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We're also trying to move away from having "mega-discussions" into smaller, more granular ones. In that regard, rather than having a single "Matrix Maintenance & Repair" discussion, we're encouraging smaller, more narrowly focused discussions. For example, brake issues will have their own discussion. I've just moved the recent thread of postings you were involved in on brake issues to the Matrix: Brake Problems discussion. Same for engine problems, etc.More specific discussions will be popping up as we go along. This will make it easier for users to find the info they're after without having to go through a 2000 post discussion. While I'm in the process of pulling out older content to start up new discussion here in this group, if you have an issue to discuss and there's not a discussion for it, feel free to start one.
Pardon the dust while we move the furniture around a bit!
* I found 2 little black plastic cup-shaped things under the car when it was new, about a month or two apart. The first time it happened the dealer said it hadn't come from the car, they had looked all over, etc. I don't think I even bothered asking them the second time. Speculation in this forum was that these might be plugs used when new vehicles are in transit on trucks.
* Occasional burning rubber smell when new. I had them check for a cause at about 6,000 miles and of course no problem was found. This was a complaint raised by several people in this forum with the early Matrixes, I believe more often with standard transmissions than automatics.
* Headlight sensor relay replaced at 8,9000 miles. Shortly after our '03 was manufactured, Toyota started using a new part so you shouldn't have this problem of too-frequent switching from headlights to running lights and back.
* Until 20,000 miles I didn't think the low fuel light worked. Dealer said the circuit was there but there was no test to assure that it was working properly. Then I loaded a gas can in the back and decided to drive until it came on or until I ran out of gas. It does work, but it appears there is only about a half gallon of gas left in the tank when it does.
* Peeling chrome on inside door handles. Hopefully this problem has been addressed at the factory by now. Driver's door handle was replaced under warranty. Front passenger door handle was replaced 5 months after the warranty expired.
* One day my wife pulled out of the driveway and I noticed the rear passenger-side bumper cover/cladding was missing. Not inexpensive to replace, but the low profile makes this a not-uncommon problem. People back into snowbanks, pull up to a high curb, etc., and one piece or the other comes loose.
That's about it in the way of issues I can attribute to the manufacturer. A few general comments:
* Engine is small, but power is adequate for normal driving and merging onto interstates. But you need to expect a lot of downshifting.
* I don't find the driving position to be very comfortable on long trips. Many complaints about this early on from taller drivers; maybe they changed something about the steering wheel in newer model years.
* Fuel economy was 26.5 mpg after the first 30,000 miles. (I haven't figured it since.) On the highway we have got over 30 mpg a few times, but mostly expect upper 20's. Driving mostly in town with short jaunts on the interstate we usually seem to get 22 to 25 mpg.
* Headroom and legroom are good in both front and back. Cargo space is limited, though. We were packed to the gills when I took the Matrix on the road with two teenagers.
Haven't checked the gas mileage but the little lady says it is much better than the PT so that is good enough for me.
Thanks again for the info.
P.S. - I am not a Matrix/Vibe owner but I am looking for a new car and they are at the top of my list right now.
The Matrix is the car my wife drives to and from work, and my two daughters learned to drive in that car. On slippery surfaces all three are more comfortable with the AWD than they are in my FWD Highlander. And if I have the choice, I also will opt for the AWD Matrix if I have to go out in the snow. I feel like the AWD does give me a bit more control, and I'm happy to have one in the family. I couldn't see the need for two AWD vehicles, though!
I drove around Denver last March during the worst snow storm the city has ever seen in a FWD VW Passat w/ all season tires and didn't get stuck once. AWD is nice, but for 95% of the driving that I do, completely unecessary.
There has been some disagreement in this forum about the Matrix AWD system. My service tech told me there always was at least 10 percent power going to the rear wheels, and I found some websites that confirmed this. Other participants have questioned this, though.
If I remember correctly, Audi and Subaru also have a certain percentage of power always going to the rear wheels.
Pontiac Vibe: To many people’s surprise, the Vibe will be sticking around. In 2008 an all new Vibe will come, riding on a Toyota platform like the current one. Expect to see it on dealer lots in late 2007.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/index.php?page=Future_Product_Guide
Press release from GM:
Pontiac will continue to offer the base-model Vibe for the 2007 model year. It may bring back the GT and AWD versions with the next-generation Vibe, a spokesman says.
http://www.carzunlimited.com/review_00246.html
I have also seen this press release in a couple of reliable publications.
I like the Vibe/Matrix, but personally question it being suitable for your family needs. (However, you're the only one that can answer that!) Should you need a slightly larger vehicle, you could consider/research: Mazda5, Subaru Forester X, VW Jetta/Passat wagons, Honda CRV, Honda Element, and Toyota RAV4.
A frequent but not constant rattling noise comes from behind the gauge view area. Thoughts and/or recommendations?
