Hello Toyotaers...
I currently own a Matrix XRS that I'm paying too much for. Both in monthly payments and in gas. I only put premium as that is what's recommended and I'm not going against it for fear that enough knock and ping will eventually ruin the engine.
A while back, I asked the Toyota dealer about the possibility of switching to an xA because I like the body style--like a tiny Matrix... and it's cheaper. The mpg doesn't look that different but at least I won't be subjected to Premium only.
He asked what I currently drove and I told him that I drove a Matrix XRS. Then he said "oh, you're going to hate the xA if you're currently driving an XRS. So with that advice, I stopped thinking about the xA and continued to enjoy my Matrix, which I do like.
Then my wife bought an xB. Then I got to drive it and.... *fun, fun, fun* what an amazing little car--nowhere near as gutless as the dealer led me to believe--I don't know what that guy was talking about--race cars!?!. I can't drive the XRS in all its fury anyway--I've taken the XRS to 120mph--no problem! but it's against the law so what's the point? I'm not really using all of its features--the extra room in the back and I got a bike rack anyway--which will fit on an xA just fine. I told my wife, "honey, getting in and out of the freeway (in Ca.) will be this things real test" -- ha! no problem! while her xB didn't snap out quite like the XRS, we darted out as quick as I'd want to dart out on a busy freeway.
I can only imagine that the xA might have better performance than the xB because it's smaller. The advantage is that it's cheaper than the what I currently owe on my XRS and can actually afford to modify it -- roll bars, chip, shocks, clutch...
What do you folks think?
- Alex