Help me find a DD!

[R.E.M.]

No, not THOSE DDs...

I'm drowning in maintenance in the 60 and need to park it.

$5000 limit.

I've thought about an 80, but the boss wouldn't approve. Looking for something more road worthy and keeping it stock. No pickup either.

To give you an idea I'm considering:
RX300
Subaru
Matrix
VW (not as seriously)

AWD a plus, and if it came with a manual transmission I would want it.

Any ideas? Leads? Thanks!

 

[rockstate45]

I have the exact vehicle you're NOT looking for that I'm trying to sell, but it's probably worth a plug anyway (anybody want it?) 2007 Toyota Tundra????

Aside from that, Subaru could have a fun option in the WRX or the WRX hatchback. My buddy has one and it's a blast to drive and ride in. Handles well and of course it has the AWD that everyone talks about. I'd probably stay away from a German vehicle unless you like more maintenance.

 

[2fpower]

Erik has put a ton of miles on his Matrix.

 

[R.E.M.]

What should an LX450 with 230k look like and run like?

 

[kc_chevota]

mine looks good and runs great

 

[CrowleyFJ40]

Erik has put a ton of miles on his Matrix.

And it will fit an FJ40 firewall in the back and you can still close the hatch!

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

I love my matrix.. paid next to nothing for it.. maint is simple.. has 110v in the dash, can hold half a landcruiser in the back. dog loves it.. seats go flat.. VERY utilitarian.. much like a baby FJ60.. I get 30mpg almost ALWAYS.. 34 on roadtrips.. it burns a little oil but all 1zzfe's do that since the oil control rings burn it and toyota didn't put extra drain holes in the pistons.. I am not nice to it either.. BUT.. if it died.. i'd probably be looking at the Imprezza hatchback with awd and the same mileage.. The matrix AWD mpg goes down to 18.. at 18mpg I'll drive Jenn's highlander.. WHich by the way is a great vehicle..
I've put over 100k on my matrix.. approx 5k every 3 months on our vehicles.. it's currently at 220000 or so?
I've done belts, water pump, idler bearing and an o2 sensor extension due to a fuel mapping issue.. It killed one o2 sensor. and an intake gasket.. the intake gasket took me longer to find the tools than to fix.. It killed an AC solenoid, which was the same as the horn relay.. simple fix.. the stock radio was a gm thing and the button wore off.. simple fix..
I have the basic 1zzfe matrix xr with an auto.. slush box is a bit slower than a stick but i live in traffic..
I do have a set of snow tires i swap at thanksgiving since i don't have awd.. and it keeps em rotated..
I would LOve a wrx hatch but can't justify 18mpg..
the pontiac vibe is a matrix with some GM electronics.. which is possibly a cheaper option since well.. pontiac kinda went the way of the dodo..

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

One nice thing i like.. and can imagine the stick would be the same in the matrix.. if you rest your hand on the shifter you can reach the stereo.. yeah.. it's an ergonomics thing for me but i'm a channel surfer sometimes in traffic and most of my cars have been the same.. just move your finger up to hit the stereo.. my Prelude, Integra GSR,were, and the matrix is like that..

 

[cjmoon]

Boss as in the home front "secretary of war"...

I've always liked having a second vehicle and now that my cruiser is a DD/toy and not just a toy. I don't need the 4wd HD truck as a
DD it's to similar.

I'll be looking at mid 2000 suby outbacks if I ever get what I want out of my truck. I like different so I don't get bored with to much of the same thing.

It just seems like I have a fondness for vehicles that like to eat HG'S. And the suby has a cult like following like cruiser owners and tons of writeups on the forums.

That's my .02

Sent from my SM-G900V

 

[R.E.M.]

Very good info. It seems like I can't go wrong with either the matrix or Subaru. And it sounds like Erik knows way too much about Matrixes (Matrices??).

No opinions on the RX?

 

[cjmoon]

When my wife and I where looking at suvs for her the rx was the smallest we looked at. felt very small but they drive very nice and fast for its size. They have cam bearing issues that leads to valve issues and oil consumption i believe it is. I never researched it far enough to really understand the issue or fix but I'm sure there is. My wife had an es300 had 210000 when we traded in on a highlander

The matrix will prabably be the best bang for your buck for lower miles vs cost.

Sent from my SM-G900V

 

[1MAC]

My mom has a 2006 RX and loves it. It's been a great vehicle for her, but I can't get the seat back far enough to drive it comfortably. I'm only 6 feet tall and have plenty of legroom in most vehicles.
Have you thought about the little Mazda hatch? Seems like everybody who has one loves it.

 

[cjmoon]

not that i'm really helping you find a specific car... you should add Pontiac Vibe on the list. it's made by Toyota as a joint venture. my co worker was told to go to toyota for service... all toyota under the hood. there may be some good value with a brand that is out of business but still have factory Toyota service and parts

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

haven't done much research on the mazda.. i know their larger hatch/suv has a turbo on it which can kill it and eats gas.. I do like how they appear to be smiling all the time..
the highlander is great but doesn't get the mileage needed for me. Jenn drives hers daily and i think we're at about 290000 on it?

