Has anyone test drive the Matrix yet? Ive seen it on the street, but havent seen hands on yet. If you have:

1. How is the feel of the car? (handling, power, etc.)

2. Does it really look cheap on the inside like some of the pics ive seen?

3. Does it have a cargo cover like the P5 does? (i read somewhere that it doesnt)

4. What model was it that you drove/saw?

5. Would you trade your P5 for it? (you better say no...j/k)

 

hey i didnt test drive it, but i crawled all over it, started it up, sat in it, im sorry to say guys, but i loved it, the car kicks ***, im 6-3 and i had room enough to chill in the back seat, the front seats are comfy as hell and the shifter felt rpetty goot, i was in just a GT, anyone else like this car?

 

Well, it sure beats the hell out of the pt cruiser. I'm assuming that was it's major target. I hope they do well. They're pretty decent looking cars for what they are intended. Now with a TRD super or turbocharger, THEN we'd be talking!

[[edit: my grammar sucks]]

 

OK, I drove a Matrix today, just for grins. I'll answer the listed questions in order:

[1] Power is comparable to the P5. I thought this was a little surprising given that the XRS I drove is listed at 180 hp. Handling is good, but inferior to the P5 (not a huge surprise there). Ride is smoother and definitely quieter. Basically, it's an agile minivan. It has a lot more space than the P5, but isn't as sporty in its feel. Definitely more headroom (I'm only 5'10" so I don't care that much) and spacious back seats. The seating position is higher relative to the road, which I also dislike--felt more minivan-ish that way.

[2] Well, the dash didn't strike me as cheap in particular, but I hated it. I mean HATED it. Holy crap are the main gauges (tach, speedo) ugly, but more importantly, hard to read. The designer who did that dash needs to be taken out and smacked upside the head. Normally I don't feel real strongly about the dash gauges, but man...

The exterior is not quite as ugly in person as it is in pictures, but I still think the P5 looks better. Visibility out is better in the P5 as well.

[3] No cargo cover. Stupid. However, the cargo area is a little bigger than in the P5 and so are the back seats. The back seats fold down flat without all the machinations required to get the same thing from the P5, and the cargo area is hard plastic. Full-sized spare, too! Oh, and you can open just the rear glass, which I liked. Very nicely done, except for the missing cargo cover.

[4] I drove the XRS, the top-of-the-line model, with the 6-speed. I thought the shifter was very smooth, and I liked the high rally-mounting of the shifter as well. I will admit I would like a 6-speed on my P5.

[5] No, I wouldn't trade my P5 for it, but I bet my wife would. The P5 is big enough for me right now and I prefer the sporty handling of the P5, as well as the styling.

It's a solid competitor, no doubt about it. I also drove a Focus ZX5 today (again, just for grins) and was totally unimpressed. Toyota is consciously going for the P5 market. When I was first looking at the exterior, the sales guy saw me looking and mentioned that the air dam and ground effects "are there to compete with the Mazda wagon."

I'd say if you want sporty with some space and versatility, get the P5. If you want versatility and space with some sporty, get the Matrix. And if you want to get ripped off, get the Vibe, which for some reason is more expensive than the Matrix...

 

Actually, come to think of it.... that's one thing I love about the P5 too.....

When you close the door, listen to how it sounds.... nice firm solid sound. Try closing the doors of a focus, etc.... doesn't sound nearly as solid.

Hmmm.... nice.

 

Have you seen the new PT cruiser Covertible? That looks dope!! The roll over bar on it looks like that from a Shaleen!!

 

Do you have a pic?

 

The Matrix may have a rated 180hp but look @ the torque #'s that’s really what makes a car haul ***.

 

mmcrack, ...you wrecked a matrix?????????......lol....how the hell did that happen?

 

This car is solid!

The Matrix doesn't have that go-cart feel of the P5.
I matted a cold engined Matrix on the test drive and, it would'nt let me rev her until warmed up. Once it got to operating temp, all I heard was the engine howelling, but no real GO.
P5 rules...