Topic: Test Drive: 2011 Toyota Matrix S

[dirtyjeffer]

i don't get all the hate...it wouldn't be my first choice in the class, although we considered one prior to getting the ET...while it lacks the features and "style" most of its competitors offer, it is still a good car.

[Frontier1]

i don't get all the hate...it wouldn't be my first choice in the class, although we considered one prior to getting the ET...while it lacks the features and "style" most of its competitors offer, it is still a good car.

If I'm gonna lay that kind of money, I don't want it to lack features and style knowing I can get better for less. 

[dirtyjeffer]

If I'm gonna lay that kind of money, I don't want it to lack features and style knowing I can get better for less. 

i don't disagree, as i chose the ET over it as well...however, that doesn't mean the Matrix is crap...it's still a decent car.

[bridgecity]

No we are not forced to read the article, but we come here every morning to see if there is anything exciting developping, something cool, hot whatever.....no we get get a f....toaster.

OK, we get it.  Its a Toyota, you hate it.  Like others have said, you don't need to read about the f....toaster. 

[paul246]

The whiners are the ones that won't buy a car with bun warmers...I don't really want to read the same article 3 times either. I do not consider constructive criticism to be 'whining', it's an integral part of improvement.

Hey, I'm sure we'd all like to see some different reviews, and not the same cars over and over.  But as airbalancer said, no one is forced to read these articles.  I'm assuming that the reviewers don't get much choice in what cars they review - they likely get what they get.  Or is that mistaken?  So if for some reason Toyota continues to send Matrices for review (I don't know why they would either...) then that's what the reviewers get to review.  This isn't insideline where they (sometimes) buy a car and use it for a long-term review.

As for the "advertorial" comment - I think it's really writer-dependent.  Chris, James, and Jill have all called a car out in their reviews when it was warranted (eg this Matrix review!)  I'm not so sure about the other reviewers.  That's why I go to autos.ca and stopped reading from auto123 - now those folks specialize in advertorials.

No we are not forced to read the article, but we come here every morning to see if there is anything exciting developping, something cool, hot whatever.....no we get get a f....toaster.

...and this is coming from someone that drives a Nissan Juoke??? 

[dirtyjeffer]

the Juke is a fun little vehicle...i test drove one about 8 months ago and really liked it...unfortunately, it was just too small to be practical for my needs...but if you don't need a lot of space, it would be a definite contender for top choice...well equipped, lots of great features, interesting looks (likely a love it or hate it thing).

[Frontier1]

The whiners are the ones that won't buy a car with bun warmers...I don't really want to read the same article 3 times either. I do not consider constructive criticism to be 'whining', it's an integral part of improvement.

Hey, I'm sure we'd all like to see some different reviews, and not the same cars over and over.  But as airbalancer said, no one is forced to read these articles.  I'm assuming that the reviewers don't get much choice in what cars they review - they likely get what they get.  Or is that mistaken?  So if for some reason Toyota continues to send Matrices for review (I don't know why they would either...) then that's what the reviewers get to review.  This isn't insideline where they (sometimes) buy a car and use it for a long-term review.

As for the "advertorial" comment - I think it's really writer-dependent.  Chris, James, and Jill have all called a car out in their reviews when it was warranted (eg this Matrix review!)  I'm not so sure about the other reviewers.  That's why I go to autos.ca and stopped reading from auto123 - now those folks specialize in advertorials.

No we are not forced to read the article, but we come here every morning to see if there is anything exciting developping, something cool, hot whatever.....no we get get a f....toaster.

...and this is coming from someone that drives a Nissan Juoke??? 

Your comment is really irrelevant plus I did not even mention the Juke, and Wing already drove one so we don't need another article on the Juke.  But go drive one:) the day Toyota makes something that much fun they will be applauded.

[Frontier1]

No we are not forced to read the article, but we come here every morning to see if there is anything exciting developping, something cool, hot whatever.....no we get get a f....toaster.

OK, we get it.  Its a Toyota, you hate it.  Like others have said, you don't need to read about the f....toaster. 

