Ive got 5k to spend on a reliable commuter car, strongly considering a Toyota Matrix in Manual.
Im really loving the rear collapsing seats and the hard plastic covers which means ill be able to nap in it and store some tools without worrying about fucking anything up.
Pros/Cons to the Matrix?
Also how common is the 2ZZ(?) oil burning issue?
I think thats the engine to avoid right?
AWD would be cool but id rather sacrifice some weight for better MPGs.
>>13835349
Early 1zz and 2zz
The only matrix with 2zz is the XRS I think
The rest were 1zz.
Not sure on years to avoid
>>13835349
The 2ZZ was only available in the Matrix XRS, Pontiac Vibe GT (the Matrix's sister car), Lotus Elise/Exige, Toyota Celica GTS, and Toyota Corolla XRS
All normal Matrix's, Vibe's, Corolla's, and Celica's got the 1ZZ.
Also, ironic fact: The Matrix was American market only. The Pontiac Vibe sister car was sold in Japan instead of the Matrix as the Toyota Voltz.
>>13835349
I own one with 310,000k km and am using it for a winter beater, it's surprisingly quick but don't expect too much
>>13835417
This. it's reliable and it's toyota. It will get shit done when you want to get shit done and it will only need a little from you. if it's too slow for you, there is a TRD supercharger kit that can get you close to 200 if you tune it right
>>13835392
So the 2ZZ had the fucked up rings problem then right?
>>13835417
Ive driven my friends base model A/T Matrix and holy shit it was gutless.
To be fair though he doesnt maintain it at all though.
Just looking for a reliable car, ill save the hooning for my truck
>>13835462
I own an xr
I recently had to rebuild the transmission because a bearing snapped in half, DIY was 300.
>>13835484
Im the 310k km guy tho so at that there's some expected maintenance
>>13835484
Am i wrong to assume yours is Manual?
Also how durable are the rear seat plastics?
And can the rearseats be made to fold all the way down if i remove the headrests?
Napping in this car is a top priority.
>>13835699
dubs checked
>>13835753
>dubs
Please stay on topic
>>13835699
Yes it's manual.
The owner before me abused the shit out of it.
The rear is really good desu, I throw tons of shit in the back and there are a few scratches here and there but no major cracks other than on the rear hatch (plastic on the inside)
5 grand seems a bit much depending on the km, like 200,000k km for 2-3grand is a bit more reasonable to look for
>>13835699
O yea and the sleeping shit, ummmm, yeah the rear seats go completely flat if you move the front seats up a bit
>>13835349
My mom drives a Pontiac Vibe, which sounds less-than-promising but I got to borrow it while house-sitting a few times and it's actually a great car. Zippy little DOHC motor, slushbox doesn't get in the way too much, tons of usable space, doesn't feel like a land yacht, great on gas.
ONLY downside is that the blind spots are massive. Get spotter mirrors and learn to use em. Also her ECU blew up once, thankfully it was under warranty.
The matrix XR and Vibe GT sound like enjoyable, cheap, reliable cars.
I had a chance to buy one, but I passed on it
>friend had an 04 GT with 160k
>some rust and dents, nothing terrible on the outside
>new tires and clutch
>"oh yeah it has a knock, $1500"
>"it just needs a new timing belt"
>was not willing to dive into engine work
>sold it for $1000 to some guy off of CL
I could have had it running for $4k if I got it for 1k and dumped 3k into a newer engine.
I have a Corolla with the 2zz, it's really fun to wind it out to 8000 rpm. If you want to have a bit if fun id go with the 2zz, but if you want something very easy to work on I'd go with the 1zz.
>>13836169
Im just worried about the oil burning issue.
Gonna do more research and see how to prevent that, also need to find a Matrix that doesnt have 200k+ miles on it
>>13837521
OP I just bought an AWD xr, no manual but it's kinda slow desu but I get 30 mpg to/from work with some shit traffic. I don't drive like an ass and zip through traffic I just kinda cruise.
I'd stay away from the 03 through the 05 manuals because they tend to shit the bed early because because of a weak bearing or something. (they used the corolla manual transmission and didn't account for the Matrix's extra pig fat). I test drove a manual one and it was zippy compared to my car but it has no low end torque so it's pretty shit to get rolling, you literally have to floor it to prevent it from stalling.
Cargo space is fucking nice, I can fit my kayak in it if I open the back window and drop the front passenger seat, I haven't tried yet but you should be able to sleep in the back.
Anything else just ask me senpai.
>>13837521
I haven't heard of any oil burning issues, but have a look at the Toyota nation forums.
>>13837869
Aw yisss, this is more of the kind of info i need, thank you Anon.
Well manual isnt a top priority, id be fine with an A/T since i am jammed up in traffic for up to 3 hours sometimes in the afternoon.
Does the A/T suffer through those years?
>>13838282
Its something i kept seeing pop up on different forums, mostly in Celicas and those use the 2ZZ too.
Ill have to look around again.
>>13839491
The auto isn't bad, it's just, a normal auto. It doesn't shift hard and it's an 03 with about 70k on it.
I do have to turn overdrive off if I wanna pass somebody at highway speeds.
>>13839966
>70k
Fuckkk, most im finding for 5k and under are in the 180-220k mile range.
Im just trying to find something under the 130k mark
>>13840055
We're u at?
>>13840107
Maybe I'll sell u mine....
Was going to wait til spring as I have winter tires on it
04
Auto XR
150ish
New engine with 40k on it
Light blue
I think it's a great DD
Hated the shape when we got it but I had grown on me alot
Me and the wife want something newer
And now we gots monies
I'm not OP but I'm gonna go ahead and ask.
