Very Close to Buying a CPO Matrix, any opinions, ideas, etc.

[Whelan]

Lay it on me people! I currently own a 2002 Honda Civic EX Coupe 5spd. It has about 73,000 worry free miles and I do still love it. But I am commuting a good hour or more every day each way to work and live in the Northeast so I get to deal with snow as well. I have a cold air on the Civic now which makes the car undriveable in the rain as well.

So I put together a list of things I wanted out of my next car, including things I have in my car now. Automatic, AWD, more room for people and random stuff, good looks, good gas mileage, good handling, and spirited vroom (no not Supra speed.)

After researching for days at work, lol, I think I am all set on this car, I test drove a Matrix the other day and was pleasantly surprised. Here are the specs for the one I want;

2005 Toyota Matrix XR AWD
Certified Pre-Owned
Automatic
16" Alloy Wheels
Pwr. Sunroof
Lip Kit
Dark Gray or Black ext.
Gray Int.
20k miles or less

I know I may not get all of these options but I can sacrifice a lip kit for the sunroof and alloys which are gotta haves. I won't be doing to much to this car other than driving it which is why I am looking for something that looks good in stock form.

I figured I would ask around here and see what people thought of their Matrix's especially people with an AWD model in particular. I read the reviews about the noisy engine and lack of power but after driving a Civic for 3 years and then getting into the AWD Matrix, I couldnt feel a huge difference, def. more torque but I mean its a 4cyl. engine so its expected to rev high for power and not be a fuel thirsty V-6 like my gf's Jeep.

Again, opinions are WANTED!

[trxr]

For a 4WD car, I really wouldnt bother with the Matrix. I have a 2WD model, and its sluggish.

A Subaru 2.5i is you best bet if you must have 4wd.

[Whelan]

I cannot stand the look of a Subaru, the doors feel very chinsey, espeically with nothing surrounding the top of the glass = bad sealing over time = leaks. They always sound like they are misfiring a cylinder and they sit to high.

[acrylucs]

If anything, the AWD matrix has considerably less Vroom than the others. I second the subaru, as far as AWD cars go its good value and lots of oomph. the Matrix sits higher, and the subaru have super low center of gravity. If you're in CT, a 2wd car will do just fine. I'm in montreal where its colder and snowier and I've drivenup steep slippery access roads to mountains under heavy snow. just have good tires and chains for backup.

[VVT-i Owns]

Get the Honda CRV. can't go wrong with that and its a lot better than the AWD martix.

[TRXR4KDS]

But the CR-V is in a different class than the Matrix AWD. I've got an 06 CR-V, EX-L and an 05 Matrix XRS. Driving the Matrix hard, hitting lift often, with a CAI and catback exhaust, and using premium fulel, still is a lot cheaper in gas than the CR-V by about $10 for the same 450km tank. True story!