Matrix

[MidnightP5]

Does anyone else think that the Toyota Matrix is NOT good looking at all?

I must say, out of all the new hatchbacks/wagons to come out, the P5 is one of the best looking ones.

 

[Syzygy]

P5: Sharp, classy, well-appointed, stylish.

Matrix: Fugly.

 

[rodslinger]

I've seen a couple riding around. I don't think they are that bad. The wheels on them could use some help though.

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

I do not like the dumpy body it has. I have seen one up close and personal. Who cares if it can fit more cargo in the back area with the seats folded down? Not me.

I could have bought any kind of hatch/wagon I wanted (Matrix, WRX, or PR5), but chose the PR5 because of the feel of the ride. The WRX handled great and did have good power, but there is a certain disconnection from the road that I didn't like.

I didn't get another miata because I needed a daily driver with room for peeps for when the other miata is turbo'ed. She will be faster than a WRX anyway.

 

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

see the May edition of Motortrend for their comparison of the PR5, Matrix and WRX.

 

[Carl]

attention all wannabe hothatches

P5: The much tuffer looking version of a Lexus SportCross at 1/2 the price.

Focus: Needs to focus on shock tower housings that aren't made of paper thin slag that rust out. I'm not even touching that sh!t on looks.

Civic Si: Much like the Focus...I'd rather have <dry heaves> an RSX. I can't believe I actually waited to buy my Pro5 after being disappointed with the Si's roll out.

Pontiac Vibe "Tight!" so says MotorTrend Oct '01/ Toyota Matrix "What is it?": The Vibe is just a mini-Aztec that is manufactured to have the same fate of its soccer mom and of the name of the group it disgraces. Matrix says, "Please sit in me Keanu. I promise to give you all of the functionless 115 voltz through your fingertips as you can spill your iced mocha crappuccino with extra cream on me..."

Suzuki ?: All the power and looks of a four wheel leaf blower...they ought to spend the Japanese government's and GM's subsidies on their crotch rockets...

Saab: $0 resale value for over 40 years! Ok, the Viggen I wouldn't mind driving baja without an air filter...

Volvo: It's boxy!

PT loser: Limited Edition? Limited to capacity of 250,000 sitting in Detroit's outlots, railyards, barges...

Saturn & Korean throwaways: "Open your mouth!" Tonguey would get tired of tasting bile...

Mini: Finally my Ford Festiva gets the BMW badge to grace all 115 ponies...

Subaru Impreza: I did consider buying the WRX. I dug the sedan & wagon. I just didn't dig on paying for each option like the turbo/intercooler, front, side, rear spoilers, differential cover, and outragously expensive rims & meats. The 7.9% APR for 5 years gave me limpdik real fast. I'll wait a couple years for a used one.

VW Golf/GTI: I did consider buying. The Pro5 makes a better proletarian/utilitarian hothatch. The squared people wagon was pricey compared to the sweetheart deal I got from Mazda. Free Kenneth Cole shades and free touch-up paint is gravy on top. I bought my Pro5 in November for 0.0% for 3 years, 0 down, $400 college cash back, 6 months differed payment, and with $2500 off sticker. For $19995 out the door w/ TTL, options included the net, mats, shock sensor alarm, polished alloys w/ locks, ABS & side Nader bags, moonroof, and <sigh> the weak AT. I do a lot of bumper to bumper driving if you know what I'm sayin'...


Audi Allroad & Benz C/E: On 75 year layaway...

All future wannabe shaggin' wagons better not ask P5s to stop spanking them before they're born.

 

[JimmyRay05]

why buy a matrix when you can buy a RAV4 and lower it.
it's the same thing isn't.

damn that matrix is UGLY.

 

[OurP5]

I guy I work with just bout a Matrix XR. 130 Hp, 126 lb-ft of torque is okay if you are not planning on "DRIVING" the car but just using at a means of transportation. I know, the MP5 only has 130Hp and 135 lb-ft but let me tell you. After driving the Matrix, 9 lb-ft really makes a difference. The look is boxy, the wheels are heavy, and not real "driver friendly". The seats are uncomfortable. Not a lot of headroom (I'm 6' 2"). He let me drive it, too. Ho-Hum. With an MSRP of $16,665 I would expect more. (That's why have a MP5) The Matrix does not handle near as well as the MP5, the seats are not as comfortable, and the and the manual gear box leaves me with the impression that Toyota spent more time and resources on looks (they missed the mark on that one, too) than the mechanics of the car. He said he wants to take it to the track and see what it will do in the 1/4 mile. He says the car will kill my MP5. I don't know...it might... but I hope he doesn't get his hopes up too much. Oh well. That's my $.02 on the Matrix. Maybe had I driven a XRS my opinion would be different.

 

[brennan]

ok I have a short ram intake and a bosal exhaust and I beat a toyota matrix xr or whatever the one is called with 130 hp, I beat it pretty good and that is when my car was stock so the matrix is piece of crap which I wiped!

