Well I decided since I just made a quick 20K it was time for a new car. The Buick was on it last legs. The electrics were causing all kinds of weird things, something caught fire in the front end, lucky it was snowing. so I was able to put the fire out, It was leaking a quart of oil ever week. So it was time to move on after 7 years of hell and 400 bucks in parts every 2 months.
For some strange reason I decide Matrix would be a perfect fit for me, because I could put molly in her own little space and bar her from the rest of the car.
So I arm myself with a their website quote and went to Toyota, I spoke to the first salesmen I sore I said.....handing him the quote “can you beat this?” “Oh yes, yes that is no problem”. within less then 5 minutes we were heading out into the carpark. He said “yep I can get you into this Matrix, this could be yours he open all the doors and pop down the seats. Then said “shall we get into your new Silver Matrix”. He played with all the buttons and then sat quietly. While I fiddle with the manual mirrors.
He is the only dealer that came with me at first. However once he thought he got a sale he let take for a spin. So I took straight to 401. I drove up to 170 to see how was. It felt really quick and I really like the almost instant kick down. It felt very sporty at least to me. I then thrashed downs some country roads to see if was sporty and even did hand brake turn and I even slam on the brakes from at 120 clicks to see how were the brakes. Thats was great but then I look at the cabin, this where I was dispointed, It look dated also I wasn't impressed with the plastics at all. The was also a glare off one of the silver plastic trim and it had windy windows. So I can back to dealer and made him sweat for a while, he said I could drive it to day for $19995 plus tax and admin. I said “no” and walk. He chased me to parking lot and said "are sure we can't make a deal?' I said nope I'm going to see what Honda has.
I then went to GM. To try the Colbart. This was a surprise. The Chevy dealer came running out tucking in his shirt and threw his coffee cup. He was so excited. “I want to buy a Colbart”. Oh yes what trim package? “ Just a basic one. air cruise”. He stood for a moment.......”I'll be right back”.........he was like 5 minutes he came around the corner in white Colbart. This could be the car for you, We now completing if not better than Toyota he said proudly. He show all the options and went on on and on about how good it was and how they were doing better and better at the quality and that they were going to be No1 in the future with this car because they could now stand by the product with their 160k warranty. He said I could get you in this car for 15 plus taxes, 17 will get you even better one. Here have the car come back when your finished. I got in the car and I found the seats were hard and comfortable and it had a great stereo, which the salesmen had left on. I could not find the temperature gage. Also the clock for the petrol gage was so tiny. As I pulled away from the lot. It reminded me the 97's Vauxhall Astra which I drove for a while in England. I found it felt very numb. Also the thickness plastic door trim made the Colbart feel isolated from the outside. I guess it makes it feel more expensive. It felt modern which is what I look for in a new car. Took about 20 minutes to get used to the numb feeling that it had and handle surprising well. The wind blows like crazy around the front window screen Also It did have that GM shake feel in the pedal when you stuck on the brake at 150 to slow down to go off exit ram once you been on the motorway for a while. The Buick had that. I didn't like that, Also it drank a lots of petrol, I had the car for about hour and half I drove down the motorway down to Chattam ON and came back on long longwoods road. The kick down was growly and noisey and you really had to push far down on the pedal.
I look at interior as drove down the highway and thought it was very fisher price, by that mean. It just so much hard plastics and some felt like the would break. For the money what do you expected. I got to back to the dealership and said I think about.
I knew that really colbart only make sense to buy them used they just loose to much when buying new. my overall impression thought it was Surprinsingly nice.
By now it was 430pm and I was driving back to house thinking what a waisted of time that was but fun. The Toyota salesmen phone me In the evening says “I've found the perfect car, I can get you brand new Corolla manual Anniversary Edition for 18,000 plus taxes and admin “Alright I come have a look” “How about right now” "No I'll come by tomorrow”. Salesmen “I be in at 2 so we can get this sorted.” “you love this car I'll make sure no one drive this car I take the keys home.” he chuckles.
So next day . I went to Honda. Honda's are pricey. I went up to salesmen and said I wanted to buy a Civic and a test drive. He went away and came back with a Fiji Blue Civic Demo. No sales pitch just gave me the keys. He took me outside and show me how to adjust the seat and the steering wheel and went back in. As soon as I drove off the lot I knew I wanted it. I like the car straight way. It felt so so modern, like nothing else on the road. The engine was quiet and I like the softer feeling steering wheel. The seat we nice and comfortable. The cockpit looked amazing with lovely soft glow of blue lights. I took down the 401 to Chattam and then back along the country roads to London. I really like the way the Civic felt so planted on the road. The Auto-box changes down when you go down hills and held a gear too. I did feel the road a little more on some rough surfaces it felt jiggle. kick down was buzzy which I kinda of like. Although you can drive the civic with out the engine making a noise too. Also the body cladding is too low ground. you have to be extremely careful on all plaza curbs. I just park on the other cars mirror. The civic had no front to speak of as soon as you get in the bonnet disappears That was the only things I could find not to like about the car. But everything else was a winner. So I went back and struck a deal. 20,000 cash all in for a Base Civic Auto.
I write about the long term test on a 07 Civic at some other point if wing lets me
.