Yeah i know a bit about the matrix.. it's a corolla so pretty easy to figure out.. One weird issue on the matrix, which i have since figured out is it squeals like a pig in the wind.. the windshield gasket along the A pillar has a slight curve to guide rain down the windshield. Well.. it also acts as a whistle in high wind driving. Annoys Sage and Colin more than me (they drove it back from Kentucky whistling) but i did figure it out with painters tape on a road trip. A touch of black RTV in the channel and voila.. fixed..

YOu know you can also find a prius in that price range.. i have always wanted to try one out but just never jumped.. There is a local place here in kc that redoes the batteries for about $800 ish..
Pretty sure the prius has approx the same size engine as the matrix.

While I would LOVE a TDI. all the research I did led me to the TOo much maint issue.. Timing belts every 60K and some wiring gremlins.

To put it in perspective.. I went from an Acura GSR to the matrix.. while the GSR was a really fun, fast car, the matrix allows me to relax and commute.. Was strange going to an auto but after a while, it is a bit more relaxing in traffic.. not to mention the GSR SUCKED in snow..
I used to own hondas and run them into the 300000+ life.. BUT.. timing belts on honda are a pain and CV joints on hondas go at 125000 and about every 60-80000 after that.. I've not actually had to replace a cv on a toyota yet.. In the lifespan of my accord that was 8 cv joint replacements along with both sides front wheelbearings.. That adds up! The CV joint issue alone is worth a few thousand dollars in the lifespan of the car. more if you pay a shop..
and the matrix 1zzfe has a timing chain, read no replace unless something big..

What I would look for in a daily driver.
Maint intervals.. Timing belt vs chain , How hard are they to replace.. how often, are they an interference engine?
Vtech / VVTI / other do they have known issues, especially with the actuation solenoid?
CV Joint issues.. are they known to go out and how hard are they to replace.
Any known big electrical issues in the forums?
Are they known to burn oil and if so why? can it be fixed.. (which the matrix can I just haven't needed to do it yet)
does it actually get 30mpg normally..

THen the fun part.. Are they comfortable and can they hold a bunch of stuff.. and are they ergonomically correct for sitting in.. Can you strap stuff in the back easily.. are they convenient.. That is what makes a good daily driver. is your coffee cup handy and does it fit..

Go drove that subaru and the matrix.. read the forums.. I am curious what you come up with. I don't think you will go wrong with either.

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

vibe is the matrix.. but.. most vibe's came with the sun and sounds thing.. apparently an upgraded stereo and moonroof.. there are some more GM electronics in the Vibe but not too many.. it is the same engine, trans, etc.. both the Vibe and matrix came with a crappy gm stereo tho.. Only reason i know some of the electronics are different is helping people diagnose things. a coworker had the vibe and i had the matrix. her AC blower resistor went out and it was a gm part, mine was a toyota.. INterior is the exact same tho. They were both made at the NUMMI plant in california. Engines I think were cast here in missouri by st louis.. jenn worked at the plant for a bit when she was transitioning out here from toyota corporate in kentucky.

 

[R.E.M.]

Thanks again for all the info guys.

I have my eye on an 05 Saab 9-2x Linear (non turbo). Communicating through eBay kind of sucks, but super clean, stock, 2-owner 153k for under 5k.

I'm a little familiar with Subaru 2.5l issues like head gaskets. I like the engine layout being longitudinal for working on. I'd expect upper 20's on mileage.

There's an Impreza sedan local that's cheap at 205k that's a possibility.

I think I'm leaning toward the subies. Craigslist doesn't have any Matrixes I'd be interested in. Ones at a salvage yard for sale. But I really haven't expanded my search radius for that car very far. We'll see.

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

so.. inquiring minds want to know.. did you get a new Daily driver and if so what ?

 

[2fpower]

I am glad you brought this back up. It has been in the back of my mind and my brain just needs to vent this out.

So, am I to understand that the reason you are looking at another vehicle is that your service and parts costs are too high? And, you are thinking the purchase of a SAAB is the answer?

 

[ccasteel]

Speaking from the perspective of a current SAAB owner... parts are hard to come by. And you will need them.

 

[cjmoon]

Well my truck just sold. So I'm in the market for a similar vehicle. Subi outback is the front runner mid 2000. But the older rav4 and crv keep entering my searches. A wagon style utility vehicle is what I'm after. This is a 30% driver when I have cruiser projects going or even the f----it winter driver that I don't care about. Don't want a bunch of cash tied up in it.

My brother use to own a Saab. Fun car until the first repair bill came in. I guess some are Subi lookalikes some vw and some are all special saab

Sent from my SM-G900V