Also I have test driven the xrs it ain't that much faster then you think considering the crappiness of the weight and the lack of handling it just plain sucked, all I have to do is add some cams and grippier tires and that will be smoked too

 

[melicha8]

I couldn't agree with you more Carl. We have just about the best thing you can get. I think the matrix would look ok when it is lowered. I saw one today stock and I thought about ramming my car into it so it would plow into a ditch, just so it wouldn't be seen on the road again. Hmm...the GTI what do I think of when I see that car, the only kind of person that oculd possibly be driving that is a dork, and I mean that in a Terrantino(sp?) kind of way. Car manufacturers need to learn that if they put a second set of doors on a car they need to add a little more space behind them. Have you seen them they look like station wagons that got rear ended. I think the aero and the mini come standard with a briggs and stratton two stroke. The Focus well that thing was ugly the day some japanese automaton came up with it. Clearly the designers need to focus on making a less ugly car

 

[CharlieP5]

P5 vs. POS

The Matrix is just Too Tall!

It's Right between a hatchback and a minivan (More towards Minivan)

I don't like it at all. I think toyota tried to call too much attention to this thing that the final product looks ugly.

Now this looks good!

 

[Todd]

Besides being to tall, it has that swooshy side mold thingy near the back that I think makes it look even worse

Todd

 

[Carl]

call me a dork melicha8...

I must be desensitized on the GTI's chiselled bad looks, here's why: I commuter drive a superfugly 87 VW Fox GL 2 door sedan with 79,000 miles on it. I drive that thing like a stolen rally car. Its curb weight is only 2006 lbs. I makeshifted a cold air intake and managed to chewing gum graft a Flowmaster muff on it. Clean car & mods costed all around $1500 two years ago. I've beaten out some run-of-the-mill "tuned" Civics with jaw-dropping results.

The only reason why I can judge Matrix/Vibes as fugly is it's a wagon with a Celica's engine at best. Don't get me wrong about sleepers, but for the price of a Matrix/Vibe, you could have the not so fugly Celica. (Those redesigned Eclipses and Celicas sure look fuct up).

All apologies: I failed to address Honda & VW wagons because they are easy to forget.

 

[badboyeee]

could our p5's smoke a Matrix XR off the line?

cuz my friend in Hawaii just bought one, and I want to talk trash to her. but I'll keep my mouth shut if our cars can't beat hers

 

[Korey Chaos]

As far as im concerned Toyota totally bit off of Mazda's idea as far as building stylish compact sport wagons. If i hear 1 more person ask me why i didnt get the Matrix, im gonna smack him/her. I wouldnt trade the 5 in for a Matrix, a Vibe/GT, a Aerio or a Sentra.:mad:

 

[jaman]

The Matrix XRS/Vibe GT are actually pretty quick. C&D tested one and it got 0-60mph in 7.3sec, don't remember the 1/4 mile time.

When it comes to styling, everybody has different oppinions. Some of you mentioned that the Matrix is bad handling, slow, etc. maybe the owners just want a challenge when it comes to tunning. As well, keep in mind that the aftermarket for the Matrix is probably going to be bigger in 1/2 yr. than the P5 will ever be.

 

[mah p5]

I agree with jaman

I think the Matrix looks hot...with the body kit of course. The stock matrix with no kit is ugly. One of my close friends just got the XRS and it's a great ride. Quick, handles decent (P5 is better of course), and inside fit and finish is nice as well. Yes, it sits high like a truck/van...but that can be remedied easily with suspension work. Also, since it shares the same motor as the Celica GTS and some suspension components with the Corolla, the aftermarket is already teaming with parts that it could use. To each his own I say. I wish our P5's had 170 hp and a 6sp transmission though!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

I read those 0-60 times and have test driven both the XRS and Vibe GT. I can tell you two things; for one, Motor Trend uses a test track that slopes downhill, thus totally inflating thier numbers. Car and Driver rates both cars in the high 8-9 second range, much closer to the Pro5. Secondly, the shifter (in typical Toyota fashion) is geared to give you top end power. First gear is intensely finicky about how much gas you give it, and its so far the only manual car I've ever truly stalled out at a stop light with. The Pontiac salesman told me the cars "weren't broken into my style of driving." Yeah right pal, and my birth certificate says yesterday on it. Once you got the cars into about fourth gear there was power to be had (the VVti in action).

But in all fairness, the damn things are top heavy, sluggish in the low end, high SUV riding and seriously style deficient. I think anyone with skill at a five speed could punch past one of them with thier Pro5.

 

[jaman]

Like I said, those 0-60 numbers are from Car and Driver, they tested a Vibe GT couple months ago, even they were surprised how quick it was. But in the end, does it really matter if a car is quicker to 60 by 1 sec., in my oppinion NONE whatsoever. As long as the car "feels" good to you, or in most cases on this board "feels" bad to you, it doesn't really matter if it is a bit quicker than the P5. Personally, I think the P5 is the better looking car, however the Matrix is an interesting take on the whole wagon thing going on these days.


PS

Car and Driver Feb. 2002 issue (Yellow Ford GT40 on the cover)

Vibe GT

0-60 7.3 sec.
0-100 19.6 sec.
1/4 15.7sec @ 91mph
Top Speed 129mph (drag limited)

 

[Baltopro5]

Before I got my pro5 I shoped the competion long and hard. I was very close to buying the matrix. Then some thing I read told me to at least test drive the pro5 befor I bought a matrix.
One drive in the pro5 and I was hooked. Thats what I got.
The matrix is lacking ft. lbs of torque and it's rpms tend to be much higher making me feel it was working too hard al the time.