How much of a special snowflake is the 2ZZ? I'm looking to buy a celica and I'm split between getting an GT vs GTS. So basically 1ZZ vs 2ZZ
>>13835349
2ZZ IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF SHIT EVER. THE OIL PUMPS ARE SHIT!
>>13835392
>2ZZ was only available in the Matrix XRS, Pontiac Vibe GT
that isnt true i have a pontiac vibe non GT with this motor
>>13840179
Pics?
>>13840126
The 2zz is a high compression engine pushing 180 hp. It needs premium fuel. It has a cam switch over from 6k+ rpm. Over all the maintenance is not very difficult, but you will have a tighter engine bay compared to the simpler 1zz. The later the model year you could find the better.
>>13840216
So what's the thing about the oil pump problem?
>>13840308
If you overrev the engine (miss shift) the oil pump will most likely explode.
>>13840451
Could that still happen in the sport shift mode with an automatic
>>13840617
No, the computer wouldn't let you.
>>13840055
Oh yah forgot to attack a picture
>>13841038
why would you do that anon?
what has the picture done to you?
Its a shittier version of the Corolla? 1ZZ corollas have larger engine bays(Matrix has no engine space). Not only that but the Matrix weighs about 1,000lbs more as well...
>>13841083
surprise, its a corolla with a topper
>>13841106
It managed to make the nimble Corolla into a colossal unreliable turd
>atuomatics are terrible
>no space engine bay
>>13841083
It's only a hundred to five hundred pounds heavier.
It's a corolla that has more cargo space with an AWD option. It was never meant to be fast.
>>13841115
>i can put seven unchopped hooker bodies in the rear
>>13841132
>five hundred pounds heavier.
3200lbs for the matrix
2400lbs for the corolla with the 1zz and 2200lbs for the 4ag
>AWD option.
You mean the piece of shit that calls itself 'awfd'? Only came in the 4 speed automatics that were meant for the corolla
>2003
Majority of them from that year are pieces of shit and the reason why they are so rare on the street
>>13840107
California
>>13840123
Lol how much?
>>13841038
Not bad.
The shape isnt the best but its also not the worst, its a very "plain" looking car, i like it
>>13841198
Sorry for late post, was stuck in traffic.
2 1/2 hours :/
>>13841198
I'm in WV so nvm :>}
>>13841322
Dont tempt me with a totally dumb, reckless, and unnecessary roadtrip, anon.
>>13835349
It is one of the cheapest, chinciest cars you can buy. Everything screams cost cutting. A disgustingly overrated penalty box.
>>13835915
Toyota ZZ engines use a timing belt.
pic related
>>13840179
1ZZ and 2ZZ are both 1.8L so it's easy to confuse them. The 2ZZ will say "VVTL-i" on it while the 1ZZ will say "VVT-i"
Also, IIRC, the 2ZZ came only with a 6 speed manual while the 1ZZ came with either a 4 speed automatic or a 5 speed manual.
Also, the 2ZZ was FWD only, so if you have the AWD, congratulations, you have a 1ZZ!
>>13842226
>Toyota ZZ engines use a timing belt.
CHAIN
Holy shit I can't type.
>>13835915
>>13842226
Yeah, they're great and dependable. Lots of fun, very sensible cant beat Toyota quality.
>http://www.toyotaproblems.com/trends/excessive-oil-consumption/
>https://gripevine.com/gripe/all-toyotas-burn-engine-oil-and-burning-1-litre-engine-oil-1000-kms-normal-20688388
>https://www.bigclassaction.com/lawsuit/toyota-faces-oil-defect-class-action-lawsuit-toyota.php
>>13835891
>>13837869
>>13840451
>>13841083
>blind spots
>bearings
>no torque
>oil pumps
>cramped engine bay
well, know we know why the second gen got a new engine and no sportier version. Did a few too many things wrong, had to start from scratch, then got outsold by Mazda I guess.
I really wanted to like these, but I guess I'll cross at least the first gen off my list of future possibles. Damn.
>>13843202
>well, know we know why the second gen got a new engine and no sportier version.
Well, there was the 2.4L XRS and GT that was available for a while
>>13843263
In the U.S., only for the first two years. XRS trim dropped for the last 4 years of the vehicle's production. And I'm guessing most people will say the Mazda 3 stacks up better against this one.
I have one, been driving it every day for a year, over 200k on it now.
>pros
cheap
cheap on gas
cheap to fix
reliable
comfortable
roomy inside, small outside
practical
carries a lot of stuff and people
quiet enough inside and out
no big blindspots/giant pillars
>cons
The little sunshade thing is too small so bring sunglasses
That's honestly it. This is the perfect point-A-to-point-B-with-your-people-and-stuff appliance.
You can often get the Pontiac Vibe, which is exactly the same car, for cheaper. Bonus points: the 2003-2008 model has plastic moulding so if you live where there is snow you won't end up with tons of rust spots.
>>13842257
I only read the last article but an excerpt
>2009 Toyota Matrix
>The defect is found on 2AZ-FE engines
'04 Matrix XR
>>13843954
>http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/131-8th-generation-1998-2002/235960-solution-oil-dissappearing-1zzfe-engine-20.html
"
These Corolla 1.8 aluminum engines are infamous for burning oil like crazy, I’m on my second one and same thing happened to both. Gotta add half a quart every week, and forget about the light stuff, it’ll go thru it like water."
