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I did a 15-mile test drive in an S with 5MT before I bought an XLE auto. Compared to my '99 with 5MT, I didn't care for the '09 clutch and shifter. Clutch feel is too vague. Shifting is too imprecise and mushy. The 5MT setup in the '09 4-cyl Matrix felt far superior to me.
Making matters worse is the low gearing. The gears wind out too quickly. RPMs and engine noise are too high at highway speeds, plus the associated hit in MPG.
I didn't try the XRS since I wasn't interested in the bigger engine.
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