An additional vehicle to consider before they quit making them is the 4-cylinder FWD Highlander. Around town the Matrix meets our needs nicely, but we found it too small for a family of four with luggage. After looking at quite a few vehicles I ended buying the Highlander. It's not a hotrod, but it has plenty of space and is more fuel efficient than most of the small wagons and crossovers available. And the 4-cylinder version is in the same price range as the other vehicles mentioned.
In my Highlander SUV with tires that have been on that vehicle for over 50,000 miles, I had no trouble at all.
It was hard to tell if this problem was due to the Matrix. or if it was because the tires that came with the car are bad in the snow.
Anybody else have this issue with a new Matrix in the snow? Is it the car? Or the stock tires that came with it?
Bud H
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Thanks!
Went to the Montreal auto show mid-Jan, the Toyota people confirmed that the all new 2008 Matrix would be available (at least over here) end of this summer. They also confirmed the reason why it was so late: the styling was juged too ugly and they had to redo it.
Last week, I went to a dealership near Montreal, and I was told the exact same information, so it looks believable. I tried very hard to get any details, but the salesman would only tell (and only knew) that the new car had been demonstrated to the dealership owners around here a few weeks ago and the owner came back with a huge smile telling : WOW people, we are not going to lose money with this one!
Let's wait a few more months and see....
I got a great quote on a 2007 Matrix yesterday and my husband and I are trying to decide what to do. I'm thinking if the 2008's come out, they will cost more? Also, will I get a better deal on the 2007's once the 2008's come out?
Thanks!
But if anybody has tried to access the fuse box in THIS vehicle, they know it a treat! Tiny fuses that you have to get on your back to access, and can hardly reach them and read the designations.
Anyone know of one or two wires powered up only when the ignition is out of the off position that are easily accessible?
Bud H
The deals on the last model year are usually the best regardless of model or manufacturer - Toyota does a good job of ramping down production of the old model in anticipation of the new, but even so there will probably be good deals on Matrix if you can wait until New Years Day 2008.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2003 AWD Matrix. The entire panel on the driver's door that has buttons for locking the doors and levers for controlling all 4 windows has caved in (for lack of a better word). If you push way down the controls still work, though you might think you'll lose your finger down there somewhere.
Has anyone else had this problem? If so, could you please describe what exactly has happened? My wife took it to the dealer and they have to order a part and install it (total cost will be about $100.00). But they didn't tell her what exactly the part is and what happened to cause this.
Thanks.
Could it be released in Canada before the states? Is that possible? (I'm also trying to figure out if it will be here Fall 2007 or not until Spring 2008.)
I tried very hard to get any details, but the salesman would only tell (and only knew) that the new car had been demonstrated to the dealership owners around here a few weeks ago
Is that possible? Could the car already have been demo'ed for dealers if we haven't seen any official press photos yet? That doesn't sound right to me.
I used Gorilla glue on the connections, replaced the cover and so far, so good.(but it has only been a week)
Lee52
Has anyone else had this problem? I know that this is an EXPENSIVE repair.
I just had the 100,000 mile checkup, replaced spark plugs, air filter, etc.
thanks,
Lee52
My low fuel warning light comes on when the fuel gage needle is mid-way in the last fourth of the fuel gage calibration. But in reality, my car still has 2+ gallons of fuel left.
When the fuel gage needle is at the very bottom of the fuel gage, my car still has 2 gallons of fuel left.
Is the above normal or is the calibration on my fuel gage set too conservatively?
I usually just fill up as soon as the light comes on, I don't like driving around with it on.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Remember AWD does not help you stop, but snow tires do. Not being able to stop is when you run into something, or go off the road.
My wife took the car in initially so they could look at it. Then they ordered the wrong part, so nothing was accomplished when I took it in the 2nd time. The 3rd time was a charm.
For anyone else who experiences this: The window/door lock controls fit into an assembled box-like thing, which then is mounted into the door with screws and tabs. In our case one of the plastic mounts for a screw had severed into two pieces, and when we tried to use it after that the box apparently moved enough to break off the tabs.
It shouldn't happen if they use quality parts to begin with. It should last 10 years or more, not 4 years. But at least it didn't cost an arm and a leg to replace it.
It's as good as a Subaru Impreza's, but not quite up to the standard of the CRV, which is a lot more responsive (and just as smooth in shifting, if not smoother).
If you are thinking about an AWD hatch, you might want to check out the Suzuki SX4. Reports of its slowness have been exaggerated, IMO. It's a pretty nice package, at a good price.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Check the Toyota website for the new 08 Matrix. Wow! It's exactly the same as the 07. Hmm........
And yes, it is otherwise unchanged and at a dealer near you right now.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Also, on my last car I had a stereo with a auxillary input in the rear (for hooking up DVD players and what not). I used a $5 cable from radio shack, ran it under the dash and had it come up in the center console, and voila! instant MP3 player. Before I go through the trouble of taking off the molding to get to the rear of the stereo, does anybody know offhand if the factory stereo has a AUX input in the rear?