2003 Toyota Matrix Review

[NFS4]

http://auto.com/reviews/matrix23_20020223.htm

I want one

 

[Uclagamer_99]

i'd buy one if it actually looked like sports car

 

[NFS4]

<< i'd buy one if it actually looked like sports car >>


Not everyone wants or needs a sports car

That being said, it shouldn't be too much slower than a Toyota Celica GT-S given that it uses the same engine and tranny and weighs only about 300 more.

 

[KokomoGST]

Heck, it's a great car for a small family. Forget a minivan...
I think I like it better than the PT cruiser, especially with awd option... but it's definitely not a drivers car... too bad Toyota didn't make a strong enough awd system to dump more hp into it. (when I mean more I mean the 180hp from the top model)

 

[SinNisTeR]

man, thats one heck of a deal, i want one now!




that and a subaru wrx sti

 

[SinNisTeR]

how come you cant get 4wd with the 180hp engine?

6 speed or 4wd????????????????

 

[KokomoGST]

<< how come you cant get 4wd with the 180hp engine?

6 speed or 4wd???????????????? >>



Toyota's smokin somethin... they put out some really sweet products and ideas (ie an SMG for the MR2 Spyder) but then again, they do have to make money. Strengthenin the awd components and 6speed tranny enough to reliably take on 180hp is probably more weight/work/$$$ than Toyota wanted to deal with. But then again, Toyota has other 'small' awds in Japan with plenty of hp.

 

[PsychoAndy]

i'd like one witha a personallized license plate...... BLUPILL

(concept stolen from some other person...i dont remember who)

 

[ElFenix]

for some reason i don't think it has a lot of torque. which is too bad really. because torque is fuel economy. and acceleration. its ugly too. if i wanted something that looked like a wannabe race car i'd add the body kit myself.

 

[Uclagamer_99]

it doesn't even look like a sports car...like the review says it looks like a station wagon
for some reason the name Matrix makes me want to think of something sporty and coupe-y, don't mind me im still young

 

[Imdmn04]

damn this car looks sweet, but is it just me or this car also look like a mix between a ford focus wagon and a honda insight?

 

[KokomoGST]

Wow, I'm sorry but here's another reason not to get one... the AWD system is not really full time. It only splits power between the front & rear when there is slippage... there's no real transfer case at all. Toyota really cheaped out... at least they priced it right for what you get.
14K is pretty cheap for a Toyota!

Also, it shares it's platform with the Corolla so the ride should be comfortable but probably not the super-handling machine the commericials hype it as. It has a fairly standard suspension setup (MacPherson struts etc.) but that doesn't mean you can't get it to handle much better. Neons are on struts and handle amazingly well due to their stiffSTIFF chassis.

 

[punkrawket]

i would sooooooooooooooooooooooooo love to even get to drive one of these

 

[NFS4]

<< Wow, I'm sorry but here's another reason not to get one... the AWD system is not really full time. It only splits power between the front & rear when there is slippage... there's no real transfer case at all. Toyota really cheaped out... at least they priced it right for what you get.
14K is pretty cheap for a Toyota!

Also, it shares it's platform with the Corolla so the ride should be comfortable but probably not the super-handling machine the commericials hype it as. It has a fairly standard suspension setup (MacPherson struts etc.) but that doesn't mean you can't get it to handle much better. Neons are on struts and handle amazingly well due to their stiffSTIFF chassis. >>


Who cares about the AWD system? Most of the car-based "utes" out there use a similar system to this. Heck, about 95% of the car-based sport-utes use this system...even our Toyota Highlander.

You don't need a transfer case in something that spends 99.9% of its time on the road. As for handling, who cares?? It's a friggen wagon!!!

 

[Eli]

<< for some reason i don't think it has a lot of torque. which is too bad really. because torque is fuel economy. and acceleration. its ugly too. if i wanted something that looked like a wannabe race car i'd add the body kit myself. >>



Hmm.. Well, the FWD 5 speed version gets 30mpg city and 35mpg highway. I would say it must have pretty good torque then, eh?

Torque, really, has nothing to do with fuel economy, lol..

Torque = HP * 5252 / RPM
Horsepower = Torque * RPM / 5252
RPM = HP x 5252 / Torque

 

[Entity]

<< Who cares about the AWD system? >>


The target demographic, for one. Many Soob owners (myself included) might be tempted by a car like this, if it were All Time AWD. I love Toyota's, and this car looked nice, but the more I learn about it, the cheaper (and I use that word intentionally) it looks.

Rob

 

[Capn]

I think it's one fugly mother. It's the retarded cousin to the aztek imho.

 

[punkrawket]

<< I think it's one fugly mother. It's the retarded cousin to the aztek imho. >>

no... that's the vibe... now that's a turd with wheels

 

[Pocatello]

I prefer a Subaru AWD station wagon over this pretender anyday. The 180 HP engine is a waste driving in daily commute unless you want to go deaf (you'll know what I'm talking about when driving one).

 

[NFS4]

<<

<< Who cares about the AWD system? >>


The target demographic, for one. Many Soob owners (myself included) might be tempted by a car like this, if it were All Time AWD. I love Toyota's, and this car looked nice, but the more I learn about it, the cheaper (and I use that word intentionally) it looks.

Rob >>


The thing is, all of the sport utes in this category use the same kind of AWD system. What's the big deal??

Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, Hyundai Sante Fe, CRV, etc.

But fug it, I don't care anyway. Who wants a puny 123HP engine hooked up to AWD and get smoked at stoplights by 3-cylinder Geo Metros. I'd rather have the 180HP engine with FWD.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Man the Matrix is fugly. I thought it looked nice in the pics, saw it in person and its nasty. I'd rather get a Protege5.

The new Corolla does look nice though, different, but nice.

 

[Pocatello]

The Protege has the Matrix beat inside and out. The Matrix interior is well built but it's one ugly duckling. Who designed it? Pontiac?

 

[Eli]

I don't think it looks that bad, I haven't seen one in person though. I wouldn't mind having one.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

What the crap kinda review was that? The "reviewer" doesn't mention anything about drive quality, fit/finish, performance, or its competitors. It seemed more like a brochure than a review. I'll wait for Edmunds to get their hands on one.

 

[RU482]

Side note...saw at pontiac Vibe (matrix twin) yesterday at a dealership


WHY THE FSCK IS GM PUTTING PLASTIC ON EVERYTHING?????