in its 45 year US presence in May 2002.
* If you are buying a car these days and are tight on Financing, another strategy is to buy a good used Toyota or Honda. There are many, many good 99's (and soon 00's) coming off lease with 35K miles on them or less. If you have them inspected by a trusty mechanic and can get service records that confirm a good maintenance history , many of these will last another 150K miles.
1. Robert Bowden is absolutely blind and should be taking a bus instead of driving or
2. My Matrix has a special kind of gauges which can be read without any problems or
3. I am in denial about the quality of my gauges.
I have no problem reading any of my instruments.
My intention is to NOT get a new Focus or any other Ford, unless something truly blows me away. I have to say, even with all the problems associated with Explorer's, my '97 has been excellent, save for an annoying (intermittent) rattle which I've detailed ad naseum on the Ford boards. I'm of the mind that cars tend to be individual entities, with good and bad vehicles of every make and model - however there certainly are trends to be aware of.
The trend of Ford to have "rattle-y" cars and trucks is something I don't want to have to deal with again, and when I think long and hard about it, the rattle in my Explorer is really one of the main factors in my decision to sell it. The potential for rattles factor more into my considerations than the potential for recalls - I figure they'll get it right eventually (and you should see the recall and TSB list for my Explorer! Light reading for those sleepless nights...)
Surprisingly, the Explorer is still decently in demand where I live, and I don't think I'll have any problems trading it in at any dealer from the initial inquiries I've made. It looks like I should be able to get fair value out of it, which is all I ask. I do understand your point about the costs popping up on the "new car" side of the deal, which is why I insist on separate negotiations for the trade value and the new car price. Also, because I'm just finishing off a lease, I can make a lot of tax go away with a trade in rather than a private sale.
Again, though, thanks for the response.
I noticed the guage lights as soon as I turned the key on the first test drive, I even commented on it to the salesman. I don't think it has anything to do with the chrome trim, but they could just be a little brighter during the day IMO. This is also my first car with full-time lighted guages. Every other car I had came with guages you could see without lights during the day. It obviously wasn't a deal killer, since I bought one the next day. I'm pretty much used to it now.
Could brighter guage lights be one of those 'little differences' that sometimes occurs between US and Canadian models? Or maybe the sun isn't as bright that far north?;-)
Moral of the story is, I guess the matrix really has wide appeal.
Hey guys guess what?
I did it!
hahahahaha
Couldn't resist and I went to give it a try again last night. First gear up to 6000 RPM then fast switch to the 2nd and around 6x00 RPM it KICKED IN !!! What a feeling!
I could hear and feel the difference.
Of course it is not supercharger but the difference is good enough.
I guess a night befor when I did 140 km/h on 3rd it was too low
Very happy now!
Next week gotta leave my baby at dealership cause they gonna change low side spoiler. It was not installed properly at the plant so they ordered new one. They also could just put some screws in it and should be fine but I like the way they want to fix it. Just install whole new part. Nice service Toyota!
OK
Have a nice rides!
I think Imcamil and Tom3k are thinking we have the base engines according to their earlier posts. My login name of XR_Matrix my have thrown them off...when I ordered my Matrix in Feb., I had ordered an XR and hence the name. After some research and some creative accounting, I managed to convince my dealer to get an XRS for me.
I am curious as to why you never felt this before Wilczy. You had already had revs at 7000 and this should have nothing to do with which gear you are in...that is strange. Anyhow, glad you found and it certainly is fun in that zone huh?
Silver XRS 6spd...3800km
Mine is silver too with 3300 km already
I wanted the red one but I'd have to wait another 3 months so I took this one and I don't regret that decision.
I was wondering why I didn't feel that but now I guess its ok and it will be.
I will let you know next time i race somebody hehe yesterday it was my friends acura RL 3.5
We were actually testing but whet it kicked he was watching me from the back
I know that you have XRS and if I'm not wrong the dealer is your brother in law eh?
In next couple of weeks I'm getting titn and graphics for mine so I'll post some pics.
(kind of TRD XRS you could see at www.urbanracer.com)
Especially high beams are so bright you wouldn't believe.
Just wait till other guys tell you the same.
Don't wait!
Get Matrix ASAP!!!
BTW, I keep my instrument ligths set at maximum brightness during the day.
The headlight and tail light lenses are are very large and I've had no trouble seeing anything at night, even with my 'bad eyes' ;-). Haven't needed the high beams yet (which may be an indication).
still enjoy it very much. The only thing that is
driving my nuts, is the noises from the dash board. I bet you a new elantra is not that noisy!!
Anybody else out there with same problem?
Thanks.
