Toyota Echo

sfecho · January 2003

kaz6- New part number for the filter is 88568-52010, same price- $31.14. Description is "FILTER, AIR A/C"

kaz6 · January 2003

I went to my dealer today to buy the filter. The part is actually listed under Prius A/C Filter. I took out the tray to see if it would fit and it did. I paid $33+tax and while that may seem pricey, it works out to less than a cup of coffee a day. The air in LA is full of particulate pollution so it seems worth it to me. Thanks again, sfecho!

dmundy1 · February 2003

Just read that Toyota is introducing the Echo hatchback at the Toronto Auto Show today. It is based off of the Yaris sold in Europe and will be here in the summer in both three and five door models. From what I read it will not be coming to the U.S., I would suspect that is because of Scion, which we do not get up here.

coolguyky7 · February 2003

I saw a silver 4 door ECHO today and it looked like it had been lowered. Its rear end sagged much lower than normal.

coolguyky7 · February 2003

Will the new ECHOs be the same as the Yaris or are they styled differently? Any photos if it's something other than the Yaris design?

dmundy1 · February 2003

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/030213-9.htm

coolguyky7 · February 2003

Thanks! www.toyota.ca also has a lot of pictures and info on it. I wish the US was getting it. :-(

kaz6 · February 2003

I saw another ECHO like mine the other day. The only difference was he had 14" rims (I have 15") and an ELECTRIC SUNROOF! The sunroof looked great and wish I could afford one. Last I checked, an installation like that would be around $1000!!!
The Yaris/Echo hatch is the one I fell in love with on a trip to Spain a few years ago. Love the way it looks to this day!

vocus · February 2003

I paid about $900 for a sunroof, installed with a lifetime warranty, when I had my 99 Protege. It was worth every penny too!

aeroterremer · February 2003

Here's an interesting article mentioning Echo which appeared in the Sunday, Feb 16, edition of the Honolulu Advertiser. I found the Echo part funny

. I know you'll enjoy it:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Feb/16/il/il01a.ht- ml

kaz6 · February 2003

Thanks for the great article! I grew up in Hawaii (townie) and appreciated the humor! The ECHO was not my first choice either. I too felt it looked strange-like a turtle or a rabbit wtih its back hunched. The reason I bought it wasn't the price but the fact that it didn't look like anything else out there AND the great mpg. It has turned out to be the best small car I've owned and my first choice for any long drive. People never cease to be amazed at the great ride and comfort when riding with me and anyone under 25 loves the center-mounted gauge cluster!

kneisl1 · February 2003

Thankyou for the pictures of the for Canada only hatchback ECHO. It is beautiful. Toyota: if you sell an ECHO with the hatchback like Canada gets AND equip it with a less than 1.5 liter diesel engine I WILL BUY ONE RIGHT NOW! How can you afford to pass up this economic opportunity? This could put you over the top!

vocus · February 2003

I was just wondering if anyone knew how the Echo handled in snow. With 24" currently on the ground here in MD, it just made me wonder...

kneisl1 · February 2003

Its a little twitchy like the old beetle for me. Traction is none too good. The rear end likes to swing out on corners when its snowy. And the bottom of the car is fairly low to the ground allowing snow to pack under the car which destroys your traction. It might help a lot to have better tires on the car...currently it has POTENZAS which seem ok when wet or dry, but seem to have little traction in snow. Back in the good old days in Upstate NY I had a set of dedicated snow tires for my beetle on four rims. That car had traction in spades which always got you through.

vocus · February 2003

Potenzas wear very quickly, and their wet traction sucks.

rdeschene · February 2003

You know, when you think about it, the extra cost for snow tires is really the cost of the steel wheels for them. Because once they tires are mounted and balanced you can swap the summer/winter wheels yourself ($0 each time) and your summer tires are getting just that much less wear. Just my 2 cents.

kneisl1 · February 2003

Has anyone bought steel wheels for their ECHO and if so, how much were they? Anyone know a cheap place to get them? Im thinking of OEM type wheels, not aftermarket.

wrgraham · March 2003

My 2000 Echo 4 door is now up to 71K miles. Just washed it the other day and I was noticing again all the little dents on the side. Small, no breakage of paint or consequent rust worry. But these little dings must have come from parking lots where others open their car doors against the side of my car. The Echo sheet metal is certainly light, in keeping with the light weight of the car overall. Seems like I see Echos frequently with a strip on the side of the door which is for protection against just this situation. Maybe the strip came out in 2001 or 2002, I don't remember it being an option. I don't mind the little dings, they give a little character, maybe like little wrinkles on an aging face. (When I say many, probably about 4 on each side.)

