Arghman

Thanks again guys!
Yeah the matrix feels too big for me. I don't like the way the whole dash board and stuff comes way up above the hoodline.
Firefly, I'm planning to get a 5-speed.
Another thing i found kinda retarded about the MP5 was how much work it takes to get the back seats down. It's kinda clumsy how you have to take out the seat bottoms and crap, but i figure i won't be doing it THAT often so it's pretty tolerable :P

pingdum

You don't have to take out the back seat cushions, you just have to fold them forward. And tho' I do agree that it's a bit of a pain to have to take the head rest off, I find that most times I don't need the floor totaly flat, so I just fold the seatback forward and that's it.

Arghman

I can't just fold the seats forward cuz the front chairs are too far back for it to even get all the way down :P
But i get what u mean :P

jas9297

Hey Arghman,

Just to chime in here, I also tested the small wagon/hatches: Vibe, Matrix, Sub Impreza, Golf, and then P5.

At first, I was wed to the Vibe. I liked its looks better than Matrix, it was rugged, Toyota engine, and very utilitarian with great gas mileage. But I still had reservations b/c (1) it was a brand new model, (2) option vs. option, it cost more than the P5. It handled OK, though not a sports car. I felt tall, but had poor rear visability. Still, I had always driven very old cars (gave up a great old 1986 SAAB 900s I bought in 1998). So it seemed pretty darn great in comparison.

The VW was OK, but I wasn't thrilled with the shifter. The Subbie was more $$ and worse gas mileage.

I test drove the P5 last. Seeing it on the internet, it seemed a little too tricked out to me. But in person, it looks OH so much better! And the way it handled, pretty much sold me. If it got the Vibe's gas mileage, I would have bought it that day. The interior was great - the whole feel reminded me a bit of the Golf, and my friend's Audi A4 base quattro. And the roof rack was way better than the Vibe.

I also liked the Vibe's fold down seats (though not thrilled about the hard plastic - less slippery rubber would be better). (I have many 2-wheeled, pedal driven toys I like to ride!)

Finally (to get to my point), I learned also that in folding down the seats, you can do one of 3 things (1) Not pull out the seat bottoms and keep in the headrests - far from flat, but not bad for some light-duty cargo; (2) pull out the seat bottoms as instructed; or (3) remove the seat bottoms entirely by pinching the metal brackets. This last option gives you just a little bit more total cargo room and lets you put in longer things by moving the front seat as far as it would go.

This is still not as much room with the Vibe's fold flat seats, but still OK.

In all, I was just sold by its handling. Driving wisely, I get 31 on the highway, 28 in the city.

So I didn't buy it the first day. I bought it 2 days later!
(PS - I recommend the 2002.5 or 2003 just to get the newer goodies)


2002.5 Silver MP5 5-spd
First new car
All stock and lovin' it.

Funky Buddha

Actually I'm in the same boat as well. I didn't bother test driving the matrix though cause I ddin't even like how it looked and the gauges are recessed pretty deep into the cluster. Also didn't like the rally style shifter like the new civic siR has. It looked bulky.

So I test drove a p5 twice..auto and stick and I am so sold. The only thing now is to come up w/ a down payment for an '03 blue mica p5. got a few months left on my student loan. The thing that got me was the handling, the standard options, the smooth clutch and shifter and the clean body lines. Plus I am single and it has more room than I need/want and I really wanted a 4 door(not necessarily hatchback). The handling and the very powerful 4 wheel ABS just rocks. Twisty roads are fun to drive and highway cruising is very good. Plus it's got less road noise than some other cars.

Also test drove a few used cars like a 97 jetta tdi, 99 golf 4door hb, 2001 sentra xe w/ 16" alloy wheels, 98 honda civic dx, and 98 integra se. Out of those, the cars I'd like to get is just the integra. But my insurance would be enormous since it was black, 5spd and 2 door sports car. So that steered me away. The others are just minor problems. The jetta stunk when the heat was on. It was hard to start in cold weather. Golf was a blast. Had that baby up to 180km/h and it was still climbing. It handled very well, and the seats were comfortable. I didn't like the clutch placement (too high and too hard to press). The only gripe was it was rusting already. the Sentra was amazing as well. Lots of room, tinted windows, but again, the clutch and shifter sucked. I ended up spending more time finding gears than driving. the civic was okay but too small, and I really wanted a 4 door. Otherwise, it was nice. Not too much power though 115hp. The financing kinda sux too and the interest rate were so high for all these cars.