I've been looking at dealerships in Nassau and Suffolk, N.Y.
Does anyone out there know of a dealership in Nassau or Suffolk, N.Y. that won't rip me off?
Does anyone out there know of one dealership that maybe better than another one? Is it better to buy in Nassau or Suffolk?
Is there a specific dealership I should avoid?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
That was my experience with my '96 RAV4. Now anytime I drive another vehicle (even a Lexus), I always find it uncomfortable in the beginning. However, when I test drove the Matrix (which I eventually ordered), that was an exception, I think because the Matrix and RAV4 are so close in dimensions, weights, and driving dynamics.
As a side note, I think the engine buzz that many have complained about is actually purposely built into the Matrix's exhaust sound (for sportier appeal). That's probably why most reviewers say the Corolla engine seems quieter, even though they are exactly the same model engines. Any thoughts on this?
FWIW comfort was one of the reasons I bought the Matrix. I was surprised, as the high seating position was opposite of what I was going for. Most of the other sport wagons I test drove favored a lower, more sports car-like position.
Thanks again, stay tune for more possible problems.
FINALLY - Fixed the squeak!! Not sure if some people's gauge cluster pods were making noise from different places but I finally found where my scratchy sound was coming from. On mine - when you pull the cluster out you will see a piece of the plexiglass which covers the speedo. At the bottom of this piece there is a guide piece that sticks straight out. Find where this piece lines up on the backside of the cluster. You will see that there are two plastic guides on the matching point on the inside of the cluster. Using a razor blade - cut away the plastic guides on the cluster. You will find it a little difficult because the area is curved but if you remove enough of these little guides they won't touch the piece of plexiglass that covers the speedometer. Snap the cluster back in place and no more squeak. Another fix for this is to completely shave off the piece of plexiglass that sticks out, but I would only do that if nothing else works.
Don't have any problem with the guages. And the chrome glare is no big deal. But I simply cannot read the odometer or the radio/clock in sun while wearing shades. Generally, the ODO is not a big deal, but it is a minor pain in the rear when I fill up and then go to quickly check the mileage and reset the trip ODO - and instead of being a instantaneous thing, I have to exert minimal effort to accomplish it. And it is a mild inconvenience when you are trying to get somewhere at a specific time, and you have difficulty simply glancing at the dash clock.
And the longer I have had this car, the more uncomfortable I find the armrests.
Maybe both of these factors depend on an individual's dimensions.
Other than that - a great car for around town.
And I'm a little curious - what is the point to wearing non-polarized sunglasses?
Is there anyone else who can read the clock and radio but has trouble with the odo and temp?
I was wondering if anybody else have had a problem with lower spoiler on the side of the car?
Cause I have and I went to the dealer, they ordered new one and installed. It took them 5 hours lol
But not that only, when I came to pick it up I checked and guess what? Was the same way than before hahahaha
Apparently those parts are very sensitive and clips inside brake very easy.
Again they ordered new part and this time they gonna do it while I wait (30 minutes) good good.
They also said that it can be recall for it in the future so we'll see.
I've been reading through some of the messages, about noise, brightness of instrument cluster, etc., and I can say that I don't have any issues with that at all. In fact, it's so quiet that I practically have to remind myself that the car is ON. Maybe it's because I'm switching from a truck, but I find that this is an excellent car. It's quiet, peppy, and very solidly built. It's also nice that it's capable of towing a small trailer (so I won't miss my truck so much). Like I said, I've only had it for 2 days, but I can read the instrument panel just fine day or night, including the odometer and trip meters, and I find it extremely quiet, except when approaching 4000 rpms. But then, my truck was MUCH, MUCH louder, so I guess it's all relative to what you're used to.
I think I got a good deal, too. It's a black base Matrix, w/auto, cruise, CD/Cassette, etc. The only thing I wish it had was alloys, but I got everything else I wanted and got it for $900 off MSRP. Sticker was $16,504, and I got it for $15,604, and it was the only one on the lot that didn't have all that "fabric protector, etc." for $600. It didn't have alloy wheels, but I can always get nice wheels later. The only complaints I have is that 1 of the clips in the cargo area (that hold up the tonneau cover) was missing entirely and the bolt was missing from another one (factory trying to finish up early for the night? :-), and the compartment just below the shifter pops open on occasion. It has a flimsy spring latch and is made of cheap plastic, so it doesn't surprise me. Other than that, the car is perfoming well and has great acceleration. This is also the first car I've ever had with cruise, and I'm already loving that. I'm sure I'll be very happy with this car, but only time will tell for sure. I don't usually buy first-year models, but I couldn't resist. Can't wait to get out of the break-in period!