by: Matthew C. Keegan

During the early part of this decade Toyota was examining its vehicle line up and the decision was made to build a car to entice young people who were looking for something that was small, fun to drive, and affordable. While the Corolla served faithfully in this capacity, Toyota needed something that spoke excitement. The Corolla just wasn’t that kind of a car and something radically different was needed. Enter the Matrix. Based on the Corolla platform, the Matrix does what no Corolla can do: turn heads. Let’s take a look at this sporty compact and see how the 2006 model stacks up.

In 2003, the Matrix was introduced to the North American market. Built in California as a joint venture with General Motors – the Pontiac Vibe is its twin – the Matrix is aimed toward budget conscious young people who want a car that makes a statement. To save money, the Corolla frame was used, but the Matrix stands some 3 inches taller and is 8 inches shorter than its Toyota sibling. The roof line on the Matrix is completely different too as it slopes from front to back and ends in a wedge, giving the car somewhat of a wagon look to it. This rakish appearance is what gives the Matrix its unique look as well as an extra bit of room for people and their stuff. Indeed, both driver and front passenger sit higher up, much like in a small SUV or as in a car like Chrysler’s PT Cruiser. With four doors and a rear lift gate, the Matrix acts more like a wagon, but its sleek exterior easily refutes that fact.

Motorists have a choice between front wheel drive and a four wheel drive versions of the car, something not offered on the Corolla. The standard motor for the Matrix is a 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve VVT-I 4-cylinder engine. Mated to a five speed manual transmission, the engine turns out a respectable 126hp. For more power, there is also a higher tuned version of the same engine delivering 164hp. It gets paired with a six speed manual transmission. Four wheel drive versions of the Matrix come equipped with a 4-wheel anti-lock brake system [ABS] which is optional on 2WD models.

Gas mileage for the Matrix makes the car a motorist’s dream. At 30 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, the front wheel drive version of the car produces some of the best results of any non-hybrid car sold in North America. A 13 gallon fuel tank makes 400 mile trips a possibility on just one tank of gas; this is particularly good for the student who has to drive back and forth between college campus and home.

Unlike many cars of its size, the aftermarket crowd has produced a wide variety of products to help Matrix owners customize their vehicles. Hood protectors, tail light covers, polymer air dams, fog lights, hood scoops and vents, mud flaps, and paintable window covers are some of the Toyota parts and accessories pitched to youth, who are the primary owners of the Matrix.

MSRP starts at US$15,110 [CDN$17,200] with a top of the line Matrix topping out at just under US$20K to about CDN$25K.

For the entire North American market, Toyota sells nearly 100,000 Matrix’ per year. Not bad for a car whose origins are fairly simple but whose heart is truly sporty and youth minded.


About The Author


Matthew C. Keegan

Copyright 2005 -- Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Auto Parts Canada: [ http://www.autopartsonlinecanada.com/make/nissan.html ], a wholesaler of fine Nissan parts and Nissan accessories: [http://www.autopartsonlinecanada.com/make/nissan.html ] for your Datsun or Nissan truck, van, SUV, or passenger car.



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Labels: car, car number plates, toyota, used car

by: Rami Nseir


It is obvious during any trip on our roads that the popularity of personalised number plates has risen vastly. Once seen as simply a status symbol to the stars, a private number plate is now THE must have car accessory. People of all ages and backgrounds are discovering the joys and benefits of owning their own personal number plate and the number of owners continues to grow.

People buy car registration numbers for a whole variety of reasons. For some they represent the ultimate personal gift for a family member or loved one, while others chose to indulge themselves and make their vehicle stand out in the crowd. Businesses purchase private number plates as a unique way of advertising their companies and collectors buy registrations as a hobby or investment. Number plate enthusiasts often own more than one registration and many own huge collections of private plates. The scarcity and age of some registrations has led them to become collectors’ items and are quickly snapped up when they are for sale.

There is an increasing trend to invest in number plates with investors seeing exceptional returns. Many people are now purchasing private plates to diversify their financial portfolio and have seen an outstanding return on their stock holding over the last couple of years. For example, the private registration 1 RO was sold at a DVLA Auction in September 2005 for £6000. This registration number is now on the market for £125,000 – which is a staggering 2000% return on the original investment!

Many enthusiasts attend the DVLA auctions with the hope of picking up a classic number plate to add to their collections. These auctions are held throughout the year at stately homes and hotels and give number plate collectors and enthusiasts a chance to meet up and bid on previously unreleased registrations. Dateless registrations, name plates and humorous number plates all feature in the catalogue at these auctions which can also be found at ( http://www.capeplates.co.uk ) who are registered suppliers, which are a great place to network and socialise with like minded people.

