I could use some advice. I recently acquired an 09 Toyota Matrix that I didn't need (grandma practically gave it to us). I have an 08 Scion XB (manual) and an 09 Honda Fit. All cars are 100,000 miles (+ or - 20,000).
Of these three cars the Matrix and Scion are the better cars. The problem is that my wife cant drive the Scion because its a manual and it really is a terrible manual to teach someone on (believe me I've tried). Also, we just had a our first kid and the fit/matrix are terribly small for an infant car seat and two adult passengers. We don't use our cars very often as I tend to ride a bike to work and my wife works from home.
Now here's the question. Should I keep the Scion or sell it? I love the Scion but KBB is showing I could sell it for about what I payed for it over 6 years ago. We only need two cars, but selling the Scion means I'm driving the Honda fit and that thing is not a fun car to drive.
What would you do in the current market given this situation?
If you only need 2 cars, sell the Fit & Matrix. Then go buy a Camry/Accord or RAV4/CR-V.
Since you said you don’t use your vehicles very often and if you can make do with just 1 car, sell all 3 & buy a new/used spacious vehicle, which will fulfil the requirements of your family (& future additions?), down the road.
You don’t want to be stuck in this same situation in the future..
All the best and congratulations on the newborn!
I appreciate the advice. We do "need" two cars and I think the one we can't sell immediately is the Matrix. I say this because my wife isn't comfortable with a 1 car situation (I've proposed it many time over the years and it's just not a battle I can win). I feel we must keep the Matrix because it is in the best shape of all three and it really is a great little car as a backup/secondary vehicle. Plus, I don't really want to flip the car Grandma basically gifted us.
All valid points. In that case, @doc gave you great advice.
What if you sell the Fit & xB? But is the Matrix a 1.8L or 2.4L?
See if you can find someone else to teach your wife to drive the manual. That might make a difference.
This is a really great point.
LOL
Haha! That is a good idea. It might just work!
Teach your wife to drive the manual transmission. Once she gets the hang of it, it's a lot more fun and she'll have better control of the vehicle. Besides, nobody will steal it.
I knew someone would have this reply and it's not bad advice. It's just so hard to convince her she can do it and the Scion really is a hard manual to learn, much more difficult than any that I have had in the past (celica, accord, trucks, tractors, ect.) The Scion has really "short" gearing, so first gear is very temperamental. If I could teach her on an old truck it might be a different story.
It can't be any more difficult than the 1970s Porsche 911 with first gear to the left and down. You generally knocked reverse gear (up and to the left) till you got the hang of it.
Me personally, I’d keep the Scion and the Matrix.
While I love Honda’s, the Fit would be the one to go.
Keep the Matrix because it was gifted. Like you said, it is kinda effed up to flip a gift.
And I’d keep the Scion because it’s a stick!!! IMHO, if you have one of those babies around, keep it, because they aren’t making them anymore en masse.
i would pick the one that i like, wifey picks the one that she likes, then sell the other
(if you MUST sell a car, i have a yard full lol)
