he let me feel it!

[drunkenmaxx]

ok you homos, im talking about lift here! i sold my OEM rims to a guy from matrixowners and he came and picked them up last night. we got to looking at each others cars and lo and behold, he had an XRS! i was like "holy cow!" he asked me if i wanted a ride to feel lift, which i had to accept. all i had to say was (can't say it here, but it sounds a lot like duck) it was wet outside, so the tires broke loose when it hit. oh, and dear lord, the sound!!!!

[5lbsofswisscheese]

You, sir, are clearly drunk! (j/k )It's a great feeling, though, ain't it? I'm sure I (removed) people off with that sound when I drive up the on-ramp to the freeway.

[drunkenmaxx]

it would definitely be nice to have for all the dorks around here who have a 6 banger stanger and think its fast

[ToolGuy]

Where is a pic of your new rims? Did you have to put on some new underwear after the test drive?

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »Where is a pic of your new rims? Did you have to put on some new underwear after the test drive?my new rims can be seen on philndz's vibe in the for sale forum (topic says something about american racing 16"....)i had to put new pants on as well, he made me spill my beer!

[Reynoma]

Drunkin - if I knew you wanted to feel it so badly, I would have let you feel it.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by Reynoma »Drunkin - if I knew you wanted to feel it so badly, I would have let you feel it. careful! what if the wife found your secret out??

[5lbsofswisscheese]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »it would definitely be nice to have for all the dorks around here who have a 6 banger stanger and think its fast That reminds me, I've been meaning to figure out how you can tell a V6 from a V8 Mustang.

[drunkenmaxx]

one tailpipe=definitely v6the sound is also an indicator

[rated_w]

never felt lift before :'(

[Triton]

I remember last year when I took Nick for a ride in my Vibe at the first Michigan meet. He was wishing he bought a GT after that. It's a great feeling. If some members come to next years Michigan Rally and haven't had a ride in a GT, I would be happy to take a few around the block in it.

[Mase]

Over the summer I met up with a base Matrix owner at the drag strip. After a few runs with our own cars, we decided to switch. I drove his base and he drove my XRS.It felt so wierd to have to shift at ~6500 revs in the base. Plus I was having "phantom lift" sensations as I watched the tach raise above 6200 (i'm just so used to the kick). I don't know how you 1zz owners can live with out boost, juice, or lift.When my friend returned from his run in my XRS, he had a big grin on his face. In a shakey voice he told me that it was a little too much muscle for him!My XRS was consistently ~2 secs faster than his base. We both have similar mods, except I have lift!

[Celtic_Curse]

I don't miss anything about lift my Base does very well all the way through the power band, while the gt's and xrs start there lifting at 6200rpm our bases take the same amount of time to get to their limit. I've raced the GT's and there ain't no 2 second difference in my time I think the closest I got was .3 seconds slower the worst .5 seconds slower and I was at the front wheel well the whole time. It's all about the driver.

[VibeChick]

Quote, originally posted by Celtic_Curse » I've raced the GT's and there ain't no 2 second difference in my time I think the closest I got was .3 seconds slower the worst .5 seconds slower and I was at the front wheel well the whole time. It's all about the driver.Yeah, I was surprised...but there wasn't as much difference in time as I thought there would be between those of us with the base Vibe's and those of us in the GT's that night we were out at the track.

[Shane1V]

Ummm...I don't get it(pouting pathetically)What r ya talkin' about??

[ragingfish]

PLEASE stop posting in all bold!It's hard on the eyes!!!!

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »PLEASE stop posting in all bold!It's hard on the eyes!!!!Agreed. It's very difficult to read.

[Shane1V]

Ok, thats 2 in a row!I think it's easy to read, but I'm a tool.

