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Comments
As far as I'm concerned, like Kniesel says, a car is basically a ride from a to b. In that vein, the stainless exhaust, electric cabin heater, light weight, low drag styling, and fuel efficiency are far more important to me than arm rests and tachometers.
And the avant-garde styling does grow on you....
Beyond, this actually preferred Echo's styling, maintence (Tercel's) record, and interior design and styling. Plus the highest technology engine of the bunch was a clincher. Imagine: 10.5:1 compression ratio and 1.2 HP/Cu.in. on regular gas !! Nobody else was in the same class !
like these's could change peoples motives as to why they buy cars. A few years back no
one cared about reliability or safety in a car. Car makers don't sell style or horse power
for less than function. With the Echo you pay for what you need and not what you don't
need.
Now that I own an Echo, I actually prefer it to the Civic. It feels roomier, I prefer the higher seating, and I just find it more fun to drive. It reminds me of driving a VW Bug back in college. Admittedly, this is partially due to the fact that it's a 5-sp whereas the civic's an automatic.
As to the styling, I spent a little extra to get the sports cladding though it still looks a little funny from the back. But as others have said, this car is about function for the money spent (aka: value) and I think it has plenty of this.
BTW, I love the placement of the speedometer as I've always had a problem viewing this through the steering wheel.
My only regret is that we bought it for the kids and that I'm still stuck driving the Windstar. I'll just have to borrow it often.
All fit easily into the Echo trunk. I had mixed emotions about this,
since this was the first time the trunk has been used for foodstuffs.
No drips, no runs, no errors. But placed an old spread in the trunk
just in case. I read somewhere that you can tell if the engine is cared
for by looking to see if the trunk has has TLC. Just don't want any
mistakes on these "the very first time" trips. So will not seem as bad
if boo boo is made after the first time.
Everything we usually buy fit inside also.
I'm noticing a lot of posts that can best be summerized as "I thought the car looked funny when I bought it, but it works so well I like it now" This is very remenisant of the VW beetle (old) Toyota advertising should tap into this fact, its very powerfull. Maybe they could reserect old VW ads. "Ugly Is Only Skin Deep" etc.
Don't have to wait for someone to scratch off lotto tickets
or buy beer. I will receive itemized list of how much gas each
vehicle uses per month and I pay only once per month.
Can't remember what this set-up is called so someone
remind me. Now I can show the wife the difference between
the Echo excellence and her Blazer gas buster. Filled up the
Echo and figured at least 35 mpg in stop-and-go city driving.
I don't think the gas use report will sway her away from her
beloved SUV but surely will make me feel better.
As I stated previously (in another post), I went to my mother's for the weekend to do laundry. Had a very nice surprise when I got down there. My girls were visiting the grandparents so I got to see them and show them my car. They really liked it and were very happy to take a drive on Sunday.
In case you cannot figure it out, this is the former Echoluvrst. Why the name change you ask? Well, someone mentioned how the Echo was a space oddity in that the inside is bigger than the outside would indicate. I am a fan of David Bowie and his song Space Oddity which is about an astronaut named Major Tom. Given this, things just clicked and I thought it would be a great nickname for my car and for vanity plates. It also ties in with my last name.
Maybe my car is female and I have heard of a Boy Named Sue, but who ever heard of a female named Tom? So I think my Echo is my first male car.
I wanted Major Tom as my new Edmunds' name, but it was taken as was Major Tom Echo so I became Major Thom Echo although as far as Edmunds is concerned, it is all lower case and written as one word.
I am fighting a cold so I am going to lay down for a while.
1) They're beautiful.
2) They're curvaceous, er aerodynamic.
3) They're efficient.
4) They're sensitive.
5) They're kind to mother earth.
etc. etc.
What more can I say, except....
"Every man needs a good woman"
Rob
Let's see I have my roommate, my former roommate, my mother, my sister, my two daughters, and my grandmother. All good women.
I would say I could use a bad woman, but I have two exes. : (
I have filled up before this, but I checked the mileage for the second time and I got over 38 miles to the gallon. This is on combined city/highway driving.
Anyway, the best was 51 MPG (Imperial gallon), about 43 MPG US. That was at 55 MPH (90 klicks), on flat terrain. That's all we've got around here.
Don
Put my ECHO in the shop to repair the little fender-bender I had in Oct. I'm driving a 2001 Mirage, OK, but not fun.
-gina-
RX-7 to a Tracer LTS. It's the user-friendliness of the Echo that puts a smile on my face.
As for paint care, Nu Finish has done a superb job on all of the cars I've owned. Great for removing marks left by black bumpers too!
P.S. Have a "big brother ECHO" on order too- Prius.
Don
My little accident was mostly my fault, but it was minor, only a little over $500 damage. My ECHO is in the shop now. I'm driving a rental, a Mitsu Mirage. Just not the same. Hopefully I'll have her back tomorrow.
BTW I'm in Delaware.
I didn't even have 5,000 miles on my ECHO. It happened in Oct, but we just got her into the shop. Hopefully we get her back today and she'll look like new again!
And I guess the best thing is nobody got hurt.
Note that Toyota designed their throttle control with lots of clearance in this location, but the SCS unit (as installed on my Echo) uses up some of this clearance, and therefore creates a risk of interference if not installed carefully.
Note that the Canadian Echos include the following as "standard" equipment:
Block heater (called a $100 mandatory option),
Folding rear seats,
Rear window defroster.
I called SCS about a cruise control and the person there said they don't make one for the ECHO. Did you use a Tercel one or something? Forgive me if you've already posted on this but I didn't feel like combing through the previous posts.
Thanks,
Randy
immediately. Of course, the 2001 can get it as well because that is the same. No problems so far!
Don
Silver 4door, AT, PS, AC, 6speaker 3-1 Stereo, Sport cladding, rear DF, cargo net, floormats, 60/40 rear split seats, spoiler, all weather package, basically everything except ABS, cruise control and power locks, 11,900+tax= @12,500.