Solid proof (s) the Matrix has been crashed

"CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)" (ccpbb)
07/07/2015 at 18:40 • Filed to: The Matrix Chronicles

After purchase, my dad decided to start me on getting my manual skills to be more proficient. We discovered a few things, like it had been crashed. right front quarter panel wasn’t the same (after we took it for a automated car wash), right shock bolts suspiciously new, and the left suspension completely new. Awp.

(Comparison on the left)

Also, the back bumper isn’t fitting exactly well. Even a very solid push doesn’t shove it in.

No fucking idea what this is. Bondo?

Other side. Same.

And the front right quarter. Bumper, as usual, doesn’t fit very well. and this white stuff ain’t coke but it scratches off.

XRS badge....glued with dripping? Definitely not Toyota quality levels of adhesion, but yeah.

And the rear false diffuser has cracked at the mounts and very movable with a hand. And that exhaust is stock. Well, this car has had a intresting life. It’s like Hammond’s M3. At least it has a 6 speed manual and the 2ZZ.

DISCUSSION (27)

Steve in Manhattan > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 18:47

Who sold it to you?

LongbowMkII > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 18:55

eh... how does it track and turn?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Steve in Manhattan
07/07/2015 at 19:03

A “mechanic”, which probably flipped cars. I’ve also discovered this car resided on the east coast for a bit (GPS system).

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > LongbowMkII
07/07/2015 at 19:04

Alignment is straight.

1111111111111111111111 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 19:15

Is the Matrix commercial the one Chapelle spoofed?

LongbowMkII > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 19:22

:/ well if everything is straight... I guess that better explains the low price.

Needmoargarage > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 19:23

Looks like several of the panels pictured have been repainted. White stuff is probably rubbing compound. The bumpers might be reproduction parts...hence the misfitting. Hope everything mechanical is sound!

Bandit > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 19:26

Kinja'd!!!

Could be seam sealer... or a horrible job at bondoing.

Dsscats > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 19:27

If a shop repaired it, they wouldn’t leave the bumper not fitting like that. More likely it had a minor parking lot incident that didn’t take paint off. “Bondo” just appears to be the factory sealant at the cars seams. Almost every modern car has it. Worked on a nearly new Camry that had the exact same thing at every seam in the trunk. That white stuff is wax residue.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Needmoargarage
07/07/2015 at 19:34

Mechanical is sound (thank god), and the bumper is def repro or used. eek.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Bandit
07/07/2015 at 19:36

If that’s seam sealer, thats all around the seams in the engine bay.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Dsscats
07/07/2015 at 19:37

Thank god...

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > LongbowMkII
07/07/2015 at 19:41

5200 at 98k miles. eh.

nafsucof > 1111111111111111111111
07/07/2015 at 19:48

The commercial was for the eclipse I believe

Steve in Manhattan > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 19:50

I would suggest approaching this ‘mechanic’ with any costs of repair unless the accident was disclosed to you before purchase. Was the CarFax clean?

1111111111111111111111 > nafsucof
07/07/2015 at 19:50

Well damn. I haven’t seen it for years, so totally worth it.

NoneOfYourBiz > 1111111111111111111111
07/07/2015 at 19:51

Don’t feel bad.

Imagine if you bought it new for $20,000 and someone ran into it in a parking lot, requiring this level of repair. You just saved $15,000. Drives fine? Generally healthy? Enjoy your savings; enjoy not worrying about parking lot rash. ;)

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Steve in Manhattan
07/07/2015 at 20:07

Carfax was completely clean, and he only mentioned the previous owner going into a curb while parking (explaining the front body kit bits missing). Otherwise, no disclosure of accident.

Takuro Spirit > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 20:37

Kinja'd!!!

I’m worried about this jam nut not being tightened against the toe rod end.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Takuro Spirit
07/07/2015 at 20:55

My mom’s getting it an oil change this week and I’ll inform the mechanic to tighten stuffs.

Steve in Manhattan > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 22:05

The damage you describe seems more than would be sustained by banging into a curb. Confront the mechanic.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Steve in Manhattan
07/07/2015 at 22:15

well, I have his address (he lives a surprising 4 blocks away from me and I sent the schmuck I bought it from a text)

Bozi Tatarevic > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/07/2015 at 22:47

Looks like many panels have been repainted. Tie rod looks new and that nut on it needs to be tightened up. The stuff you see on the rear appears to be seam sealer. Lower control looks new as does the axle which appears to be aftermarket. You can see where the old control arm was bent past its limit from the bend in the mounting point. Also the boot on the swaybar endlink appears to torn. It looks like it was repaired pretty well but it wasn’t a simple bumped into the curb deal.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Bozi Tatarevic
07/07/2015 at 23:14

This does not sound good. Umm..should I confront the former owner or Go on/fix it? If I’m not correct, you drive a formerly crashed STS or legacy...and you’re one of the probably best salvage vehicle expert on Oppo....

Bozi Tatarevic > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/08/2015 at 00:18

I would have a shop that is experienced with alignments check everything over and make sure the subframe is sound. If it does not pass you can try to go back to the seller and see if he will work with you and to get the repairs done. Unfortunately there is not much recourse unless the seller committed some kind of fraud

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/08/2015 at 01:47

That’s pretty damn cheap for a first gen matrix still.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
07/09/2015 at 07:44

FWIW, it’s possible there is an explanation for most of this.

My wife has a 2010 Corolla with 66k on it, bought when new. We’ve already had to replace the half shafts on the front end due to them failing.

Last year she was rear ended and the rear bumper cover was replaced. A couple of months back the bumper no longer fit properly. I took the car back to the body shop and before I even showed the body tech the car, he knew what the problem was. He informed me that it’s a common problem with Camry’s and Corollas (and I would assume Matrix as well). There are clips that will just give out and break, even if the vehicle was never in an accident. He said we were quite lucky to have the original bumper last as long as they did. Since the body shop guaranteed their work they replaced the bumper, but the point is it might happen again.

The white stuff could be a rubbing compound from when someone did an exterior detail.

Then again, maybe it was in an accident. I'm just explaining that maybe everything is on the up and up though.