During the past few years, I’ve been dailying a 03 Matrix XRS, which is a normal Matrix with a Yamaha-designed motor and clunky 6-speed gearbox. Last I left off, I was still in Ohio.
Suffice to say, my education at Antioch College had gone pear-shaped. I had just came out as trans (yes I am a trans girl), and started transitioning on hormones. I now fully living as a woman, and have been relieved of most of my gender dysphoria.
I was going through a lot of mental health stuff at that time, and Antioch wasn’t making it any better. My class size had severely dwindled (from 45 when I came in, 12 when I left there), while it became increasingly clear that this school has fucked from the top down.
My involvement with the school newspaper didn’t help, as the issues became increasingly (and painfully) obvious. Most of my friends had left, and I left after a little less than 2 years there.
I moved back to Cali via road trip, which I had been wanting to do.
Going back to the Matrix, I recently broke the transmission after one too many corner carving sessions. There’s a pretty loud and scary sound/tapping coming the shift knob and clutch pedal. This car has been through a lot, and the funds are being diverted toward purchasing a used Mazda6 instead of replacing the transmission.
The door frames are slightly bent from a tow truck driver’s attempt to rescue my locked keys, doors and (partially) floor deadened, and paint thrashed from a very hard 50k miles. The sound deadening has really not helped in this case.
I’ve driven this to New York, an impromptu pool party in PA, the inaugeration in DC, and back to California from Ohio. Fun times. It’s had snow tires on it; and currently has coilovers on it. I’ve wound out the 2ZZ countless number of times to the rev limiter, and taken friends to airports and countless Kroger/Taco Bell runs.
Since the title is in my parents’ names, they’re donating it. I’ll be cleaning this car out and removing as many of my aftermarket components as possible for the next journey. Enjoy these film photos though.