Open your eyes man, it's all we read about, let's start reviewing GM in doubles every 2 weeks and will see how much barking will go on here.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Grant, Chris and James are all in Ottawa
 the car goes all 3 for review within weeks of each other
So do you want them to wait a month between each  reviews?

[bridgecity]

No we are not forced to read the article, but we come here every morning to see if there is anything exciting developping, something cool, hot whatever.....no we get get a f....toaster.

OK, we get it.  Its a Toyota, you hate it.  Like others have said, you don't need to read about the f....toaster. 

Open your eyes man, it's all we read about, let's start reviewing GM in doubles every 2 weeks and will see how much barking will go on here.

Do I have to state it again?  Then don't read it.  It has been stated on this forum multiple times that the reviewers don't choose the vehicles they review.  They review what they are given.  And when those people start barking about multiple GM reviews, I'll criticize them too  . 

[Frontier1]

As redman said "advertorial", I say "infomercial" same dif.  This site no longer has it's original purpose, oh well....

[Vanstar]

The Matrix is an excellent appliance, no doubt very reliable. For this reason, it would make a much better used buy.

[chrischasescars]

The whiners are the ones that won't buy a car with bun warmers...I don't really want to read the same article 3 times either. I do not consider constructive criticism to be 'whining', it's an integral part of improvement.

Hey, I'm sure we'd all like to see some different reviews, and not the same cars over and over.  But as airbalancer said, no one is forced to read these articles.  I'm assuming that the reviewers don't get much choice in what cars they review - they likely get what they get.  Or is that mistaken?  So if for some reason Toyota continues to send Matrices for review (I don't know why they would either...) then that's what the reviewers get to review.  This isn't insideline where they (sometimes) buy a car and use it for a long-term review.

As for the "advertorial" comment - I think it's really writer-dependent.  Chris, James, and Jill have all called a car out in their reviews when it was warranted (eg this Matrix review!)  I'm not so sure about the other reviewers.  That's why I go to autos.ca and stopped reading from auto123 - now those folks specialize in advertorials.

No we are not forced to read the article, but we come here every morning to see if there is anything exciting developping, something cool, hot whatever.....no we get get a f....toaster.

We review cars here. The car mfgs send us cars to review, and, because we review cars here, we review the cars the car mfgs send us. Can I make it any clearer, for the thousandth time?

Toyota isn't the only carmaker who sends us the same model each year, in order to "show off" the year-to-year changes they've made to the car. We are a consumer-oriented publication, not an enthusiast-biased one. If we start saying no to the cars that aren't "cool/hot," they'll stop sending us vehicle altogether, and then we're out of business cos we have nothing to write about. If that happens and I lose my job, I tell you what - I'll swing by your house and sleep in the backseat of your Juke.

You don't like car, don't read the review. As far as the advertorial/informercial comment, you're not reading the articles if you think we're publishing advertorials. I bet you wouldn't have much bad to say about my not-entirely-negative review of "your" car: http://www.autos.ca/car-test-drives/test-drive-2011-nissan-juke-sl-awd

[johngenx]

We review cars here. The car mfgs send us cars to review, and, because we review cars here, we review the cars the car mfgs send us. Can I make it any clearer, for the thousandth time...

...If that happens and I lose my job, I tell you what - I'll swing by your house and sleep in the backseat of your Juke...

 

Don't worry Chris, 99% of the folks around here understand.  Just don't expect brand-specific haters to stop whining...

[dkerr24]

I had always assumed that all the Matrix reviews were because the Matrix is built in Canada?  Either way, it is a vehicle that is long in the tooth and in desperate need of a complete reboot.  A 4 speed automatic?  Get real.

I understand the need to review what is shipped to testers for review, and sometimes I gotta laugh at some of the +$100K cars reviewed on edmunds.com.  The types of cars you don't even see on the street, let alone actually would dare drive on public roads.

Back to the subject, I owned a 2003 Matrix XR, and found it to be reliable and economical.  Would I buy another one today?  No, there are many far better cars out there for less money.  I ended up going a complete different direction and bought a '11 Ram 1500 Hemi.  I can haul/tow stuff I never imagined in the Matrix.

[conwelpic]

the 2012 year could be the last for the Matrix

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/reviews/end-of-the-road-for-toyota-matrix/article2146177/