Discoveries about the Past of the Matrix XRS and update

"CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)" (ccpbb) 06/20/2016 at 19:54 • Filed to: The Matrix chronicles

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Old school shot of Matrix in a compact car magazine..

In this past year of driving the Matrix, I have found out many things about its past.

The college student (I suspect the 2nd owner) was somewhat religious, in the fact that they left an index card with a Bible quote.

Car has been crashed both front and rear (the rear bumper fits not exactly well on the sides and if you open up the rear compartments, jagged metal is found. Oh yeah, both rear quarter and rear hatch has new glass). It’s mechanically fine. It’s been repaired well...and it works.

There is very little sound deadening. I’ve talked to a former NUMMI (the joint GM-Toyota plant that produced the Pontiac Vibe) worker that confirmed that sound deadening is only under the driver seat. Explains the loud engine drone you hear in every seat except for driver’s seat. The engine noise combined with the Hankook’s road noise, it gets a bit annoying for passengers as the driver can’t hear you.

Someone has removed the left door panel before and crudely taped the OEM styrofoam block (that forms rigidity for the arm rest) back with duck tape.

One of the previous owners has been to a Washington hotel I have stayed at before.

I suspect the car has lived on the east coast as GPS was set to east coast and there is a ton of dimples in the glass.

The body shop that repaired the front also used duct tape for sticking on the styrofoam beam in the front bumper assembly.

This car has had most of its life with a solidary driver. There isn’t very much wear in any other of the seats.

The aftermarket sunroof works 70% of the time. I’m ok as long the sunroof doesn’t fail on me during the rare rainy seasons. My friends and family are surprised and says it looks factory.

The brakes are pretty good. The handling is great. It’s stable. It works. I really like it.

I’m in the process of upgrading speakers and replaced the stock GM GPS head unit to a Pioneer unit with a aux output and an functional FM radio. I’ve thought about getting some Sparco Terras, but it really serves no purpose except some stronger wheels. If the Matrix is shipped out to Ohio for college, I might consider selling the stock wheels and buying a set of Terras (16 inch ones) for a more comfortable ride. And plus the Terras are for rallying and pass TÜV/VIA standards for wheels...so more durable than the OEM wheels.

Rico > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 20:02

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If you're going to open doors to replace speakers maybe consider putting some Dynamat or Hushmat in for real sound deadening. You can do the trunk and under the passenger seats.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 20:06

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I wonder if the second generation. XB had a similar sounds dedending situation. I remember riding in the front of one and not thinking is was too loud, then riding in the back and being shocked by how loud it was.

not for canada - australian in disguise > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 20:07

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I had no idea the Matrix had a split hatch like that.

I suddenly want one even more.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Rico 06/20/2016 at 20:19

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Trunk will be a definite along with passenger seats and front doors. I might also change the door seals as well...

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/20/2016 at 20:19

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I’m not sure about the XBs, but the 2nd gen matrix didn’t seem to have sound deadening problem from my recollection as a passenger.

Rico > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 20:28

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I recommend it a lot of guys on the Mercedes forums add extra sound deadening using either of those brands. If you change the door seals just clean and protect them once a month with a rubber/vinyl cleaner/protectant and it'll keep them supple and not have them dry out prematurely.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 20:30

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My Mom’s second gen Vibe GT makes my FiST seem luxury car quiet.

PS9 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 20:42

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Come on, man. I know you’re bent out of shape about the Matrix lying to you about being the first driver, but it’s still a good car. So what if it was a rental car for a few years? Plenty of vehicles of the night out there do it to pay their way through advanced drivers ed school. No, it’s not glamorous, yes we as a society unfortunately look down upon it, but let’s be real; you yourself can’t say you’ve never rented a car before, right? So come on with that!

Always bringing up the Matrix’s past is a crappy thing to do. You think the Matrix brings up your past to it’s friends out in the parking lot when you’re at work? I bet it doesn’t even know about the bachelor party and that Mustang. We don’t need to bring THAT up, dooo weee? Didn’t think so.

Just talk to the car you love. If the lie bothers you that much, say so. If your love is real, you can work it out and move on down the road of the future together :)

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > not for canada - australian in disguise 06/20/2016 at 20:54

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The front passenger seat can also fold flat. Makes sleeping in it, and hauling long loads easy. One time when I had my Vibe I went to home depot to buy some 2x4's, 2x6's, 2x8's all 8ft long. Some guy had a short bed truck, he laughed at me putting it all in my Vibe. By the time he was strapping them down I was pulling away with them inside my Vibe. The plastic cargo area was also really nice too, it was so easy to clean.

Stapleface > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/20/2016 at 21:22

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The hatch glass opens separately on a Matrix? Damn, never knew that.

As for the bumper, a rather interesting tidbit I learned from a body shop. The corners of the bumpers like to “pop” off, so to speak. Problem is, there’s a retaining clip on the bumper that breaks. And the only solution is replacing the bumper.

I know this because my wife had her corolla fixed after she was rear ended. Four weeks later this happened and the body shop replaced the whole thing. Supposedly effects the corolla, matrix and Camry.

Oh, and as far as sound deadening goes, I bought a relatively inexpensive product from Amazon called GT mat, I think. Worked wonders to quiet up my Crosstrek when I had it.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > PS9 06/20/2016 at 21:27

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It’s a really good car and I actually am glad it has a past, like a person. I haven’t thought about it for a long time until making this post and I don’t plan to. I’ve always known that I’m not the first driver, but I do love the Matrix. I don’t put anything against the Matrix because of its past.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 06/22/2016 at 08:51

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Check this out for your sunroof . Certain 2002-09 Webasto aftermarket roofs (you mentioned it was a Webasto in a prior thread) have a recall because the adhesive on the glass deteriorates after a few years of UV exposure - and sometimes the glass flies out. If you need the recall then it’ll be no charge to replace the adhesive and do a full-check on it.