New to board, with new car

[Scwmcan]

Hi, I'm Scott. Just got a 2009 Matrix XR 5 speed manual. I know it's not a Vibe, I was looking at them as well, but the matrix came with everything I wanted for the right price first so a Matrix it is. I picked up the car two weeks ago and proceeded to take it on a 4000 km trip two days later. The car worked great and I love it so far. I have been using a 2005 smart CDI (diesel) for the last 2 ears 100000 km as my daily driver so there is some adjustment in terms of power, size and fuel milage. On the trip fully loaded with 4 adult men and their gear, using a/c full time and cruising at about 120km/hr it seems to have gotten around 8l/100km so not too bad, though I think it can do better, but still hard to get used to when you have been getting 3.5-4l/100km. I joined this forum as it seems to meet my needs better than the Matrix forums I have looked at, a bit more mature around here all things considered, so I hope no one minds if I post questions, and other topics here even though I technically don't have a Vibe.
Will post pics once I have cleaned up the car from the trip.
Scott

[star_deceiver]

Welcome to GenVibe!!!

[vibenvy]

Welcome to GenVibe Scott! Glad to hear you are happy with your new Matrix! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of it once you get it all cleaned up .

I joined this forum as it seems to meet my needs better than the Matrix forums I have looked at, a bit more mature around here all things considered, so I hope no one minds if I post questions, and other topics here even though I technically don't have a Vibe.

I couldn't agree with you more about the Matrix forums...

I don't mind at all, as I'm sure no one else will. We're a very laid back, easy going bunch! You won't find any drama and/or immaturity around here !

[ParknVibe]

the Vibe and the Matrix are only skin deep. It's whats on the inside that matters. Welcome to the club.

[tpollauf]

Welcome to GenVibe Scott Not sure what engine you have BUT if it is the 2.4l then your drivetrain is identical to mine My 09 Vibe GT has the 5-speed manual and I absolutely love it Post pics when you get a chance and visit often

[zyzyix]

Hi and welcome.

[thebarber]

under the body work, we're all toyota's

[Mariachi]

welcome! pics of said trix please!

[Scwmcan]

Just finished washing, but didn't get time to touch-up all the chips and get it ready for waxing (decided to rain on me), still looks pretty good, amazing how there are more stone chips than you realise when you are lookig to buy the car. Yes it suffers from the fragile paint symptom as well, I have a feeling by next year I will want to get the front and hood repainted (and rocker panels too, they seem to have faded slightly, and I kind of would like them to be a bit more prominent, like it looks like the Vibe's may be). And Yes it is the 2.4 engine in it (haven't got to clean the engine compartment yet, looks like it needs a glood cleaning to get rid of road salt etc from the winters here, not all that pretty under the hood yet)

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[Scwmcan]

More outside shots

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[felixturcotte22]

Welcome Scott !! That's a nice ride you got there !
Hey the vibe and the matrix are practically indentical, so welcome to genvibe !
Feel free to ask for tips or anything, the guys here ; they know a whole lot on the vibe so i'm pretty sure you'll be pleased !

Have a nice day, and drive safely !
Felix

[felixturcotte22]

under the body work, we're all toyota's

[Scwmcan]

And some inside shots even though it is basically the same as all of yours.

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I have to say that the seats were very comfortable for me and the other three people riding in the car for the 15 hour straight drive (and the same on the way back). I don't know if there are any differences in the padding or shape of our seats, but then I see complaints about seat comfort an both Matrix and Vibe boards so maybe not. Also I do have the dreaded rust on the front edge of the moonroof that I saw mentioned here on your cars, that is on the list to be fixed before winter (unfortunately I am pretty sure mine is out of Toyota Canada's rust warranty, though i will have to check anyway).
I really like the Sundance colour of my Matrix, it is not something you see everywhere, and it looks good to me (your opinion may of course vary)
thanks for taking the time to view all these
Later
Scott

[Scwmcan]

Welcome Scott !! That's a nice ride you got there !
Hey the vibe and the matrix are practically indentical, so welcome to genvibe !
Feel free to ask for tips or anything, the guys here ; they know a whole lot on the vibe so i'm pretty sure you'll be pleased !

