My wife picked up a new matrix last december after the electrical gremlins attack our 2003 VW Jetta Station wagen. We loved the small wagen and thought the matrix would be a good replacement. So last week it was vacation time!! We had the car fairly well loaded, I could still see out the windows to the back, and I had a Thule roof rack with two bikes mounted up top. Off we go on the interstate, I set the cruise to about 73ish and the transmission is constantly down shifting even on the slightest of inclines. This becomes tiresome very quickly so I keep lowering the speed until this stops. Soon I'm going just 65 because that's all the car can do. Now before you start the lay off the donut jokes my wife and I are both lightweights, well below average, so that's not the problem. This car needs 20 more horsepower now. It's a shame, all the other makes, Subaru, Honda, Mazda all have more horsepower in their base models. I have a Mazda 3s Hatch and I've had it pack to the gills taking my son to college and it had no trouble coping with the extra load.
It's too bad, over all it's a nice car, but now I'm wishing we looked around something else.
Mine's got lots of power But, I know what you mean. A 1.8l with auto tranny is a dog on hills, especially with a load. The previous generation Civics and Proteges were the same. The next gen Matrix and Corolla will be out early next year, with more oomph and horsepower, guaranteed, to match the competitors.
I honestly don't think it is a power issue. The 1.8L has plenty of power to get up most hills in overdrive. The problem is the cruise control in ALL Toyotas is way too slow to react. The speed creeps down and down until it finally realizes it and has to downshift to make up the difference. It does the exact same thing in my 2005 Matrix, my sister-in-law's 1994 Toyota Corolla, my friend's 2005 Corolla S, my brother's 2001 Chevrolet Prizm (Corolla) and another friend's 2002 Toyota Corolla.
Do a test -- drive without the cruise control and see how much less the car has to downshift, if at all. The cruise in Toyotas (at least numerous Corolla-derivatives I've been in) is just plain sucky. If I was to complain about the 1.8L engine in the Matrix it would not be a lack of power, but rather, what a NOISE and VIBRATION box! Yeesh! If we ever buy another Toyota, it will be either a V6.... or it will be a Chevrolet (2008 Malibu), Saturn (2008 Aura), or Honda (Accord). The first one to make a mid-size wagon with 30mpg and flexfuel (ethanol) will get my money.
Want something much more annoying? A 5-speed 4cyl truck that can't get up the hill in 5th gear without dropping speed, so you have to kick it out of cruise to downshift MANUALLY to 4th!
That said, I do miss the 1.8L Turbo 4 in my '98 VW Passat. That thing had the torque of a large V6 (after a chip, especially!).
I honestly don't think it is a power issue. The 1.8L has plenty of power to get up most hills in overdrive. The problem is the cruise control in ALL Toyotas is way too slow to react. The speed creeps down and down until it finally realizes it and has to downshift to make up the difference. It does the exact same thing in my 2005 Matrix, my sister-in-law's 1994 Toyota Corolla, my friend's 2005 Corolla S, my brother's 2001 Chevrolet Prizm (Corolla) and another friend's 2002 Toyota Corolla.
Do a test -- drive without the cruise control and see how much less the car has to downshift, if at all. The cruise in Toyotas (at least numerous Corolla-derivatives I've been in) is just plain sucky. If I was to complain about the 1.8L engine in the Matrix it would not be a lack of power, but rather, what a NOISE and VIBRATION box! Yeesh! If we ever buy another Toyota, it will be either a V6.... or it will be a Chevrolet (2008 Malibu), Saturn (2008 Aura), or Honda (Accord). The first one to make a mid-size wagon with 30mpg and flexfuel (ethanol) will get my money.
Want something much more annoying? A 5-speed 4cyl truck that can't get up the hill in 5th gear without dropping speed, so you have to kick it out of cruise to downshift MANUALLY to 4th!
That said, I do miss the 1.8L Turbo 4 in my '98 VW Passat. That thing had the torque of a large V6 (after a chip, especially!).
