I'm thinking of buying one of these. I like the interior layout of the Matrix a bit better. Especially that cavernous rear hatch. And the way the seats lay down flat. But the Mazda's performance is so much better!
Are there any reasonable mods that will improve the Matrix or any option packages that offer better performance? Or is this the price for 36mpg?
The toyota will usually be a little cheaper than the mazda, but the interior will also be less refined, and as you already noted, the performance is better for the mazda. it really comes down to money. i have been a fan of toyota's reliability and i have an XRS, so i also am getting some small amount of performance out of it as well.
__________________
2003 Matrix XRS-6MT-Black Sand Pearl-Castrol Syntec 0W30 European Formula
Mods - 18" Incubus Paranormal wrapped in Toyo Proxes4 - T-Max Style front body kit - Escort Passport 9500i...what a friend to have in the car - Part Time Mod Thule Roof Rack
Well, I guess I'm qualified to answer that, I have a Mazda 3 and my wife has a Matrix. In my opinion the Mazda wins hands down as far as fun to drive. The engine is much smoother and it handles a heck of a lot better (they both have the same tire, so the handling difference can't be attributed to that). Now with that said the ride is much stiffer and the road noise is louder than in the Matrix. My wife thinks the ride is to stiff so we always take her car on long vacations and such. So it really comes down what you want in a car, I'm happy with my Mazda and my wife's happy with her Matrix and that's what counts.
I'm curious micven55, do you have the 2.0 or the 2.3 engine in your Mazda3? That may make the difference in noise level, etc. if it is the 2.0l engine. And, you must be a Sens fan as well? We both live in city's with Sens hockey teams! Go Sens Go!
I've got the 2.3 hatchback, can't hold as much as the matrix but still holds a surprising amount of stuff. And yeah, I catch a Sens game every now and then, the Arena is only about a mile from where I live.
i say gti, ive test driven both the 3 and gti. loved the gti, drives real nice & smooth, better warrenty and safer too. my parents are buying the matrix from me and im planning on getting a new gti later this year
__________________
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
wow, I'm surprised to hear that the Mazda3 is noisier than the Matrix... we were looking at both but couldn't find a used/good Mazda3 w/ manual trans. at the time so we have a CPO '05 Matrix XRS that is working out well... though the road noise is an issue.
If the Mazda3 is even noisier than I guess we made the right call, I wouldn't want to live with any more road noise on a trip of any significant length than our XRS.
I don't find the XRS (which is not the smoothest car (shifting/ride/handling) lacking in pep for ordinary day to day driving (my points of comparison are a '73 911 and an Audi A6 Avant).
i have a 2003 XRS and what i have found for smoothing shifting and driving is to start in 2nd gear if you have any sort of forward momentum already. Also skip every other gear, so if you start in 1st, then go 1,3,5,6, or if you start in 2nd, then go 2,4,6. The other way to make shifting smoother if you dont want to skip gears is to shift faster. when shifting, the engine slows down faster than i typically shift up 1 gear, but when i do shift faster, that helps a little.
the only downside i see to the manual XRS is that 6th gear is geared lower than i care for. there are areas that i often drive with a speed limit of 70, and it would be nice to be below 3000 rpm to do that, because 6th gear is not an acceleration gear in these cars.
__________________
2003 Matrix XRS-6MT-Black Sand Pearl-Castrol Syntec 0W30 European Formula
Mods - 18" Incubus Paranormal wrapped in Toyo Proxes4 - T-Max Style front body kit - Escort Passport 9500i...what a friend to have in the car - Part Time Mod Thule Roof Rack
wow, I'm surprised to hear that the Mazda3 is noisier than the Matrix... we were looking at both but couldn't find a used/good Mazda3 w/ manual trans. at the time so we have a CPO '05 Matrix XRS that is working out well... though the road noise is an issue.
If the Mazda3 is even noisier than I guess we made the right call, I wouldn't want to live with any more road noise on a trip of any significant length than our XRS.
I don't find the XRS (which is not the smoothest car (shifting/ride/handling) lacking in pep for ordinary day to day driving (my points of comparison are a '73 911 and an Audi A6 Avant).
I've been in noisier cars. The mazda comes with very little sound insulation (lighter is better I guess) a lot of 3 owners are putting damplifier or fatmat or some other sound insulation in the car. A piece in each door and some on the floor of the hatch. It works wonders from what I hear (hopefully I'll get around to it this summer), plus the Goodyear RSAs are a big source of noise so this summer when they are worn out they'll get replace.
The car still puts a smile on my face, so it was the right choice for me.
i have a 2003 XRS and what i have found for smoothing shifting and driving is to start in 2nd gear if you have any sort of forward momentum already. Also skip every other gear, so if you start in 1st, then go 1,3,5,6, or if you start in 2nd, then go 2,4,6. The other way to make shifting smoother if you dont want to skip gears is to shift faster. when shifting, the engine slows down faster than i typically shift up 1 gear, but when i do shift faster, that helps a little.
the only downside i see to the manual XRS is that 6th gear is geared lower than i care for. there are areas that i often drive with a speed limit of 70, and it would be nice to be below 3000 rpm to do that, because 6th gear is not an acceleration gear in these cars.
yeah, I pretty quickly figured out that way works well on the XRS tranny... I'm used to it from old Saabs where we often shifted 1-3-5. On the XRS I'm often in 5th gear by 40mph and it's fairly tractable.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
- Part Time Mod Thule Roof Rack
Linear Mode
