Used 2003 Toyota Matrix Consumer Reviews
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Give me back a Honda
Hate not being able to control the lights. The other day the lights switched between running lights and regular lights 8 times on the way to work as I went in and out od the shade.
Horrible car.
The ride quality of this car makes a person feel as if he's being kicked in the rear end even on the smallest bumps. I think You'd get a jolt just running over a dime. The clutch is absolutely the worst I've ever driven, and I've driven manual transmissions of all sorts for more than 45 years. The shifter is notchy and imprecise, and with 6 speeds, some of them are not really needed and just make the poor clutch that much more noticeable. In addition, it appears that the body is put together with plastic pins instead of screws and bolts. The front valance hangs too low and can hit even the smallest curbs. (Mine was already damaged by a previous owner.) Driver's seat is uncomfortable due to excessive lumbar support and the aforementioned jolts from the suspension. Other plastic items are the cheap door handles, both interior and exterior (I guarantee they'll need replacement sooner than you'd like). I can't wait to get rid of this pile of garbage. My son's early Kia was actually better built.
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Not too bad.....BUT
Overall a nice car, BUT there is always room for improvements. I learned quick that if you want good Toyota service, you sometimes have to file a complaint! The master cylinder went out at 4000 miles- needless to say we weren't too happy and the service department wasn't very kind- but we just called the 1-800 number and had a little talk with Toyota- the problem was then solved correctly AND with a smile! Roomy ride, awesome design, and I love the interior! We did purchase the XR with the smaller engine just because I didn't believe the larger engine to be worth the extra cash. So far, after 8000 miles we are happy with the smaller engine.
Matrix
I really do like my Matrix XR but I have some things I don't like about it. The engine is loud, I have a 5 speed and when I shift at even a low RPM like 3K RPM the engine is literally screaming. The interior looks very cool but I've had some problems with rattles in the dash and the door. The red gauges are hard to read. Blindspots are pretty bad in this car.
My fave
I may only be 16 but I've driven some fast cars. This one is my favorite. Speedy, good braking and amazing handling are only a few of it's great layout. The gauges are easy to read and they look especially nice in the dark. The in-dash shifter is a bit finiky to begin with but after a few drives it becomes natural. 10/10 A definite buy and worth the price. Model: XRS Color: Black w/ black interior Trans: 6 speed manual Options: All except for 17" wheels Extras: 16" Konig Maxxim 187 wheels