Quote Originally Posted by tulip View Post
I created an elaborate decision matrix when I was shopping, and the Toyota Matrix came out on top...but I found it such a drag to drive and the rear visibility bugged me. I ended up going with the car I wanted, not the car that the excel table told me I should buy! There's something to be said for fun-to-driveness.
I SO get this. Both that the Matrix has visiblity issues and it's not even a little fun to drive when it's an automatic and the concept of buying what you want and not necessarily what your analysis tells you. The "older" (pre 2007, I believe) Matrix had a different window config that was way better than the new ones for convenience (hatch glass!) and visiblity. And I'm pretty sure we would have traded ours in sooner had we not gotten the standard transmission. It's got a 'super charger' effect that really makes it zippy. I've had loaners in automatic and they absolutely did not have it at all. Unfortunately, the clutch on the standard sucks donkey balls, but we've gotten used to it after 5+ years.

The Matrix was the very first car I've ever purchased based solely on being 'practical'. I normally buy cars 1) for how they drive, 2) for how they fit my lifestyle and 3) for how they look. Hence...our next car (a 2011 MINI Clubman).