kneisl1 · March 2003

" The company blames the somewhat stodgy image of the brand name" (as the reason ECHO has sold "only" 50,000 units/year. How much are these idiots being paid to make these decisions? They are completely wrong and in total deninal! Americans arent flocking to ECHO because they want large gas guzzling cars/SUVs. Also, young people simply dont have the money for a new car, even ECHO. ECHO is the first new car I ever bought for myself and I was 44 when I arrived at that postion in life where I needed a new car. You sell cars by building a reliable vehicle which has value for the money. And unfortunately catering to people wants ie SUVs. Styling is worth about a pitcher of warm spit.

vocus · March 2003

I wouldn't agree with you that young people can't afford new cars. I am 24, and have had 2 new cars (also paid for by myself too). I looked at an ECHO when I was looking for a car, but it felt a little too lightweight to me on the highway (where most of my driving is done). Also, I just couldn't get comfortable in the driver's seat for some reason. They are nice, very reliable cars. I have 2 friends who have them (00 and 01, respectively), and neither has had any trouble out of them.

kaz6 · March 2003

The ECHO's you've seen with them had them installed by the dealer. These moldings can be a mixed blessing, IMHO. When a person sees a car with the molding, he/she is less likely to use care when opening their door and if it hits yours above/below it, you'll still have a dent.
You can also buy impact strips that are magnetic. I've used them before and they provide good protection in tight spaces. The only drawback is you need to make sure the sheet metal is clean when using them otherwise you risk scratching the paint.

dsgecho · March 2003

A local '02 gold Echo for sale with AC, auto, PS, PDL, split rear seats, 4 dr.,sport cladding, am/fm/cass/CD, and a custom tint job. Clear record on Carfax. kbb.com and edmunds.com give a spread in appropriate selling value from $9500 to $10,500 in Nashville TN. Does this sound realistic range to everybody to be negotiating within?
Thanks,
Don Gillespie

aeroterremer · March 2003

We had the black side mouldings installed after we picked up our Echo. Our salesman told us the name of the company who installs it for Servco in Hawaii. By doing so we saved $100.

sfecho · March 2003

For comparison purposes, there is a free buy/sell web site here in the SF Bay Area called Craigs List. It's URL is www.craigslist.org (not .com). Try SF Bay Area...cars and trucks... then keyword Echo.
I saw a 2001 for $7500 today. I bought my second Echo on Craigs List for $8400 about six months ago.

jackiedoodle · March 2003

34000 miles now and every little thing is running smoothly. No doubt, this was the right car for me. I love the new hatchback, would buy it in a heartbeat. Best features-visability, mpg, handleling, cupholders, nooks and crannys. Love it!

kneisl1 · March 2003

Wrgraham I was wondering if you had your valves adjusted at 60k miles? The ECHO has a layout very similiar to the one on my Honda ST1100 motorcycle...which has 89k on it without a valve adjustment.

pulgo · March 2003

I just reached 60 k miles and talked to my Toyota mechanic about the valve lash adjustment. He listened to the engine in my car and said: "it doesn't need any adjustment, we have had several Echo's with over 120k miles (driven mostly by courier companies) in the shop and none of them needed any adjustment. These engines are pretty much bulletproof!"

kneisl1 · March 2003

Thats was the service manual says...listen to the engine and see that way if it needs adjustment. My experience with this type of valves (bucket over shim) is that they in fact need little adjustment and if they do its because the valves are wearing into the seats abnormally causing the clearances to decrease. It IS a relative [non-permissible content removed] to correct the clearances if thats necessary however which may account for the mechanic saying they never need adjustment! But he is probably right. Ill let you know what my ECHO does when it reaches 60k in about 9 years.