-Michael
Yeah, the matrix is a dragster compared to the pickup I4 up hills lol
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92' Toyota Pickup 4x4 22RE 5 speed SOLD
06' Toyota XR Matrix Auto
I'm just finishing my vacation in the Matrix and have really enjoyed the car. My wife did mention how it's kinda noisy at 70-75MPH, but that's because of the intake and exhaust. Kinda self inflicted you might say. Lot's of pep, had a blast passing slow peeps on back roads, hitting lift and redlining once in a while, wind blowing with the sun beating down through the roof, couldn't better. I'm very, very happy with my XRS and the mods I've done so far. People look at me, even the border crossing guy asked, "What kinda car is that?" "Nice" after I tell him.
Well, as the saying goes you're comparing apples to oranges, obviously the XRS engine is going to out perform the base engine by a long shot. Face it the base engine with a load in the car is a real wheezer.
I just drove from Pennsylvania to Virginia with 4 suitcases no problem. Now the real task is from VA to NC loaded. My parents decided to throw everything heavy in the hatch. I'll let everyone know how I think it performed. I don't think there will be a problem. I've had my car loaded with 4 people and their luggage, now its just 2, my gf and myself, plus everyone else's luggage. -=crosses fingers=-
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'03 XR - Lunar Mist, AEM Short Ram Intake, Borla Catback Exhaust, Vibrant Strut Tower Brace, Tein S-Tech Springs, De-badged Hatch, TYC Black Tail Lights, LED Front Signals, LED Rear Lighting, I-Series Stubby Antenna, DRL Disable, 17" Gloss Black Falken Torque 5 wrapped in Falken Ziex Ze 912
i was usin my trix to haul boxes and stuff a few wks ago when i was heplin some friends of mine move. i had that thing loaded to the max and it performed just great. tho my suspension got a bit of a work out.
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17" Scion tC wheels | Painted Red Brake Calipers
window deflectors and tint | Sharkfin Antenna
Cosmo CAI | DC Strut Bar | TRD Lowering Springs
de-badged hatch | Hella Supertone Horns http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2604236
I had an 05 Corolla CE, automatic, and it was an excellent car. I had made a trip to pick up my sister and niece at the airport. Just want to remind all that I do live in Florida, not many hills here. My mother decided at the last minute that would tag along. Long story short, 4 people, a truck full of luggage, running at about 70mph with cruise-control...my car would kick in an out of overdrive at the slightest hill. It was not a big deal, but I could see it being annoying. The trade-off is the great fuel mileage that not many other high quality cars can compare to. I now own an 06 Matrix XRS, but not because I didn't like my 05 Corolla. In fact, I bought the XRS because I REALLY liked the 05 Corolla...does that make sense?
hey george, where abouts in florida are you? head on over and chk out cflwagonmafia.com when you get a chance, its a car club for matrix owners in florida
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17" Scion tC wheels | Painted Red Brake Calipers
window deflectors and tint | Sharkfin Antenna
Cosmo CAI | DC Strut Bar | TRD Lowering Springs
de-badged hatch | Hella Supertone Horns http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2604236
I had an 05 Corolla CE, automatic, and it was an excellent car. I had made a trip to pick up my sister and niece at the airport. Just want to remind all that I do live in Florida, not many hills here. My mother decided at the last minute that would tag along. Long story short, 4 people, a truck full of luggage, running at about 70mph with cruise-control...my car would kick in an out of overdrive at the slightest hill. It was not a big deal, but I could see it being annoying. The trade-off is the great fuel mileage that not many other high quality cars can compare to. I now own an 06 Matrix XRS, but not because I didn't like my 05 Corolla. In fact, I bought the XRS because I REALLY liked the 05 Corolla...does that make sense?
I guess it's a matter of expectations. If the car is big enough to throw all that stuff in then it should be able to haul it without breaking a sweat. In upstate NY there isn't a level piece of land, lots of hill, so at least to me it got on my nerves that the car was downshifting so much. My previous car was a 95 VW GLX VR6 with 173 hp and my current car is an 06 Mazda 3s hatch at 153hp. I just took my sons stuff to school this past weekend, 4 hours all interstate and loaded to the gills and I always had some power to spare. My wife loves her Matrix so that's all that counts, but the Mazda will be the "vacation" car from now on.
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But, I know what you mean. A 1.8l with auto tranny is a dog on hills, especially with a load. The previous generation Civics and Proteges were the same. The next gen Matrix and Corolla will be out early next year, with more oomph and horsepower, guaranteed, to match the competitors.
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