Have a nice day, and drive safely !
Felix

Thanks Felix,
I like it and I guess that is what counts most
I do like that it has the Body Kit (as on the XRS Matrix) instead of just the base body kit, makes the car look much better to me.
I know that the Matrix and Vibe are basically the same car with different bodies, and that the knowledge here will transfer to my car, that's why I am here, so that if I have any problems and or advice I car post and be part of the community.

Scott

[Scwmcan]

Also you can catch a glimpse of the 2005 smart inside the garage on some of the shots (not washed though so no pics of it for display )
Scott

[Mariachi]

argh.. i want a trix now. lol

[trb]

Very nice looking Matrix! They look good in the XR and XRS trim, but I rarely see them around me. Almost every one I see is a base model.

Welcome and enjoy your new car!

[DeClercq]

Welcome, and I really like that color! Plus it's a manual, so two thumbs-up from me.

[star_deceiver]

Nice colour! You only think you have bad paint chips though...

I'll upload a closeup of what 3 winters of mountainous highway driving will do to the front end... One of these days....

[Scwmcan]

I am sure that there are cars from similar years that have worse paint chips, there are just a lot more than I noticed before I bought the car ( of course until you wash it for the first time you don't really pay close attention to every little detail). In any case first trip to the Toyota dealer to get touch-up paint coming up tomorrow. The only good thing about the chips is the majority on the metal are only to the primer, only see three or four down to the metal ( lots down to the plastic on the bumper though, they'll never all be touched up, but the worst on the plastic and all the ones on the metal will be). I am sure the bug deflector saved me quite a few chips too. Ontario highways can be quite harsh on cars too ( the front of the smart and in front of the back wheels on it are pretty blasted too, andmy partner's 2007 Mazda 3 hatch with similar milage to my Matrix has similar chipping as well)

Scott

[ramenboy...]

Hey welcome to the family


Nice whip! And the color rocks

[vibenvy]

Very sharp looking Matrix ! That color is starting to grow on me the more I see it.

[Scwmcan]

Yes it took me a while to decide I liked the colour too, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. I just didn't want silver or grey ( not that those colours are bad just didn't want them) and I couldn't find any of the nice red vibes in my price range or close enough, then I saw this colour and after seeing it in person decided I liked it a lot, so I bought it, I like that it stands out a bit, still doesn't show dirt too bad ( though I am sure the road salt in the winter will show), and I think it shows off the lines of the car pretty well. That said I have seen this colour on a base matrix, and without the black accents it just doesn't look as good to me.
Scott

[felixturcotte22]

In my opinion, most grey or silver cars suck. The vibes and trixes are exceptions though, it's a pretty color especially on the 2009 + model years !
Your color rocks too !

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[Brandort3]

Love the manual and love the color. Vibe's and Matrix's are basically the same cars and i love that you came to GenVibe over the other forums. Welcome to GenVibe!

[Scwmcan]

Thanks Brandort3
I am just not into the whole slamming etc thing and the attitude that seems to go with it, I have no problem with people doing what they want to their cars though. It just seems to me that this forum is more mature in its whole approach and the members are friendly and open, definately more to my taste, and many kudos to the mods and the members for keeping it this way. I am extremely please with my welcome here and am looking forward to participating any way I can in the future.
Scott

[thebarber]

Nice looking trix....the XR with the body kit is the way to go....the XRS 18's and independent ear are over rated

Too bad the 2azfe is a thirsty engine

[vibenvy]

I am just not into the whole slamming etc thing and the attitude that seems to go with it, I have no problem with people doing what they want to their cars though. It just seems to me that this forum is more mature in its whole approach and the members are friendly and open, definately more to my taste, and many kudos to the mods and the members for keeping it this way. I am extremely please with my welcome here and am looking forward to participating any way I can in the future.

I totally agree ! I love the non-drama filled atomsphere of GenVibe. I visit Matrix Owners every so often, but not much. I think I have about 120 posts over there compared to my post count here .

[Wingnut]

Looks great!

[nashweaver]

looking good man! welcome to the forum

[Sputnik]

Welcome - happy to see another Canadian member!! Nice 'trix too.

[A Psycho Martyr]

Man, I love seeing those on the road.
'That color is simply boss