Well ok not sure where this thread will lead. But I was browsing around the local auto mall on Saturday. Came across the 03 6spd Toyota Matrix XRS with the celica motor. I ended up driving away with a new red one.

The coupe was my first MB and I felt in the long term I just wasn't going to get the reliability I needed.

I hope you guys don't mind if I stick around. I love all the car conversation.


Benzo

 

do all the matrix's come with that engine??

how does it ride?

 

No, only the top end model comes with the Celica motor. The others have the corolla motor.

It handles great, it sits on 17"s from the factory.

 

So, what's going to happen to the ccoupe?

Well, as long as you don't put up any advertisments in your sig, you'll always be welcome.

That would mean that we'd have you AND dasmafia coming in to dis Benz cars? It was bad enough with just him! Hope that the Matrix is as trouble-free as you hope. That doesn't come with 4wd, right? Seems weird that they offer the 4wd with only the lower engine. It is a nice car, though.

 

I traded the Coupe. yes the awd only comes on the smaller engine. I am sure that has something to do with the celica coming out in awd. They probably don't want to screw those sales up.

 

.

 

Please stick around! Enjoy the Matrix!

Cheers,

Beth

 

A much different look compared w/ the C230, no? Good luck with your new choice!

A guy I knew at work drove a Corvette. Decided to get rid of that an buy an M-B SLK230. Had that 6 months and decided the seats were too hard on long trips and ride was too rough. Had his sights on a new Camry Solara convertible -- thought that would be cool. Then came to his senses and realized it wasn't really the right class or image. Ended up with a used 300ZX. Oh well, to each his own!

 

Yes a very different look. I have owned a few coupes and always miss the loss of the four doors.

After as many cars as I have owned I tend to vary my styles quite often.

 

Jokes, I was trying to convince my GF to get the Matrix XRS instead of an Audi TT. The TT was out of her budget, and she didn't like the Matrix XRS. Then she discovered the C230K and fell and love with it and said "Thank god I didn't get the Matrix, I would've regretted it".

The Matrix is DEFINITELY a neat car with good power at a VERY LOW price. The cool part is that it's made in ONTARIO which means that the quality will be good since Canadian auto workers are more skilled than U.S. Auto Workers. =)

 

The 6spd is typically tight japanese quality and I love the fact that the shifter is rally style out of the dash. Feels really natural and quick.

 

how does it feel to drive that... i have been meaning to go TD the civic SI just for the shifter....

 

Nice car. Have you made and appointment at CST for two tone leather?

 

haha it's in the works allready. You guys know me to well.

I am planning on grey or black with red inserts.

 

Wow, Benzo, that sounds beautiful!

Despite the fact this is an MB board....please post pictures.

Beth

 

Thought about looking at those and then decided the styling would become dated in a couple of years. Hope not, for your sake. But it reminds me of what Mazda is doing with the Protege MX5 ? Sort of like a hybrid wagon/suv. Can't tell if that is just the japanese style a la mode or what. If you are keeping it for the long run, though, should work fine. Of course, if the Coupe doesn't work in the US, I'll be keeping mine for a long time as the resale would be like the 318ti. Hope not, for our sake.

 

I sold a 1995 318ti in Jan 2002 for $9500 with 91,000 miles on the odometer to a private party. I purchased it new in Oct 1995 for $23,000 even, better than 40% return. Pretty good resale value of a 6+ year old car if you ask me. Supply must have been low and demand high. Also, my buyer waited for the car for about 10 weeks while I waited for delivery of my new C230K. If you own a C230K, hope they don't sell too well - it props up the used market based on my 318ti experience.

 

Good to know as that was my biggest fear of buying the coupe - that MB would discontinue it in the USA. Europeans seems to like hatches but we don't like 'em half as much.

 

Is the new 325ti available in the US yet? I heard it's only 20k. That will hurt coupe sales with it's new 1.8L motor. Too bad the local BMW dealer doesn't do loaners and free car washes.

 

I don't know for sure how they work but I guess it depends on the individual dealer's policy. The dealer I got the Z3 from they offered me free loaner when it was a repair under warranty. Granted only have 2 problems in the past 5 years.

First was the excessive wear of the soft top where they replace a brand new top (within the the first 6 months of the car), then there was the fuel gauge problem (jumps to empty sometimes: sounds familiar? ). Replaced and since then no other problem.

I really hope that BMW will bring the 325ti over here. I have always like either two-seater coupe/convertible or hatchbacks. I guess because I didn't grow up in US so I don't think hatchbacks look cheap.

One of the reason I shy away from the 325ci.

 

SOOOOOOO,

the decision over a car, BMW 325ti v. MB C230, hinges on free car washes?

Probably makes sense in some places.

But hopefully that is not the deciding factor.

Even though I've heard that some people in Dallas only buy a Lexus because Roger Sewell's people (the dealer) kisses every customer's butt any way they want.

 

One of the reasons I'm buying a Benz is the loaner car, which is policy for MB. When I wrote both Audi and BMW, they replied with the same type of response. The company does not have a policy of providing loaners. It is up to the individual dealership as to whether or not they wish to provide their customer with a loaner vehicle.

Last I heard, BMW hasn't made a decision about sending the new hatch to the States. If there has been a change, I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

As far as I know, BMW has no plans to bring in a ti of any kind. If anything, they want to bring in a smaller 2 or even 1 series for around $20k, but this model will have price/performance/size ratios more suited to compete with Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics. I'd bet they probably studied and found that those that bought 318ti's were ripe to fork over for a 318i or 318is when the 318ti hit the scene at $5k cheaper, losing out on sales of thier own pricier sedans and coupes. Lesson learned; If they go down market, they need to protect sales of vehicles up their own line.

MB took a dangerous step in my opinion for MY2002, offering a c-coupe in a newer c-class chassis and a back seat for $10k cheaper than the SLK230 with the same engine. Realizing they were offering too much value, the coupe gets a smaller, less torquey and less expensive to produce, 1.8liter for 2003.

Sales of the 318ti steadily dropped once the novelty wore off and prices increased for the same car year to year. If MB offers less car at higher prices, which is what I would expect them to do, c-coupe sales will drop until they stop importing them altogether. With fewer c-coupes out there on the used market, resale value should be substantial.

 

Took delivery of our XRS Matrix (automatic, Titanium Met.) last week of February and love it!

Was surprised just how much attention the car gets. Now that I have 4,000+ Kms on it, it is a surprising agile little wagon.

 

No, not just free car washes but loaner cars and free maintenance. Brand means nothing to me except for the few I will absolutely not buy like Nissan/Infiniti. If Subaru/Audi/BMW offered these services I might be driving one of those. There's lots of cars that appeal to me more than the C230, just none that appeal to me more and also offer the car washes, free 4 yr maint. and loaners.