2008 Toyota Matrix Base 5-Spd MT

Pros

Good Fuel Economy, A lot of storage, Seats fold down to carry longer pieces of cargo

Cons

Factory Tires Wear Down Fast (Within 1 year of purchase)

I read a lot of review about the Vibe. A lot of people said it's better to get the Vibe instead of the Matrix, because the Vibe is cheaper. I disagree. Toyota has a reputation for quality. GM carbon copied the interior of the Matrix. Pontiac isn't know for building good cars, or quality. You always get what you paid for and I will choose a Toyota Car over a GM made Car any day. Now trucks are another story for another post....read morehide

Pros

More roomy and stable than the Yaris at about the same price and MPG rating.

Cons

Haven't found one yet!

This is the perfect dog-owner's car!! I bought mine when my wife and I moved to San Diego last fall. We have two small dogs that love to go to the beach. Problem was my wife was not a fan of putting the wet sandy dogs back into her car for the ride home. I decided to buy an economical inexpensive commuter car specifically taylored for our beach outings. My requirements were 30+ MPG, a manual tranmission, rear seat that folded completely flat, visibility that allowed the dogs to look out the window from a seated position, and a cash price of less than $15k. I knew I needed some type of wagon, hatchback, or crossover. After much internet research, I went to the Toyota dealer and told them I wanted to buy a Yaris. Usually I don't test drive a new car before I buy it. This helps eliminate the emotional attachment during the price negotiations. My dealership refused to sell me the car unless I drove it. So to appease them I took the Yaris for a spin and boy, am I glad I did! It was horrible!! I know its an entry level economy car, but it was very unstable on the road. You could hear and feel even the slightest bumb in the road. But the car still met my requirements -- almost. The rear seat didn't quite fold flat and the closest manual transmission Yaris was 250 miles away. The saleman suggested I try the Matrix and what a difference! Ride is far superior and it actually feels like a car, not a gocart and it gets about the same gas mileage as the Yaris. The rear seat of the Matrix folds flat and the five door hatchback of the Matrix makes rear compartment access much easier than the 3 doors on the Yaris. Because they had a one in inventory and I was a cash buyer, I got it for about $14k. I bought a rubber pick-up bed liner from Pep Boys and trimmed it to fit the back of my Matrix. Then I added a pet barrier right behind the front seats. Now we go to the beach several times a week and the dogs can get as dirty as they want. When we get home, a wisk broom removes all the sand and I can remove the bed mat and hose it down for big messes. I've never had the rear seats in the upright position since I bought it. If you're the owner of a dog that loves the great outdoors, this is definitely the car for you. Don't forget to splurge on the $80 bed liner to cover the hard plastic on the back of the seats -- it keep the dogs from sliding around in the back and makes them feel more secure....read morehide

Pros

decent fuel economy, perky acceleration, good headroom, plus both rear seats fold flat for storage.

Cons

brakes sensitive, rides noisy, not enough standard options, cover for "trunk area" flimsy

good value, but not a luxury car for sure. stereo is decent, seats are comfy, easy to drive. No anti slip brakes, or automatic mirror adjustors as standard options. Needs more standard options like other cars.