Help! 08 XR Auto or 08 XR 5spd? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

124spider · 08-06-2008, 04:55 PM

Need to make a fairly quick decision...looking at two martrix XR's online...both certified. 5 spd with 10500 miles in charcoal, and an Automatic with 8100 miles in Indigo! The automatic is actually 400 bucks cheaper (I think I played my hand better) so its sort of a no-brainer as to which is the better deal.

But what would you prefer from a driveability/reliability standpoint (I like sticks, wife will rarely drive this car, but doesn't like manual if ever need be). I guess the auto will hold its value better?

Thanks especially for any quick replies!!!!!!!!!!!

TRXR4KDS · 08-07-2008, 09:16 AM

With a heavy weight Matrix, the manual should provide a huge difference from a standstill to highway speeds. Also a good time to tech the wife to drive stick or you'll be going through this for the rest of your life!

msphawkeye · 08-08-2008, 12:05 PM

if gas milage is important to you my 08 xrs manual transmission is getting about 32 in the city. i am so impressed with the gas milage. and that is only after about 6k. not sure how the autos compare with the gas milage. and i think in this day and age people are actually going to seek out manuals much more than they did in the past.

Smar969905 · 08-08-2008, 07:09 PM

i prefer the manual myself, but i have the 6 speed in an XRS. get the one you like better, because it will be you in it for daily driving, not the wifey.

124spider · 08-10-2008, 09:20 AM

I am happy to say I am the proud new owner of like new, (10,500 miles) certified charcoal metallic 2008 XR 5 spd!!!!!!!!!! Got it for a really good price (though I fell for purchasing the platinum warranty which pretty much extends the bumper to bumper out to 100K like the powertrain).

At any rate...I love it! Will post pix at some point...

XR2003 · 08-10-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 124spider

I am happy to say I am the proud new owner of like new, (10,500 miles) certified charcoal metallic 2008 XR 5 spd!!!!!!!!!! Got it for a really good price (though I fell for purchasing the platinum warranty which pretty much extends the bumper to bumper out to 100K like the powertrain).

At any rate...I love it! Will post pix at some point...

congrats....

use that warranty as needed, you'll be grateful just in case anything happens.

i hope you had a carfax report done to see if there has been any damage/repair work done.

Smar969905 · 08-10-2008, 12:47 PM

i got the extra warranty on my car and it has come in useful so far to replace the catalytic convertor and the deck so far.

124spider · 08-11-2008, 05:21 AM

Carfax was clear (not sure how absolutely worthy carfax is though when buying used from a dealer...an unscruplulous dealer can probably play some sort of hanky panky by not running the vin through the system if doing the work at their own body shop).

I am trying to decide if the car has a very slight drift to the left. I've noticed this on more than a few of the low mileage corolla's and matrix's that I have test driven. Funny thing though....I didn't seem to notice it on the very last leg of the trip I just took back to work(STL to DesMoines IA...about 420 miles). I'm sure it was not a "crown in the road" issue as I noticed it in most lanes in cluding the right one....Wind would typically be blowing from left to right (west to east( when travelling northward.

Our 08 Corolla S had this...we didn't notice it on the test drive, but did so on the drive home from purchasing in Chicago (to southern IL). Was fixed after two visits to a dealer.

So....I am starting to wonder if this is somewhat a common issue with this chassis/suspension? When we had the corolla worked on, the service manager alluded to the fact that they do see a bit cars in for this issue.....any insight from the collective here?

I may post this in the corolla area...or general tech as well.

Thanks!