[kostby]

To vastly oversimplify, 'Lift' is when the Yamaha-built Toyota 2zz engine (Matrix XRS, Vibe GT) kicks in with another ~50 hp because it switches to a different camshaft profile, starting at about 6000 RPM, and lasting up to about 8200 RPM. 2zz engines are VVTL-i, where the 1zz engines are VVT-i (Variable Valve Viming but without the L- for Lift)It's why GT's are more expensive (and more exciting) than base or AWD models.And I also thank you for NOT posting in all boldface. I suffer from 'older eyes', so there is an option to make Genvibe easier to read by changing the default font size in GenVibe for viewing pleasure:Click on My Profile, and then on User Options. About halfway down, you'll see 'Font size'. Default is 10, I have mine set to 11.

[goodvibe]

http://monkeywrenchracing.com/1_4miletoyota.html Here's a link to racing times. Driver is very important but a good driver can get a lot from a 2zz. Looks like a 1 sec. difference on stock cars and PEImatrix isn't a slug. Even Motor trend got a 15.7 in a stock GT.

[Vibe Rater]

The 1.8-litre engine begs to be revved to within a whisker of its eyebrow-raising 9,000-rpm redline. The need for the elevated redline is down to the variable valve lift. At low speeds, the intake valves follow a cam profile that is designed to maximize low-end pull. Above 6,000 rpm, which is where many engines begin to poop out, this one switches to a more aggressive profile, which improves the passage of air to the cylinders. As the lift shift occurs, the engine and exhaust notes take on a more purposeful tone, indicating the 170 horses on tap are beginning to gallop. The downside to the engine's personality is the mediocre low-end torque -- 127 pound-feet at a lofty 4,400 rpm. This tends to make the initial launch feel a little thin, however, once through these early-morning blahs and into the meaty part of the rev range, the Matrix pulls very nicely -- it will sprint to 100 kilometres an hour in a quick 7.6 seconds and bridge the 80-to-120-km/h gap in an equally sporty 5.8 seconds.

[goodvibe]

And even though the torque is a few points lower than the 1zz where you wouldn't use the motor for a race start anyway, the 20% lower gearing makes the GT quicker in the same gear at any speed. If your 1zz is supercharged and a stick, then you've really got to row the GT to keep up. I wish the 2zz had a 9000 rpm redline. Where did you get that? The best mag reviews for a GT/XRS I've seen are 7.3 60 and 15.7 1/4 stock and over 1 sec more for either in a base.

[Vibe Rater]

Review of the Matrix in the National Post

[Vibe Rater]

