Id like some opinons between the Matrix awd or the Subaru Outback wagon.
looking to get my mother into a new car and i cant really decide - shes very small and does not want any kind of truck but she really likes the awd cars/wagons because of crazy snow we get here. any opinions?
that is of course an opinion...subarus sell very well in anchorage due to their reliabilty and winter performance.
the outback wagon may still suffer from suv price syndrome...also consider the legacy, not only for price but it's a little lower riding than the outback, may be a little more comfortable for your ma.
my folks have driven subarus (4wd legacys) for years, also many friends (they are very popular with xc skiers especially, and for a while sponsored the team...may still, i dunno), and there are many of the venerable 4wd GLs from the early 80s still in service.
I have to agree on the Subaru also. We have a 2003 Legacy Outback and it is great. I don’t think you could beat it for the price we paid. For 20 grand we got virtually all the bells and whistles. It has heated seats and full power seat on the driver’s side. It also came with fog lights, auto-dimming mirror, heated mirrors, etc. Absolutely a lot of bang for your buck.
In all honesty, I know nothing about the Matrix but I can vouch for the Subaru. It’s a very nice ride.
thanks for the response guys - thing is she can buy the matrix awd with auto tranny for under 20 k with almost every option they have - the subaru i would have to get her a pre owned with maybe 10,000 miles on it to stay under 20 k and still have all the bells and whistles -
we are going out shoping next week and ill post some funny dealer stories here befor i buy anything- im the biggest jerk walking the earth when it comes to dealing with car salesmen
Boy Oh Boy are they in for it with me and the test drives.
Well if you want your mother to be safe, the forester has one of the best crash test ratings of any car and you can opt to get her the XT version which does 0-60 in a scant over 5 secs and is .5 secs slower in the 1/4 mile than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo along with having a modified version of the engine in the STi.
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I can't speak to the 4wd aspect, but my wife drives an '04 Matrix and she loves it. (likes it more than my Tundra, go figure) She gets 30 mpg and likes the ride and the comfort. I'm 6'1" and it is just a little small for me. It also doesn't have as much cab storage as I like. We were looking at small SUVs and when she drove the Matrix she was sold. It was also $4-5000 less than the SUVs. Neither of us liked the Subaru because it seemed tinny (poorly made).
I'd definately say to go with the Outback! Have you seen the new 2005 Outbacks yet? They put about every other wagon and crossover SUV to shame As far as the AWD factor, Subaru makes a starte-of-the-art AWD system that has been copied by many. Theirs is by far the most advanced system on the market today, the only comparable AWD system is Audi's Quattro. I've driven my mom's Outback in the snow plenty of times and the thing is a friggin' tank even in the 10 inch stuff. I feel far safer in that thing than most other FWD and AWD vehicles I've driven. For some great info you should check out this awesome site my mom is a part of:
If one of my cars gets wrecked or something, the next one Im getting is a FWD Pontiac Vibe. I can bring one home for around $11K with a manual tranny and my GM card discount. Why anyone buys kias when you can get a deal like that on a Toyota I dont know.
If one of my cars gets wrecked or something, the next one Im getting is a FWD Pontiac Vibe. I can bring one home for around $11K with a manual tranny and my GM card discount. Why anyone buys kias when you can get a deal like that on a Toyota I dont know.
I thought that the Vibe was a Toyota. What is the story there? Is it just engine or the whole car? I can't find any differences in the specs... at least in consumer reports brief review.
She ended up getting a 4 cyl. Camry - once she drove the outback,matrix, then the Camry she was sold on the ride and quality and serious options for the price.
She ended up getting a 4 cyl. Camry - once she drove the outback,matrix, then the Camry she was sold on the ride and quality and serious options for the price.
Considering where you live and all the snow there, I would've recommended the Outback myself. My sister bought one (a used 2001 model) to replace her 99 Jetta, she lives in Utah and hence needs the extra ground clearance the OB provides.
I have to agree with LiuBei, the new 2005 Outbacks are hot! Very nice looking car.
4wd Matrix vs. Subaru Outback
J/K.
As far as the AWD factor, Subaru makes a starte-of-the-art AWD system that has been copied by many. Theirs is by far the most advanced system on the market today, the only comparable AWD system is Audi's Quattro. I've driven my mom's Outback in the snow plenty of times and the thing is a friggin' tank even in the 10 inch stuff. I feel far safer in that thing than most other FWD and AWD vehicles I've driven. For some great info you should check out this awesome site my mom is a part of: 
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