New NC 6-speed Driver

[Johnf514]

I don't blame ya - trust me, it's still in my Top 5 cars to choose from.

By the way, great avy! The Atom is one of the fastest cars out there.

[Smith]

Cool. I drive an '06 Matrix XR, 5 speed. I've heard the XRS has a higher redline

Smith - what's your impression of the XR? I'm considering getting a 2005 2WD 5-speed, any thoughts?

The matrix is very nice. The car is my dad's but i've been driving it for about 4 months now. My dad was considering getting the mazda 3 hatch, but he went for the matrix. My mom also owns an older matrix, i believe it is an '01, but it is automatic and it is not the XR. It's everything i'd expect from a hatchback plus more, and my dad said he'll probably sell it to me once the lease is up, so it looks like i'll be driving it for a while.

[jomotopia]

i really like my fiance's 05 Matrix XR even though it's an auto and feels slower than a snail to me (i think it's actually pretty quick for what it is but since i drive my car every day it feels sllllooooowwww). it's been very useful. lots of stuff in our house we would have had problems getting there without it. and it's a Toyota Corolla so you know it's gonna be reliable. the interior is also a lot nicer than i expected when we first went to look at it. the standard electrical plug in the XR is useful too, no need for a separate car charger for your cell phone and of course whatever else you want to run off it.

i still vote you get an Impreza though

[03MatrixXRS]

ah we have a XRS matrix driver I see Those are great cars! They're fast yet practical being a wagon. Say, does th XRS Matrix have folable back seats or are they fixed? Reason I ask is because teh XRS Corolla has a fixed back seat to increase body rigidity

Yes! BOTH of the back seats are foldable! And, there's a cupholder in the back of the one on the right side so if that one is down and someone is sitting in the left seat, then voila! I thought that was cool.

[03MatrixXRS]

**coughcoughmazda3hatchcough**
Ahem. Excuse me.

Just exploring my options. I do like the 3 hatch much better in terms of styling and power, but I like the XR in terms of economy and reliability.

I hear ya. Sometimes I can't help but throw in a plug.

*****yeah, i was checking that out****

[Nychold]

I never considered the Mazda 3 below the Mazdaspeed version, and the only for the sheer horsepower. But then, I really don't like "bubble-butt" hatchbacks. They just never look very good to me.

[cls12vg30]

Welcome to the board, XRS, what part of NC are you in?

[03MatrixXRS]

Welcome to the board, XRS, what part of NC are you in?

(sorry, been away driving and getting used to/recovering from it)

I'm in the Triad area--G'boro, W-S, H-P area.

[03MatrixXRS]

I thought I was ready for this.
Anyway, I'm still learning and driving at least 60 miles everyday total.
Clutch started "slipping," and we thought we needed an adjustment done.
We were informed that since my stuff is hydraulic, that it can't be "adjusted," but needs to be REPLACED.
To the tune of about $700.00 including labor.


I'm thinking since my driving is better than it was in December when I got the car, that this 'investment' is what it cost me to learn. That's when I'm trying to be optimistic.

Any and all comments and questions are welcome.....dammit.

[Nychold]

I thought I was ready for this.
Anyway, I'm still learning and driving at least 60 miles everyday total.
Clutch started "slipping," and we thought we needed an adjustment done.
We were informed that since my stuff is hydraulic, that it can't be "adjusted," but needs to be REPLACED.
To the tune of about $700.00 including labor.


I'm thinking since my driving is better than it was in December when I got the car, that this 'investment' is what it cost me to learn. That's when I'm trying to be optimistic.

Any and all comments and questions are welcome.....dammit.

If you're going to have to replace the clutch anyway, you may as well get a better or longer life clutch.

But yeah, I'm terrified of the day, when the car starts acting up and the mechanic says 'clutch is fried...' just because it is so damned expensive.

[jomotopia]

how many miles were on it when you bought it? i doubt you could completely fry it since December unless you were straight out abusing it. the clutch may have been close to the end of its life when you bought it. don't be too hard on yourself.

[PureLife]

I too would like to know how many miles it had on it.

As far as clutch replacements ... gotta pay to play.

[03MatrixXRS]

when i bought it there were 81500 miles on it. we figured that between the years passing (4 years), the former driver probably driving the hell outta it (there were no accidents or major issues reported other than a minor fender bender one month after the previous owner bought it), and me 'learning' how to drive it with all my mistakes (one being riding about a mile before i realized the handbrake wasn't all the way down---I thought something didn't feel right)--the car is ready for a new Toyota built clutch.
Figured the previous owner just traded the car in instead of replacing the clutch. A local Toyota mechanic said he'd been working on Toyota's for a long time and had never had to replace a 2003 Matrix clutch (which, of course, made me feel better). I told him I was a first time manual driver and he said "...ahh, say no more..."

I knew I would have to do this, but just not this soon....

the $700.00 will DEFINITELY make me remember why I'm trying to drive the way I am (and I'm actually better....huh, I better be, right?)

[eaglecatcher]

hey, welcome! nice to have another girl aboard

Hey, cool beans!

i know...except for the fact i drive auto...but i know how to drive stick...so i stick around.

there are a few other girls on here...they haven't been around lately
tobigooddog,
ironichumour
missesm
and a few otheres i forgot about

ironic has like completely deserted this place.

[Warner]

I second Jomo's vote for the impreza. Nice price, nice looks, great handling and speed for the price, and AWD!!!