Here's the whole article.Packed with power, fun and cargo Graeme Fletcher CanWest News Service March 11, 2005The launch of the Mazda Protege5 brought a raft of imitators and competitors -- the Toyota Matrix and its Pontiac Vibe clone being among the first out of the blocks. The appeal of these vehicles is simple: The five-door hatchback design brings most of the versatility of a small SUV and none of the compromises in the ride and, more importantly, handling departments.Opting for the range-topping Matrix XRS underscores the sporty side of the breed. Along with an aggressive body kit -- front and rear fascia extensions and sill extenders -- come a stylish set of rims and wheel-well-filling P215/50R17 tires. It all combines to deliver a sporty appearance that gives up nothing in terms of practicality.Indeed, the versatility is there for all to enjoy. With the 60/40-split seats up, the Matrix will carry 15.1 cubic feet of cargo; folding them down bumps the capacity to a usable 53.2 cu. ft. The nice part is the hard plastic backing on the rear seats. This not only makes the flat floor easy to clean, it allows for two sets of adjustable tie-down rings. When the cargo is properly distributed and lashed down, it stays put even when the Matrix is flexed. There's also additional storage in either sidewall and beneath the load floor, so there are plenty of spots to stash junk. Even the front passenger seat folds forward, which allows longer items to be carried with the tailgate closed.There is one minor gripe with the layout -- the "60" part of the split rear seat is on the passenger side. Thus, carrying something such as a length of wood that requires folding down both the front and the larger part of the rear seat eliminates seating for three. If the "40" part of the split were on the passenger side, only two seats would be folded. Mind you, the centre spot might prove to be a bone of contention because of its tight confines.The sporting flair continues when you slip behind the wheel -- the front seats are nicely bolstered without being confining and offer superior support in all the right places. The funky-looking instruments (Optitron in Toyota talk) are clean and uncluttered, which make gleaning the information a simple task, night or day. Likewise, the centre stack is logically laid out -- the soulful audio package sits right at the top -- and all the knobs and dials are large enough to operate with gloves on. The XRS also comes loaded to the gunnels -- power everything, including a sunroof, as well as cruise control and a welcome feature in the form of a 115-volt outlet. This simple extra allows a computer to be charged when on the go, which, in the media business, is a godsend.The XRS's sporty theme continues with an up-level, 1.8-litre engine that begs to be revved to within a whisker of its eyebrow-raising 9,000-rpm redline. The need for the elevated redline is down to the variable valve lift. At low speeds, the intake valves follow a cam profile that is designed to maximize low-end pull. Above 6,000 rpm, which is where many engines begin to poop out, this one switches to a more aggressive profile, which improves the passage of air to the cylinders. As the lift shift occurs, the engine and exhaust notes take on a more purposeful tone, indicating the 170 horses on tap are beginning to gallop.The downside to the engine's personality is the mediocre low-end torque -- 127 pound-feet at a lofty 4,400 rpm. This tends to make the initial launch feel a little thin, however, once through these early-morning blahs and into the meaty part of the rev range, the Matrix pulls very nicely -- it will sprint to 100 kilometres an hour in a quick 7.6 seconds and bridge the 80-to-120-km/h gap in an equally sporty 5.8 seconds.The one weak spot with the powertrain is the six-speed manual transmission. First, the close-ratio box has a very mechanical feel to it (especially the shift from second to third), which makes a quick shift seem clunky and less than refined. Second, reverse gear is in the wrong place -- it is forward and to the left of first gear. This makes grabbing reverse instead of first a very real problem. Recognizing this, Toyota added an annoying beep to warn the driver he is about to back up and not blast forth. Putting the reverse gate to the right of fifth or sixth gear would eliminate a potential mistake and that aggravating beep.As for the dynamics, the Matrix XRS pleases. The suspension is tuned to keep the amount of rock, roll and understeer to a minimum, yet it manages to deliver a comfortably compliant ride. The setup also benefits from a toe-control function that limits the tendency for the rear wheels to steer the car during hard left-to-right transitions. The upshot is a sure-footed feel and a fast response to steering input -- those large, low-profile tires help enormously.Stopping power comes from four-wheel discs and a good anti-lock system. Repeated high-speed stops did not reveal any sign of fade, and the pedal remains firm and crisp under foot. At this end of the market, few systems come close to matching the Matrix's performance.The Matrix is a nifty number if you need flexibility but do not want to give up the fun of driving a truly sporty vehicle. It will tote a ton of stuff while running rings around the likes of Toyota's own RAV4 when challenging a tight cloverleaf. The Europeans had it right all along -- hatchbacks rule!THE SPECS:TYPE OF VEHICLE Front-wheel-drive, five-door hatchbackENGINE 1.8L DOHC four-cylinderPOWER 170 hp @ 7,600 rpm; 127 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpmTRANSMISSION Six-speed manualPRICE: base/as tested $25,560/sameFUEL ECONOMY L/100 km 9.2 city, 6.8 hwy.SUSPENSION FRONT: Independent MacPherson strut; rear: torsion beam rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars Steering Engine-speed-sensing, power-assisted rack-and-pinionBRAKES Four-wheel disc with ABSTHUMBS UP Sporty, versatile, responsive steeringTHUMBS DOWN Shifts feel mechanical, reverse is in wrong place

[4X4CHICHI]

hey drunken, you ought to hear and feel lift with a c.a.i. , even better. i can't wait to get an after market exhaust.

[drunkenmaxx]

Quote, originally posted by 4X4CHICHI »hey drunken, you ought to hear and feel lift with a c.a.i. , even better. i can't wait to get an after market exhaust. the dude had a catback and SR