We got our car on Craigslist from someone who used it to transport rescue dogs. It's nice. Doesn't have a bent frame like our last car.

While overall a solid, reliable vehicle, my Toyota Matrix has been a mixed bag for me. The gas mileage is good, but it's not a lot of fun to drive. On a windy day, you might as well have a mast and a sail, since it's so boxy and tends to get blown around. Driving in the snow is not for the faint at heart either. As an average height woman, I find the visibility isn't so great, and I don't feel that it "fits" me very well. I never feel quite at ease. Whatever fabric they used on the interior has a rough texture, and everything from lint and crumbs to pet hair sticks tenaciously to it. It's a great size for your dogs to ride in, but cleaning up the hair afterward is torturous. Same goes for the carpeting -- good luck getting tiny pebbles out of it. The cargo space is nice, and the netting that came with the trim is very handy for groceries and small bags. It has plenty of room for people and items. I have not had to do too many repairs on it, so it has held up well enough. It's a good car but with plenty of caveats.