GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Here's an 05 Matrix. Looks like pontiac wont be loosing Vibe sales due to styling after all.

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That is plain Jane (removed) ugly!

looks like a corollawagon....

Doesn't look bad to me. I wouldn't go buy one, but certainly doesn't offend me as much as the Vibe does.

EEEWWWWW. That is awful.

I never said it was (removed) ugly but it easily lost as much in appearance as the 05 Vibe. I guess bland is in. In this case bland and busy.

looking at a preview article at http://www.auto123.com/en/info...21260it says Quote »Matrix XRS is a front-drive model that gets 170 hp at 7,600 rpm and 127 lb.-ft, of torque at 4,400 rpm from the 1.8-litre, which certainly gives it a sportier edge if you're willing to run the wagon at high revs a lot.so, 2003 = 180HP, 2004 = 173 HP, 2005 = 170 HP. The article also says " Inside, there's new material on the seats and redesigned controls meant to ''create an even more comfortable ambience.''" Wonder what's different with those controls.another pic

For one, the '05 Matrix uses a different radio than the Vibe, now. It also includes the Voltz style clock.Here's a thread from Matrixvibe with some more info:http://matrixvibe.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4520

I saw those pics on matrixvibe.com yesterday and meant to post a link and proceeded to forget about it. I was never big on the Matrix styling but don't like these new changes on the '05 at all. I think the change is a lot worse on the Matrix than on the Vibe for the '05 if you ask me.

I appear to be in the minority here, but I think that is an improvement for the Matrix. The front end no longer looks like its trying too hard to look like it has a body kit on it. Its just kind of plain now, more like the Corolla sedan, but IMO that is better than the way it was. The Vibe still looks better.

I wonder if that Voltz-like radio area has a control with a functional third button, and if it would fit my 03 vibe.

Well, I've never been a fan of the rear end & door panels on the Matrix. They haven't changed from what I can see, so I still don't like it. Further, the new design seems disjointed: angular back-end with a tapered, smooth nose. Weird. Sorta like they took the Matrix and put it into one of those cones that you taper pipe with -- apply a little pressure, and voila!

Quote, originally posted by robdog »looks like a corollawagon....That's cause it be a "corollawagon"

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »I wonder if that Voltz-like radio area has a control with a functional third button, and if it would fit my 03 vibe.Looking closely at the photo, it looks like the button does have a label on it. I would imagine you could retrofit all of the pieces and parts into a Vibe, but it would probably be very costly.

Glad I got a Vibe when I did. One of the things that I love about it is that it DOESN'T look like a standard issue suburb style wagon.Bland is indeed back...yuck.

The front of the Matrix looks strange.. Jeeez.. whats going on/?

I know I'm wierd but...I sorta like the not-so-radical-cut-your-shin-on-the-damn-thing look

Mostly, they moved the fog lights to the 03-04 Vibe position instead of in the grille. Look at the front of the '04 Camry to see where the '05 Matrix came from. I think Toyota is intentionally creating a pretty nondescript blank slate for all those aftermarket body-kit folks. SEMA '05 should be overflowing with Matrix pieces! In fact, it's hard to find pics of any Matrix without the factory body add-ons at the toyota.com site! The 03-04 Matrix was/is no beauty either.Further rant on Toyota styling: I think the front and back of the Camry have a scale problem: The lights are about 120% of the size they should be.I hated the 'hockey stick*' side sculpting when it debuted on the '01(?)Camry. I don't like any better on the '03-04 Matrix. [*Sidebar: If you look at the side sculpting, it looks like they laid a hockey stick on it to design it. Probably popular among hockey fans, eh? No offense meant to hockey fans.]

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I think it is an improvement over the Matrix now, but nothing beats the Vibe for exterior styling, except maybe a Mazda 3. Just my opinion though.

Man... That is a classic example of a why Toyota's are considered BORING.

The front end, for some reason, makes me think "Acura". I'd swear they stole part of it from the MDX.As for the controls around the radio. I'm sure it could retrofit... But you'd have to do some work to make the clock 'nstuff work, because the Vibe is most likely missing the wiring for it.

