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My wife bought a Saturn for our son to learn to drive on. I know what you mean about getting in and out of it! Makes me apprciate the ECHO all the more. But to get in it I open the door, face away from the seat and sit down and swing my legs into the car. Car is ok but not as good as ECHO.
On the other hand, the Focus ZETEC engine can take either a large or small filter. The small filter is the same as on their 8 valve, sohc engine that fits in the focus. The owner's manual for the ZX3 only showed the smaller filter, but the filter manual at WalMart showed both filters - either were ok with the ZETEC engine.
If you find out that there is an alternative larger filter for the Echo, let me know. The current filter looks better suited to a 1.1 liter motor. But, a lot of cars must be using it, or WalMart wouldn't have it on the shelf. (I just checked a manual and it is the same filter spec'd for the Corolla...,)
The rental company gave me a Saturn SL2. I've just finally gotten used to looking in the right place for the instrument panel, but I'm still not used to sitting so low.
Very cute!
p.s. i keep reading the posts on here about oil and intervals. i plan on doing 5000 mile changes with castrol 5w-30 FULL synthetic oil. How does this sound??
mike
sigh (
BTW I've never had problems with my CD player either.
(If the variation had been consistent and minor, I would have attributed it to minor gauge variations, but in this case it was significant and inconsistent, and one wheel had apparently been overlooked altogether.)
So it pays to doublecheck...especially with something as important as tires.
There was another post about problems with the cd player and I will have it checked when I have the 30k service done next month.
In the mean time I have been using a 'Walkman CD' with a car kit. The factory system has excellent sound so I'm anxious to get it fixed.
If youre going to drive 30k miles a year then changing with synthetic oil twice a year makes sence, although you might have a warranty issue there. I find the main thing synth does is give you good starting in cold weather. Not sure Id want to change my oil once a month, but its a good idea to get the old stuff out of there. Also, you will leak/burn more synth because its thinnner when the engine gets older. Probably with todays oils you can go much farther than the mansufacturers recommend.
From my own experience and most of what I've read on here, the 2000 Echos have had very few problems; my 4dr auto/ac has had zero trouble and Sunday's my 2 year anniversary. (The cd player has also been flawless with lots of use; maybe skipped once or twice on a bump.) Don't know much about used car prices; you might check Edmunds'"True Market Value" section, but I have no idea how accurate that is either.
After playing flawlessly, the cd player will abruptly stop and the 'Error 1' message comes on. The disc then ejects itself. This happens while the car is parked as well as in motion.
After playing for a while when the heater is on, the cd player does the same thing as mentioned above.
The funny thing is that the player never really skipped at all and I love the sound quality considering it's a factory unit.
I remember someone posting that they had to leave the unit with the dealer to have it sent in for inspection. I don't know if I can survive for an extended period of time without it! I will most likely replace the unit eventually with an aftermarket cd changer/mp3/cassette system.
...My opinion is that the price should come down a bit from 9995. I also tend to think that the red color is less generally saleable - hence the seller has a harder task. 21K is not a lot of miles, and I think the car should be excellent, if you dont find anything to the contrary. But I would suggest you get the price down to about 9000 flat. Else keep looking.
I have put 16,000 miles on the car and I love it.
rick
If you want to use this car for towing I would do it after the warranty is over, strongly consider the installation of a transmission cooler and change the transmission fluid every 20 K miles.
Generally it isnt recommended to tow with a FWD vehicle because the handling qualities of these vehicles are different from RWD. It can get really screwy. But Ive towed with (old) Subarus and the VW Fox so it can be done. Just take it easy. (but you might void the warranty!)
You are always welcome to post a link to a picture on another website (as long as there is no contrary term of service with that website, of course).
Sorry, I had to remove a post for these reasons.
Pat
Sedans Host
P.S. WE PICK UP MY BRO'S LIL ECHO TOMORROW!!!! IT IS HIS 1ST CAR, A 2000 AND I HAVE A 2002. I GOT HIM A FEW STARTER ITEMS----HE IS AS COMFY IN HIS MASCULINITY AS ME AND THINKS THE ECHO IS "ADORABLE"...HIS WORDS LOL!!
http://www.canadiandriver.com/previews/03ion.htm
You agreed to abide by that document when you joined the Town Hall. Drop me an email if you have any other questions.
8u6hfd - thanks - sorry I had to do that.
Pat
Sedans Host
We have had high winds in the Bay Area (San Francisco) the last few days and the car is relatively stable - it "jiggles" but doesn't wander. You can feel the wind, but don't feel like you are going to be blown out of line. It calls for more attentiveness on the steering wheel, that's all. (When I drove back from LA, there was only wind at the beginning so I didn't experience any fatigue from the drive.)
Should I treat the seats with any stain repellent? I am reluctant to do so if the stain repellent is going to stain the seats or clothing, or if it is going to make the cabin air "toxic." (I.e., outgas.) I think some stuff from 3M (Scotchguard?) is still available at WalMart.
Has anybody tried any "vinyl" treatments like Armor All etc? How did you like the results?
Working out of the "zone," I adjust seat angle to have a comfortable "reach" to the steering wheel. On my Echo, this means various degrees of "upgrightness" because short of clicking the seat forward to its closest tolerable position, and then almost straightening up the seat back, I have to hold my arms out straight, racing style, to reach the wheel.
Is this just a very "upright" car (the seat, I mean) or am I missing something? I did discover the steering wheel tilt adjustment, so I have already optimized that (there isn't any "telescoping" adjustment).
I personally like 3M Vinyl/Leather Cleaner/Protectant location.
Furthermore, the carpet beside (to the right) the accelerator is also worn trough. Solution: I bought some velcro strips and attached a piece of similar colored carpet to the damaged area. If it wears trough I'll replace it again with a new patch.
As far as stains and such, I use an upholstery cleaner by Turtle Wax that does the job fine. It got out dried coffee stain from the passenger seat with no fuss.
The floor mats in front are covered by SUV grade rubber ones. I rarely carry people in back so I just have the factory ones back there.
slugline Feb 10, 2002 11:18pm
Also, I am in agreement with kaz6 on the seating position. I do not drive an ECHO on a daily basis, but getting behind the wheel requires no significant adjustment because my daily driver is a CR-V, the design of which also best accomodates an upright driving position. Many CR-V reviews gripe about buslike steering angles as well.
geegee1958: Edmunds has mentioned center-mounted pods before:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/roadtest/47564/article.html
Apparently, it's a cost-cutting move in subcompact car design, but if you do it in a $128K BMW roadster, it's OK. <GRIN>
http://www.pureoil.com/TEMP_old_site/air.htm
Purolator says that for each gallon of gas burned, typically 9,000 to 10,000 gallons of air have to go throught the air filter!
Therefore Purolator recommends replacement every 7,500 miles.
I don't think dire things will happen to an engine with 30,000 mile AIR filter changes, but I have performance concerns. I believe Toyota recommends 30,000 miles, except 15,000 miles in "severe" conditions. I want maximum performance out of my little 1.5 vvt-i engine - it is capable of it - so an air filter change more frequently is probably a cheap performance maintainer.
I think I will go with 10,000 mile air filter changes. On a "do it yourself" basis this is cheap and easy - not like changing spark plugs, anyway.
If anyone has experience with different brands, and pricings, let me know. Autozone wants $14.95 (!) for an "STP" air filter. WalMart doesn't carry Echo air filters from Fram.