toyota matrix and mazda protege5

[Black_Celica]

is it me or are do theses cars look similar??? i dont know much about ethier but...what do you think what the diff with both??

[yota_racer]

The Matrix is cooler in my opinion. I really like the fact that it has 180hp 6-speed. ;) If I was a family man, I would buy one for sure. No ifs, ands, or buts.

[FriedRice]

when i was gonna go get a car, it was either the protege5 or the celica. my mom test drove 3 cars : protege in A/T, M/T, and celica in A/T.... my mom absolutely hated the protege suspension....the seats were unsupportive, and power was low (when gased, the rpm went straight to redline... not good) the interior felt pretty cheap (even more cheap than celica)..... since matrix is like an SUV-ish version of the celica, i'd take it over that......

matrix advantages: higher off the ground, toyota reliability, looks, more options to mix and match
protege5: lower to the ground, probably handling better, but not comfortable at all

das what they mean to me..... im sure some others feel the same way

[djm221]

Originally posted by yota_racer
The Matrix is cooler in my opinion. I really like the fact that it has 180hp 6-speed.
I disagree. The 2ZZ does not belong in this car. It's fine in the Celica, because it is a light weight sport compact car. The Matrix is more of a utility car with small car attraction. But if you are lugging anything around in it, aside from the fact it is already over 200lbs heavier than the Celica, it will just feel so sluggish. That car needs torque, not high revs. The ****ty suspension geometry doesn't thrill me either.
If I were to choose between the two, it would be very tough. I've never sat in either, and looks wise, they are both good looking IMO. Supposedly, the MP3 and MP5 have excellent handling, so they are fun to drive, they just lack the power. If I did get a Matrix, I would probably get the one with the 1ZZ, because like I said, the 2ZZ doesn't belong in that car. At least it is good for the Celica though, more aftermarket, maybe lower price (or at least more profit for Toyota), and maybe, a very slim maybe, Toyota would give the Celica another engine option to seperate it more from the pack.

[Novus]

Actually the 1zz might be the more appropriate model. At least from a performance standpoint. Considering the heavy work on 1zz turbos a 4wd matrix pushing ~200+ hp at the flywheel might be interesting. Depending on how the transmission works out. A lot of loss there considering it's A/T & 4wd, but hey it would be an interesting experiement. With the proper equipment and tuning it might even be fast. It's only a ~2700lbs vehicle and it only costs ~$18000 for 4wd. Another $10gs and you might be pushing 250+hp. Enough to catch a few people off guard at least. Of course for the expense you're pushing into the Evo7 and WRX STi territory of cost. Still, I'd give props to the guy who tried it. It's just not going to be me.

[djm221]

According to one mag article I read, I think C&D, about the AWD, they said it wasn't available on the for the 2ZZ because it couldn't handle the power. It's not full time AWD like the Subarus that split power 50/50. This AWD is not meant for offroad use, and it delivers, if I remember correctly, 100% of the power up front, unless they slip, then it goes 50/50. So, it is a chincy AWD system that would really only be good for snow, nothing like Subaru's AWD systems.

[Kit99bar]

so if you launch and the front tires slip the the rear tires get 50% of the power

then when you start moving, the power is all in the front wheels which is better for top end power

whats wrong there?

:fawk: :cool:

Originally posted by djm221
According to one mag article I read, I think C&D, about the AWD, they said it wasn't available on the for the 2ZZ because it couldn't handle the power. It's not full time AWD like the Subarus that split power 50/50. This AWD is not meant for offroad use, and it delivers, if I remember correctly, 100% of the power up front, unless they slip, then it goes 50/50. So, it is a chincy AWD system that would really only be good for snow, nothing like Subaru's AWD systems.

[Black_Celica]

thanks guys for talking and shareing your thoughts its really helping me choose! what do the think about a matrix with lowering kit???please continue to share your thoughts you guys got some nice opinons (sp)

[pinoyracer]

I would say the Matrix is more similar than the Pontiac Vibe, both of this cars are being made in the same manufacturing plant here in Calif.

http://www.toyota.com/images/main/home_matrix.gif
http://www.toyota.com/images/shop/vehicles/gallery/matrix/exterior/photo_1.jpg
http://www.pontiac.com/pontiacjsp/vibe/images/photo03_lg.jpg
http://www.pontiac.com/pontiacjsp/vibe/images/photo07_lg.jpg

[t2000gts]

the Pontiac Vibe IS the Toyota Matrix, just different sheetmetal.

BTW, the matrix, for it's 2700-2800lb. curb weight on the 2ZZ model, is pretty quick. the auto matrix 2ZZ is incredibly sluggish, btu the 6-speed, C&D got the same time out of, that they got out of their GTS. with a 91mph trap. so unless anyone here hates high revs (and since we all drive celicas...i doubt that), i don't see why you WOULDN'T want a matrix if you needed a more utilitarian car in that price range.

BTW, the mazda mp3 (protege mp3?) handles insanely well. i dunno how the matrix would hold up in a comparison, even though the matrix with the good tire option handled very very well for a hatch/wagon/suv/whateverthehellitis, the mp3 is supposed to slalom higher than a corvette or something similar. read that in either C&D or R&T or MT. one of those 3.

[Edison_Chen]

the protege5 is pretty nice

http://acera.homelinux.org/MP5/

[2002GT_Celica]

My mom almost got a Matrix, we even test drove a couple. Even the XR version is pretty responsive. Not a bad car at all. However, I have seen some heavily modded Protege 5's and I think they look really nice. Honestly though, if I had to pick one I would go with the Matrix for the slightly better engine and because I like the looks of the Matrix a lot better.

[redcellyinfl]

my springs made all the difference in the world, stock, the trix felt a little flimsy, but once i put my lowering springs, (eibach sportlines), handling is a totaly different story.. the head room inside the trix is alot more than the headroom in the protege 5, theyr both nice, i just went with the XRS becuz its alot faster, and its more rare to see an XRS than it is to see a Protege 5..