06 Toyota Matrix?

[SLCraig]

Super solid cars.
Have had a few friends with Matrixes, no one has hated theirs.

I find the 1.8L gutless, but it works, and works, and works.

 

[FutureDoc]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig

I find the 1.8L gutless, but it works, and works, and works.


You have to keep it humming in the 3.5-6K rpm range

 

[cutter]

Originally Posted By: theKman
I remember changing a ton of serp belts on them


Use nothing but Goodyear Gatorback serp belts on Toyota ZZ engines. EVERY belt that has solid line grooves will chirp heavily in a year. The Gatorback will give at least 4 years chirp free. I see people mistakenly replace tensioners all the time when all it needs is a grippier belt.

 

[SOHCman]

Originally Posted By: cutter
Originally Posted By: theKman
I remember changing a ton of serp belts on them


Use nothing but Goodyear Gatorback serp belts on Toyota ZZ engines. EVERY belt that has solid line grooves will chirp heavily in a year. The Gatorback will give at least 4 years chirp free. I see people mistakenly replace tensioners all the time when all it needs is a grippier belt.


I'm using a Gates napa premium belt, year and a half 25k and still no chirps. Not to diss the gator backs, I probably would have gone with one if they carried them locally.

 

[MarkM66]

I just hit 200k on mine. Changed the factory belt at 110k, went with a Dayco, no sounds yet.

 

[walk23]

I had this year model and was pleased with it. 202.000 miles with no mechanical issues. Very solid performer, avg. about 31 mpg. Routine maintenance was a breeze.

 

[[email protected]]

I had a good friend with a 2004 Matrix. Once in a while, I'd change the oil and rotate her tires for her. She had the car for 8 years, sold it with 160k miles on it and never had one single problem. She always commented how good it was on gas, but I dont recall what the numbers were and doubt she'd remember now.

Either way, my niece was looking for a car a few months ago and I was pushing her towards a Vibe/Matrix. We couldnt find one with low enough miles that the bank would finance.

 

[mjoekingz28]

I had a coworker with a Vibe that went over 300,000 miles. It was kind of funny that his odometer stopped at 299,999. I guess thats about as far as Pontiac designed them to last.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
I had a coworker with a Vibe that went over 300,000 miles. It was kind of funny that his odometer stopped at 299,999. I guess thats about as far as Pontiac designed them to last.


I think that was actually a Toyota issue. As I recall, the electronics behind the dash are Toyota, and Corolla owners had similar issues...the odometer would stop counting at 299,999 miles.

These are very easy cars to own. I had a similar year Corolla. The 1ZZ-FE engine is very simple, and very economical and reliable. The Matrix/Vibe had a slightly more complex independent rear suspension compared with the Corolla's twist beam, but still very reliable. The Vibes are likely very good deals...being that Pontiac is no longer extant. I wanted to like both the Matrix and the Vibe, but the dash layout was a little too "youthful" for me. I liked the Corolla's more conventional layout.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Super solid cars.
Have had a few friends with Matrixes, no one has hated theirs.

I find the 1.8L gutless, but it works, and works, and works.


A friend has an 07 and the interior has crumbled inside. The used minivan he bought has stayed in better shape with 3x the miles.

Otherwise a practical vehicle if you're ok with the lines.

 

[Lolvoguy]

IMHO buy a Focus wagon and save $$$. Both have equally poor interiors, but reliable powertrains (Ford is cheaper for replacement parts and insurance FWIW).

 

[SatinSilver]

06 Focus has 108 complaints against it on www.carcomplaints.com while the 06 Matrix has 18 complaints. The 07 Focus is even worse with 190 complaints. An 03 Focus has 520 complaints.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
06 Focus has 108 complaints against it on www.carcomplaints.com while the 06 Matrix has 18 complaints. The 07 Focus is even worse with 190 complaints. An 03 Focus has 520 complaints.


Comically enough, the complaints for the Matrix and the Vibe are very different, even though they are essentially the same car...

The vast majority of Focus complaints are:

1. The key gets stuck in the ignition
2. Won't start when key is turned
3. CD Player won't work
4. Failed alternator
5. Won't go into gear/jerking into gear (interlock perhaps?)

The vast majority of Matrix complaints are:
1. Door handles broke off
2. Door seal popping off
3. Stalling out/unintended acceleration
4. Hubcaps don't stay on

The vast majority of Vibe (remember, same vehicle) are:
1. Check Engine Light
2. HVAC

Not enough complaints on this one to really show much else.


Now, if we contrast this to the NHTSA stuff also shown:

Focus:
1. Electrical problems - 37
2. Seatbelt/airbags - 28
3. Engine problems - 22
4. Brakes/wheels/hubs -12
5. Fuel system - 10

Matrix:
1. Engine problems - 41
2. wheels/hubs - 27
3. Electrical problems -19
4. Suspension problems -19
5. Transmission problems - 10

Vibe:
1. Engine problems - 21
2. Transmission problems - 5
3. Drivetrain/electrical - 4
4. Windows - 4
5. Body/brakes/hubs - 2


Seems the NHTSA complaints data doesn't align well with the data from that website

 

[SteveSRT8]

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/graemlins/21.gif[/IMG]

The Net brings so much info to the table that it can easily lead someone to an erroneous conclusion...

 

[CBR.worm]

I remember having the same discussion with someone when the Nova and Corolla were the same car. The nova had poor reliability ratings and the corolla very good.

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: CBR.worm
I remember having the same discussion with someone when the Nova and Corolla were the same car. The nova had poor reliability ratings and the corolla very good.


it was probably GM fanboys bashing the Nova because they knew it was really a TOYOTA

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Super solid cars.
Have had a few friends with Matrixes, no one has hated theirs.

I find the 1.8L gutless, but it works, and works, and works.


A friend has an 07 and the interior has crumbled inside. The used minivan he bought has stayed in better shape with 3x the miles.

Otherwise a practical vehicle if you're ok with the lines.


That friend must be exceptionally hard on it, or maybe it constantly sits in the hot sun. The inside of my '04 looks brand new. other then a worn drivers side floor mat.

Not sure why this thread is still going. The OP obviously doesn't care.

 

[glock19]

Well, here's good news if you plan on driving it off a bridge.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/02/11/couple-survives-50-foot-fall-from-overpass-video/

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
The inside of my '04 looks brand new. other then a worn drivers side floor mat.


Same way with my 05. Maybe the car was flooded in salt water or something. It's not perfect but the interior falling apart isn't on my list of gripes. Hard to believe unless we see some pictures of it.