2012 Toyota Matrix – Car Buying Tips – Brad Your Car Guy
January 11, 2012 by Stealthman- You Car Guy · Leave a Comment
The 2012 Toyota Matrix – Car Buying Tips – Brad Your Car Guy -
- 2012 Toyota Matrix in Blue Metallic Doenges Toyota Bartlesville
History-of the Versatile Corolla Hatchback Variant
The Toyota Matrix is a compact hatchback variant of the Toyota Corolla introduced in 2002. It is also referred to as the Toyota Corolla Matrix and is manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation of Canada. Minus the hatchback rear, the 2012 Toyota Matrix looks much like the Toyota Corolla which its design is based on. Its styling makes it more appealing to the younger generation who want a vehicle that offers the best versatility.
The Toyota Matrix has a short but vibrant history since its introduction almost a decade ago.
The vehicle is basically a love-child produced by a joint venture by Toyota and General Motors. Because of this, the Matrix was also produced by GM and released as the Pontiac Vibe which up to now has similar characteristics to the Matrix. The Matrix was also rebranded in Japan as the Toyota Voltz until 2004.
Major Redesign for Matrix in 2011
Nothing much changed in the design of the Matrix until 2007 when it first had its major facelift coinciding with the redesign of the Toyota Corolla. Another major redesign was seen in the Matrix in 2011 along with the 2011 Toyota Corolla. The 2012 Toyota Matrix offers little in appearance and trim upgrades to its 2011 version but is still nevertheless competitive in the compact car market. Also, realize incremental upgrades in an already great vehicle are hard to pull off year after year. The Matrix, nevertheless, is a solid performer.
2012 Toyota Matrix-Design
Because the design of the 2012 Toyota Matrix is based also on the 2012 Toyota Corolla, both vehicles look very similar to each other save for the rear partly because the Matrix has a hatchback configuration compared to the sedan configuration of the Corolla. In addition, the Matrix also has high-shouldered sides and an outstanding rear pillar that makes it unique from the Corolla from all other angles except for the front.
2012 Toyota Matrix –Interior
Because of its elevated cabin, the 2012 Toyota Matrix feels much roomier than it looks outside. It can seat up to five people comfortably with the driver sprawled in front of a cockpit with instrument panels and console controls.
The panel in the cockpit has bright white lighting on the gauges and silver ornamentation. It has a speedometer positioned exactly at the center and a tachometer at the left. The gauges to the right of the speedometer shows fuel levels and engine temperature while an LCD display shows outside temperature and the trip meter.
2012 Toyota Matrix Technology
The 2012 Toyota Matrix puts a premium on driver and passenger safety which is why the body is engineered and designed with crumple zones that help absorb and disperse impact effects all over the structure. It is equipped with six airbags in the form of front airbags, front seat-mounted airbags, as well as side curtain airbags for the front and rear passengers.
Depending on the chosen trim level, the 2012 Toyota Matrix can have a wide range of features such as a 115-volt outlet, metallic interior trim, fog lamps, remote keyless entry, as well as an excellent audio system.
Performance & Fuel Efficiency
The 2012 Toyota Matrix base trim level is equipped with a 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine with a power rating of up to 132 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and a torque rating of up to 128 pound-feet at 4,400 RPM. This engine gives the base trim level an EPA rating of 26 miles per gallon for city roads and 32 miles per gallon for highways.
For those who want a beast of an engine, the 2012 Toyota Matrix S trim level offers a 2.4-liter engine producing 158-horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 162 pound-feet of torque rated at 4,000 RPM. This more powerful engine results to a lower EPA rating of 21 and 29 miles per gallon for city roads and highways respectively.
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Bartlesville Oklahoma Ford Dealership Going Strong in Their 68th Year of Service in the Community
April 26, 2009 by Brad - Your Car Guy · Comments Off
Doenges Celebrates 68th Year in Bartlesville
In April 1941, my grandfather, William C. “Bill” Doenges, purchased the Ford dealership in Bartlesville from Bert Gaddis. Two generations and 68 years later his business is still going strong.
He Was Only 14 Years Old
Bill Doenges took his first job with the Ford agency in Tonkawa when he was 14. His ambition to become a dealer was realized in 1931 when he acquired the agency at Braman, north of Blackwell.
The Ford Story in Bartlesville, Braman, Coffeyville, Towanka and Tulsa
Over the next 20 years, one success led to another as he operated numerous dealerships. In 1936 he acquired the Ford agency in Tonkawa, and in 1942 acquired the Ford agency in Coffeyville, Kansas.
In 1948, he bought the Ford agency in Tulsa, which was later operated by his sons, Bill (my father) and Bob Doenges, as Doenges Brothers Ford. (As an aside, last month I mentioned that he acquired the dealership in Braman in 1929. We have some documentation for this – he was honored by Ford Motor Co. in 1979 for being a 50 year Ford Dealer; however in preparing to compose this letter, I found some newspaper quotes from him indicating this was actually in 1931. Who knows?)
Doenges The Senior Toyota Dealer in Oklahoma
In 1968, he acquired the Toyota franchise at the Bartlesville dealership, and in 1984 added Lincoln Mercury. Today, Doenges is the oldest Toyota dealer in the state of Oklahoma.
By the late 1970s, the agency had outgrown its original location on Osage between Frank Phillips and 4th Street and moved to our current location on Washington Boulevard.
By the late 1980s, as his health deteriorated my uncle Bob became more involved in the dealership, eventually becoming the dealer principal when my grandfather passed away in 1991.
“All I Ever Wanted to be was a Good Ford For Our Community”…Bill Doenges 1971
My grandfather had many other interests and accomplishments in his life and was a super grandfather, but he told me late in his life that “all I ever really wanted to be was a good Ford dealer.” In 1971, when celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bartlesville agency he said, “if I were to start over today in business, I would buy the Ford agency in Bartlesville…I felt it was the best community in Oklahoma 30 years ago and it still is!”
To Learn, To Love, To Leave a Legacy
It’s in keeping with this spirit that I proudly carry on his legacy. He set a great example through his success, but more importantly through his commitment to the community with his leadership and financial support for dozens of organizations, sports teams and causes. If you ask any Doenges associate today, I feel confident they would say the thing they are most proud of working here is the fact that Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury is active in our community and gives back to make it stronger for everyone.
Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota Recognized and Voted the Favorite
As I said in my letter last month, there is a reason we’ve been voted Bartlesville’s Best Auto Dealer the last four years in the Examiner-Enterprise Best of Bartlesville Readers’ Choice Awards. To the point, it is our employees and our customers. It’s you – you are the reason!
Ford Is Financially Secure, Strong and Stable
It’s a crazy time. Who would have predicted that the U.S. Government would virtually be running leading American automobile manufacturers? Or that they might actually need to go through bankruptcy to restructure? We’re awfully proud of Ford Motor Co. for not being in that position. We feel our products across all our lines, Toyota, Ford Lincoln and Mercury, are the best, and the best they have ever been. If you don’t believe me or know someone who doesn’t, do as Ford says, come “Drive One” I’m sure you will be impressed. Call or email me or one of my associates and we will show you!
At Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury we’re still fighting for your business and winning every day. We know that our future and the future of our country depend on hard work, the willingness to sacrifice and a commitment to each other as co-workers, community members and Americans.
As we celebrate our 68th birthday, I want to personally say thank you! We can’t do it without you.
Best regards,
Brad Doenges 3rd Generation Auto Dealer
P.S. Please check out the news, reviews and insider tips I post on my blog every day at www.bradyourcarguy.com.
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