09.03
Well after almost 8 years and 140,000 miles, my well worn 2000 Subaru Outback got dumped Sunday for a new 2008 Toyota Matrix.
The Outback never really recovered in my mind for leaving me stuck in traffic twice last year (in addition to other less fatal but more expensive issues) and since then every time the idle dropped low I’d have a small panic attack. Recently it started to run hot driving up the grades around where I live so enough became enough.
That and pulling ~22 mpg on a 350 mile/week commute kinda sucked.
The Matrix should pull over 10 more mpg and while I lose the All-Wheel-Drive I’ve discovered that it’s not all its cracked up to be anyway (note: because your tires say they’re M+S doesn’t mean they work worth a damn in the snow).
The Matrix also harkens back to my younger days of sporty Japanese 4-bangers. I could never imagine upgrading the suspension on my Outback, but I’m pretty sure without looking there’s a respectable aftermarket in performance parts for the Matrix. There’s even a hint of that performance 4-banger rasp in the Matrix that I haven’t heard in a while. So basically I’m getting all set up for mid-life crisis. 
Oh, one more thing: The car buying experience, which I normally rank somewhere below spoon-based castration on a scale of enjoyment was actually… well… great. Yeah, no kidding: great! For the record, Magnussen’s Auburn Toyota was outstanding. Really no pressure and a refreshing honesty about the whole process. Heartily recommend!
