LostWaffle

Well, not really mini, because it's hard to get smaller than an S2000 as it is.

I was looking at the specs for a 2003 Toyota Matrix XRS 4x2 and it looks awesome on paper. I'm looking for real life feedback from those that have driven it or rode in one.

It has:
Great gas mileage!!! 25 mpg city / 32 mpg hwy
High redline! and decent power. 1.8L I4, 16 valve, 180@7600hp

Almost the same weight as an S2000!!! 2800 lbs curb weight
Looks pretty good in SILVER. Pic
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/.../exterior.html


So what do you think?

Dolemike

I think they look like miniature minivans.

dlc68

I owned an XRS for 3 months. Terrible cars.

LostWaffle

Can you elaborate on why it was terrible?

Euclid

uh.. why not just get a Celica GT-S. Same engine, and 2500lbs, and doesn't look like ass.

dlc68

In no particular order:

-- Cheap interior materials
-- Illegible gauges
-- No low-end torque
-- Lousy clutch
-- Notchy shifter
-- Rattly interior
-- Vague steering
-- Mushy seats

Need more?

If you strictly go by "it's got the GT-S engine and all this room" it looks like a wonderful car. That's until you (try to) live with it.

Run away.

PilotKD

Mini S2000? It's a utility vehicle and not even convertible. They're mid 15 second cars and handle like boats.

In my opinion, everything Toyota has made in the past 5 years or so looks like ass. The Supra and the MR2 were Toyota's last good looking cars (minus Lexus).

dispader

PilotKD beat me to it...


Although I have always loved the Tundra

Russian

The only reason I can see someone picking up a matrix is because they like the styling. By the way I think it looks terrible, as already pointed out a mini-minivan. 25mpg/32mpg is not GREAT!!!! i'd consider it decent. My civic get 33 in the city easily, and thats with me driving "spirited." on the highway I'd easily get 40. I don't know the quarter mile times for my civic but I can assure you it won't be much slower then the matrix. if at all.

QUIKAG

I was going to pass this thread up, but I did have a 2003 Vibe GT which is identical, save for exterior styling. It was a good car overall, as long as you knew where the power band was on the engine and knew how to shift the six-speed, it was a decent performer overall. The interior materials were nice enough for the price point and after installing an AEM intake and TRD springs along with the 17 inch wheel/tire factory option, it actually ran and handled pretty good. Had a lot of interior room, got good mileage and sounded great, especially with the intake, as it wound towards the 8350rpm fuel cutoff with the 180hp 2ZZ engine. Got it for about $17k brand new too with six-disc changer, wheel/tire option, and power everything.

All that said, I dumped it after a little over a year and got back into a pickup truck. It