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This didn't stop me from getting an Echo though, because it should not be an issue for at least 5, and maybe 10 years. (I had to replace the radiator on my last car, a Toyota, when it was 13 years old.) At some point, I'll probably buy and install some aftermarket temperature gauge; can't imagine it would be very expensive.
......
Is the Echo fun to drive?? Oh yes! It probably depends on what you're looking for, but I'm constantly amazed at how fast the car accelerates without my really trying hard. It has a lot of power for its weight. I don't have any complaints at all about the handling either.
(I admit to being somewhat surprised about this, because I just bought my Echo to get an inexpensive and reliable car. But, driving it has been enjoyable enough that the car has kind of grown on me. I've even been known to just take it for a drive for no reason other than it's a fun experience. :-) )
[Kneisl1's recent posting about avoiding an accident also speaks well of the car's handling qualities; as well as his good skill in driving.]
The best thing to do is take one for a good test drive and see how you like it. Don't take anybody else's word for it.
I presently own a 01 Ford Taurus, but I only plan to keep it for another year. Right now the front runner for me is the Echo.
I like to hear what was the last car Echo owners had before they purchased the Echo.
half the savings from not buying the Camry and they got to split it and spend it on whatever they wanted to do with it. And we bought the Echo. We are all happy with it. That was 2 years ago.
(Of course we dont have freeway driving over here.)
Can somebody tell me where these rear-seat heater ducts are on a 2001 Echo? THanks
or a Ford Taurus or Dodge Stratus, those are the rental cars for sure.
Echos?
Has anyone here actually owned (or even seen) an ECHO with a sub-$10K MSRP?
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Celica: 1994-1999 -- 6 years
Tacoma: introduced 1995 -- 7 years and still counting
4Runner: introduced1 996 -- 6 years and counting
Landcruiser: 1991-1997 -- 7 years
LS400: 1995-2000 -- 6 years
SC300/400: 1992-2000 -- 9 years
When I bought my ZX-2(Ford), it was a brand-new model so I bought the additional coverage. Big mistake! The only time I was able to use it was for malfunctioning sensors but they charged me $50 deductable everytime I had it fixed(3 times). While it did save me money on the fix(the job would've been $150)the warranty was $1250 extra!
When I bought my Echo the salesman went on and on about Toyota reliability and when I asked why Toyota didn't offer roadside assistance, he laughed and said, "because it's a Toyota". Well, when it came time to draw up a contract, the 'finance' guy said, 'you never know what might go wrong'. It's just a way for them to make money on you IMHO. If there was a defective part in your car it surely would make itself known in the first couple of years.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid5/p041ec01a09af2578866273e010ed86fe/fde4535e.jpg
Toyota's Gold level policy has a ton of exclusions. I wouldn't touch one. Things like the CD player are not covered, neither are ground wires, key lock sets, tape decks, thermostat, speedometer, charcoal canister, shift levers, seat back adjusters, coil springs and a host of other items. The Gold policy does cover the basics of the car, but honestly, those are the things least likely to have problems.
Further, I don't think extended power train warranties are worth the money on a Toyota product. Your chances of being stranded by a defect are pretty slim.
Toyota's Platinum warranty though covers just about everything short of belts, hoses, fuses, light bulbs and floor mats. The $0 deductible warranty is only $50 more than the $50 deductible plan. I've known plenty of people who needed an alternator on a 6 year old car, and I've seen plenty of CD decks fail. Starters, power door locks, CV boots, EGR valves, power steering pumps and AC compressors are things that can cost a lot of money out of your pocket. If you don't think you can afford these problems and you think there is a chance that you would spend more than the cost of the warranty, buy the warranty.
I grew up in Hawaii and had a few new cars through high school. I remember seeing that "delivery charge" tacked onto the sticker!
Have fun in your new Echo!
Now, why would you want to do that? Well, you might want to do this if you are towing a heavy trailer. Forcing the car to stay in third (or lower) will give you more torque. You may also want to do this if you are on a steep hill. Older automatic transmissions would get confused on hills and "hunt" from gear to gear; disabling overdrive stops the hunting.
The hill scenario doesn't happen too often anymore though. Today's automatics can usually tell if they are on a slope (or "grade") and cope accordingly. Honda calls this their "Grade-Logic" technology. I forgot if Toyota attached a catchy name to theirs.
Now I'll end this long treatise by saying you'll want to keep O/D active just about all the time. Your car's engine is quietest, least strained, and most fuel-efficient when it has the opportunity to choose fourth gear. Hope this clears things up!
I was driving a 1991 Chevy S-10 pickup before I got the ECHO.
Is it boring to drive? I don't think so - I think it is the perfect city car. I can zip in and out of parking spaces that the SUV crowd can't get into with an 8-point turn. That's important in Honolulu! It sips gas, which is not cheap in Hawaii. It has plenty of room inside for my 6' 250 lb. self, and my family, and a trunk full of junk for a day at the beach.
I like the seating position - the visibility is great.
My only complaint would be the outside mirrors - they're too small. I have to look over my should er for lane changes, etc.
Oh, and leave the O/D on all the time. The only time I come out of O/D is when I downshift like I would a manual trans - usually slowing up coming down a hill.
Aloha!
Aloha!
17psi kneisl??? omg!
To those experiencing the 'squeaking' sound, usually more prevalent in the cold and wet weather, change (or tighten) your drive belt. I just did mine; no more squeaks
You only need to loosen two bolts on the alternator to remove the belt; the job takes about 15 minutes.
Kaz, you can run wires through through the firewall without drilling holes. Follow the wiring harness through the existing hole in the firewall. The plastic 'gasket' can be pushed and pulled until it comes out of the car's frame. Run your wires through the hole in the gasket, then push it back in place. There is plenty of room to add your own wiring. (I've done this on my Echo when running heavy duty wires to power an inverter.)
And a note on the Echo shop manual available from Toyota. This the 1st time I've purchased an actual dealer manual. I'm a bit disapponted. Not that there is anything wrong with the manual, but for $120, I expected more. There doesn't seem to be much more detail than a Chiltons manual. Maybe a little more detail on troubleshooting sensors, but not much more on the actual 'work' diagrams.
As far as the 'squeak' noise...don't know if it is the belt but will try it. I say I don't know because it only makes the sound when the car is in gear and moving. It doesn't make it when idle and the throttle is pressed. If it were the belt it would make the sound anytime the throttle is pressed. I still feel it's the pcv valve leaking or something like that. My prior car made a similar sound and it was found to be coming from the pcv valve which was cracked. At any rate I'll wait for the 30k check to have it investigated further.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/uni_t.html
The bottom line seems to be that this is Bridgestone's indicator for its premium tires. I recently replaced the tires on my CR-V with Bridgestone Dueler H/Ls with Uni-T and noticed a big improvement over the Dueler H/Ts that came stock with the vehicle. Thanks wrgraham, I'll keep those Potenzas in mind as replacements for the S.O.'s ECHO.
My impressions: I drove it today in the rain all day (about 60 miles), and it's not a bad little car. Pretty good pickup, but not what I am used to (I have a 180hp Jetta turbo though!). The brakes are good too, and I only slid once without ABS in hard braking. It's a little noisy though, but most lower-priced cars are.
I didn't have enough room to get comfortable in the driver's seat though, but I like to stretch my legs way out when I am driving too.
The car truly did surprise me though. I didn't think they drove as nice and sporty as this one did.