Increasingly personalised number plates collectors and fans are choosing to become members of the Registration Numbers Club. The organisation is the only UK based club for collectors and enthusiasts of number plates and car registrations. It was founded in 1977 and has grown considerably since. The RNC produces a quarterly publication called “RNC News” which provides details of events and interesting stories from its members. The club is run by volunteers, with Steve Waldenberg acting as Honorary Organising Secretary from the head office in Leeds. For more information contact them at RNC Office, PO BOX MT12, Leeds, LS17 7UD.

This year, the Registration Numbers Clubs held their annual rally in June at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. The event saw members turning up en mass with vehicles displaying their own private number plates and cherished registrations. People of all ages attend these events for a chance to meet other number plate enthusiasts and socialise. Competitions are held for members number plates, including Best Prefix Number Plate, Best Name Plate and the Best “Number 1” registration.

Number plates are unique and can mean so many different things to so many different people. They provide an increasing number of individuals with a hobby as they strive to increase their collection and find ever more scarce registrations. To others they are a great present from a family member that will last their lifetime. To some they are simply an investment, adding a prestigious touch to their vehicle, as they grow in value over time. Many people sell their number plates to put towards their retirement funds. Whatever the reason, there is a number plate out there that is perfect for you. Now is the time to find your personal number…before someone else does!

About The Author
Rami Nseir is a consultant for Cape Plates and has a passion for all things number plates related.



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Labels: car, car number plates, Chrysler, used car

by: Matthew C. Keegan

Full sized, rear wheel drive luxury is back in vogue. Thanks to the introduction of the Chrysler 300C, consumers have a choice that goes beyond the dated Lincoln Town Car or the expensive BMW 7 Series. With the release of the 300C, Chrysler is doing its part in revolutionizing full size car performance as the 300C is edgy, luxurious, and in the case of the SRT8 model, extremely fast. Read on to learn how you can maximize the performance of your Chrysler 300C SRT8 with a pair of trusty, potent aftermarket enhancements.

Three decades after the 300 designation was retired, Chrysler resurrected the 300 name and placed it on a shortened version of its big LH sedan. The 300M – as it was called -- was praised for its smooth style and luxurious appointments, however the V6 powered, front wheel drive model failed to live up to the vaunted ancestry of the original 300 series built by Chrysler. Thus, the car was considered only a 300 in name, not in substance.

Fortunately for Chrysler, the merger of Daimler-Benz with the Chrysler Corporation in 1998 was to bring about the sharing of important technologies as in blending the best of German and American engineering into several domestically produced vehicles. One of the first models to benefit from this new relationship was the 2005 Chrysler 300C, a car that successfully fuses an American chassis and design with Mercedes suspension, steering, and transmission. Indeed, if you owned an earlier generation Mercedes E Class, many of the components that originated on that model found its way over to the all new 300C.

Soon after the 300C’s debut, Chrysler decided to offer a top of the line performance model that could rocket from 0 to 60 in just under 5 seconds. The Chrysler 300C SRT8 -- as it is called -- is powered by a 6.1L Hemi V8 producing 425 horses and 420 lb.-ft of torque, enough power to beat out the athletic Pontiac GTO, while lagging two tenths of a second behind the venerable Cadillac CTS-V. Of course, you have to pay an extra twelve thousand for the Caddy, but if you want to beat the CTS-V you only need to add on a pair of aftermarket enhancements to give your SRT8 a chance of winning.

Yes, the aftermarket crowd is hot in pursuit of whatever enhancements are available to improved performance for their Chryslers. Popular with the SRT8 set are performance exhaust systems and cold air intake systems. By combining the two, 300C owners can gain an extra 30 horsepower and as much as an additional 36 lb.-ft of torque!

Two manufacturers, Dub Air and Airaid, have developed performance air intake systems for the 300C SRT8 while Magnaflow Exhaust has captured the imagination of 300C SRT8 enthusiasts by developing an exhaust system that is designed to outlast your car. Each product helps to deliver more horsepower, improved torque, and the race car tone that can truly help your ride sound great and get you noticed.

Best of all, a fully enhanced Chrysler 300C SRT8 can beat the Cadillac CTS-V and you will still have more than ten thousand dollars left over. Not a bad deal for a car that competes against a Caddy that comes equipped with a Corvette engine!

About The Author
Copyright 2006 – Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer for Premier Truck Accessories: http://www.premiertruckaccessories.com/ a leading retailer of aftermarket Grand Cherokee SRT8 products: http://www.premiertruckaccessories.com/gcsrt8.html including Dubair Intake Systems: http://www.premiertruckaccessories.com/dubair.html . Please stop by our online shop today to explore our gigantic array of performance parts and accessories.

Labels: Chrysler