Why is that perfection needs to be tampered with and made so darn ugly?

Quote, originally posted by robdog »looks like a corollawagon....Quote, originally posted by pwarren4 »That's cause it be a "corollawagon"Quote, originally posted by Salsa! »Huh,...it basically is a Corolla wagon!!!!WHAT! It can't possibly be a WAGON can it? That would mean the Vibe is a . . . . GASP!http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=9012No, it must be a Corolla Crossover or a Corolla SUV or a Corolla Hatchback.

Quote, originally posted by NovaResource2 »WHAT! It can't possibly be a WAGON can it? That would mean the Vibe is a . . . . GASP!http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=9012No, it must be a Corolla Crossover or a Corolla SUV or a Corolla Hatchback.ROFL! You never cease to amuse me scott...

At least I amuse ONE person. You're probably the only one.

uh...what am i missing??? Besides the fog light move, i really dont see much else. The Matrix XR w/o side skirts and lower spoilers looks just like that doesn't it.....ive seen a bunch driving around in the last couple of years so it cant be a new thing.....although most of the matrixes that i see DO have the extra body work....i assume b/c most buyers like it better.How is this 05 different from a 03-04 w/o the optional factory body kit?PS: Scott, you amuse me too

With the whole Toyota/Bland thing, It never fails..

Quote, originally posted by philndz »uh...what am i missing??? Besides the fog light move, i really dont see much else. The Matrix XR w/o side skirts and lower spoilers looks just like that doesn't it......I agree. Aside from the fog lights and tail lights, it looks like a base Matrix without the lower body kit.

Quote, originally posted by NovaResource2 »I agree. Aside from the fog lights and tail lights, it looks like a base Matrix without the lower body kit.Phew...I thought I must be blind or something...yey for Scott!

Quote, originally posted by NovaResource2 »WHAT! It can't possibly be a WAGON can it? That would mean the Vibe is a . . . . GASP!You're all wrong. Vibe and Matrix are truckshttp://www.suntimes.com/output....html

Quote, originally posted by NovaResource2 »I agree. Aside from the fog lights and tail lights, it looks like a base Matrix without the lower body kit.The grill has changed, also the lower piece of plastic on the front (below the lower grill) is now black plastic rather than body color. Pretty minor overall, I suppose.

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »You're all wrong. Vibe and Matrix are truckshttp://www.suntimes.com/output....htmlWe can all rest assured now! Joatmon has found the REAL answer!!

''create an even more comfortable ambience.'' Wonder what's different with those controls.If I was any more comfortable in my Vibe, I would start to fall asleep.

Well if it is a truck why did I just pay $175 bucks for my registration renewal. Government basterds. Maybe if I direct them to this site they will give me $100 bucks back

Oh yeah,The front end is really bad. I thought the Vibe restyling was lame, but Toyota continues to lower the benchmark in car design. But on the otherside it does open the door for many morebody kit sales, and it might bring more people in who didn't like the aggressive styling of the previous models.

Now hang on, Celica's are pretty cool, right?... and the Corolla and Vibe are on the Celica platform. So relax, y'all are driving Celica Wagons.

Quote, originally posted by vibebuilder »Now hang on, Celica's are pretty cool, right?... and the Corolla and Vibe are on the Celica platform. So relax, y'all are driving Celica Wagons. I do dig the celica bro. Always have. I mean no offense, but the matrix and vibe are on the corolla platform. So as the other guys have said, its a "Corolla-Wagon".The new matrix and vibe look like a step back to me. It seems like the 03' vibes are "fresher" than the 05' models. I know they are doing it to match up with the styling of all the other cars in their line, but come-on. The vibe front-end now looks like a blander, and even more boring version of the new "pretend GTO". Glad i got my vibe before they changed. It looks like a decrepid mini-van.

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »He is just showing members how insignificant the argument is... I know, It's called sarcasm.