Toyota Matrix vs. Honda Fit

[jake696]

Originally Posted by jake696

Yes...you bet. Mostly it's tires and oil, a few wipers and about 2-3 windshields a year! Of course, when I figure my costs / per mile I also have to add in driver wages and benefits.

I'm also curious about the Hyundai, I will be buying 3 more cars next year and maybe I'll go that route again? Unless, I also hear Honda may do a hatchback on the Civic?

The Hyundai is made a little cheaper, you can feel it and notice it. But that's body integrity, paint, sound deadening, etc...
So far the factory tires are impressive. We've had some real crap on the Matrix's. A few new sets were hamburger at 10K and they aren't covered under warranty, of course. They must've really bought some cheapies at the factory!

UPDATE: the Accent has 30 K on it now. Factory tires were OK (Matrix and Fit tires worse from factory) but had to be replaced at 25K.

NO OTHER ISSUES with this car. Drivers like it, it's slower than the Matrix and getting used to the door config. took some doing for some. Otherwise...Good! AND...VERY CHEAP! This car was almost 5 K cheaper than a Fit or Matrix!

[lelandstanford]

And average MPG for Accent?

[jake696]

Originally Posted by lelandstanford

And average MPG for Accent?

Interestingly...they all seem to get about the same MPG's. Maybe the winter has caused some of that...the range is 29-34 MPG's. Prairie winds can shoot a day's mileage all to hell...drivers will vary it less. I employ no one under 55 and no one is hard on the cars, or has their foot in the radiator, etc...

The Hynudai Accent is a trooper though. Still no issues with it at 70K. Weird tire size on it and we had to get the dealer to install the cruise and our local service guys put a block heater in it for the nasty winters here. We replaced a wiper last week. Big deal, huh?

We are going to take a long hard look at new models available for us this summer. We need to buy three cars and the early and clear leader now is new Matrix. The guys really prefer the Matrix for the job we have to do...only two of the 15 would rather drive the Honda's. Most dislike the lower seating position and stiffer handing and feel. 250-350 miles per work day can really help decide whether you like a car or not!

[robertguero]

Sorry but I HATE my 07 Matrix. To much road noise, struts rattle in front in cold weather, shifts into OD to soon. Dealer says they cant duplicate. Hey but the seatbelt dinger was easy enough to turn off. But I should have bought a Hyundai. The wifes 06 Corolla is alot quieter on the road. I bought the Matrix cause of the Toyota name. It may last along time but my wife thinks I'm YELLIN at her every time she rides with me. Should have bought a Hyundai.



oh and gas mileage is about 26 MPG. Thats even what the MPG site for all cars says it gets. Wife has a liter foot than me so hers in the Rolla is about 29-32.

[jake696]

Originally Posted by robertguero

Sorry but I HATE my 07 Matrix. To much road noise, struts rattle in front in cold weather, shifts into OD to soon. Dealer says they cant duplicate. Hey but the seatbelt dinger was easy enough to turn off. But I should have bought a Hyundai. The wifes 06 Corolla is alot quieter on the road. I bought the Matrix cause of the Toyota name. It may last along time but my wife thinks I'm YELLIN at her every time she rides with me. Should have bought a Hyundai.



oh and gas mileage is about 26 MPG. Thats even what the MPG site for all cars says it gets. Wife has a liter foot than me so hers in the Rolla is about 29-32.

I agree with you on the road noise in the Matrix. However, the noise, fit and finish in the Hyundai is worse. AND...there's no doubt that the Corolla is a nicer car to drive. We took 2 '03's to 250K and loved 'em. My drivers and I all hated to get rid of them and the only reason we did was that we were budgeted for new cars and didn't NOT want to buy 'em. I know, seems silly...welcome to healthcare...

Anyway, the Corolla's just don't cut it for storage space. In fact, no one in this size class can touch the cargo space of the Matrix...that's why we buy them and it's most likely why we'll continue to do so. What I also find interesting is that the Matrix is supposedly the same platform as the Corolla...but goes down the road so different!! Lastly, I can buy a nicely equipped Corolla for 1-2K less than the Matirx (the '09 Matrix isn't being discounted as much)...maybe we could pull trailers w/ new Corolla's...?

Your MPG's sound low though. We only get that bad if we're bucking a treeless, prairie, high-wind day. Otherwise they are good for 32 MPG's even at 80-85 MPG's.

[NCPaulD]

The current Fit is actually a 7 year old design that has been out since 2001. It just made it to the US in 07. I'm planning to pick up the redesigned 09 Fit when they are available this fall.

Tons of Fit info at Honda FIT and Honda Jazz Forum and the 09 Fit at 2009 Honda Fit - The Official Honda Web Site

[hoss10]

Jake this has been one of the most informative threads ever. (perhaps because I'm considering both of these cars) Please keep us posted. With distance you guys travel, it's like compressing years into days, for a low term test. Thanks