kneisl1 · March 2003

I was re reading Edmunds report on the ECHO and since I dont have anything else to do I thought I would pick it apart point by point.
  "We arent fans of ECHO. For a superior offering, check out the cars from Kia and Hyundai."
  Superior offering? In what catagory? They arent as well made, dont get as good gas mileage, have a terrible repair record, are made by comapnies on the verge of financial bankruptcy, and dont have anything like ECHO's engine. The only thing they have on the ECHO is they cost less...
  Pros: good gas mileage, Toyota reliability, speedy acceleation, roomy and functional interior."
   Thats a lot isnt it. What other car you say that about? I would add ECHO is a sleeper buy for those who want a ecology conscious car. Its HALF the cost of a Prius and gets 85% of the mileage.
   Cons: cartoonish styling, dopy gauge placement, tiltawhirl handling, deceptivly low base pricing.
   They have a good point about the base pricing. To which I would add its pretty hard to find a base ECHO... which I would buy in a Dixie minute. Adding a few options can make the price shoot up to $15k pretty fast. My suggestion is dont get them youll do fine without them.
   Here we have the REAL reason for Edmunds dislike of the ECHO...it isnt cool enough for them! These are insecure people. They need their car to reinforce their opinion of themselves. (or use it to bully others) The stlying is weird but it grows on you. Who cares what it looks like this is a functional, reliable car. You get used to the gauge placement fast enough and maybe even come to prefer it. Everything they say negitive about ECHO needs to be seen in this not cool enough for them attitude.
  "When you cut through the marketing hype what you see isnt pretty."
  Marketing hype? What are they talking about? I have never seen a Toyota commercial for ECHO. ECHO is the stepchild of the Toyota family. You never see them promote it.
  "Do you want people to think when you pull up to the curb that you borrowed a prop from Disneys Toontown?"
  Here is more of their insecurity on display.
   "Toyota says ECHO was designed to equal the carshworthiness of the CAMRY. Crash tests confirm these goals."
  Hooray!
  "Handling is not ECHO's forte. Crosswinds seriously hamper the drivers ability to stay in his own lane."
   Right this isnt a BMW Three series. But the handling issue is overstated. If youre used to one of those BMWs youre going to notice crosswinds in the ECHO. Ive driven my ECHO long distance in great comfort. At 80 mph. Cross winds and handling were never issues.

vocus · March 2003

I do have to agree about one thing with the Edmunds review, the crosswind factor. I drove my friend's Echo on the highway and it felt like it was going to get blown right off the road at 80mph when a big truck passed us. Made me feel insecure. Since I drive highway 80% of the time, it made me not want to get an Echo as a second car for my dad and I to share.

It's a very good car though, and extremely reliable. I would have one in a second if I could get over that crosswind thing. Maybe larger tires would help?

kneisl1 · March 2003

...how about a new 2002 ECHO with five speed, CD ps for $10,600 plus tax. My local dealer has it.

coolguyky7 · March 2003

Toyota ran an ECHO commercial a few months ago with a young woman driving and herself as a young child sitting in the backseat.

kaz6 · March 2003

Larger/wider tires do help! Best investment I've made!

slugline · March 2003

This, unfortunately, is a weakness of the ECHO that I've seen firsthand. It's an unavoidable consequence of making a tall and light car. However, the tall cabin delivers a spacious interior, and the low weight translates into high fuel economy. As a consolation, the ECHO's narrow width means it enjoys more room for error as you work to stay within your lane!

toyotalgal · March 2003

I test drove a 2003 Echo the other day - I also drove a Prius - I have a '01 Corolla which I am very happy with, but my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to see what each car was like.

The Echo: cute as can be! I thought the interior, while a little bland-looking, was very spacious - the car handled well - I love the new styling -

The Prius: cool! The CVT gets some getting used to - but acceleration was more than adequate - the computer which tells you your MPG was very interesting too - somewhat small trunk though - on the test drive I got 41 MPG -

anyway, my Corolla has been flawless so far - so I guess I made a good choice

rsanges · March 2003

I've been car shopping for months now. The ECHO has crept up towards the top of my list.

However, I was checking Toyota's web site (USA) and going through the "Build Your Own" feature, the 4 door was only available with a slush box! I tried a few other zip codes (mine is 06082), but none in my neck of the woods had the 5 speed/4 door combination.

The lack of a manual transmission will take the ECHO completely off my shopping list. What is Toyota thinking!

coolguyky7 · March 2003

Toyota's build your own section on their website is completely screwed up and is terrible compared to other automanufacturer's websites. Go to your dealer and look for yourself. Whenever I go to see what ECHOs are around, there are always a good amount of 5 speeds.

slugline · March 2003

How closely does the Maintenance Guide on this site match up with the Toyota maintenance schedule? We've recently moved, and I think our copy of schedule was lost in the chaos. My SO's 2000 automatic four-door just hit 30,000 miles and I wanted to know what was due. I've seen

Also, does anyone know if there are any other sources of Black Sand Pearl touchup paint -- other than a dealership? I was wondering if there might be a Duplicolor or other equivalent.

kneisl1 · March 2003

Toyotagal: Im mostly city driving my ECHO has averaged 38 mpg. It gets 40-43 mpg in the summer on trips. Im shocked the Prius does very little better at twice the price and ten times the complexity.
Slugline: At 30k (according to my 01 manual) you need the airfilter and sparkplugs changed, the oil in the engine chaged, the coolant changed. Also, you need to inspect the boots on the front drive axles, (which should be checked at every oil change from now on, in my experience) the brake pad/shoe thicknesses, the tie rod and ball joint linkages. Also, I would change the brake fluid at this point although the manual doesnt call for it. Also, on a manual transmission Id bleed out the slave cylinder on the clutch. Basically, you want to put the car on a lift and check everything out under the car you can see. Also, check the gasket on the gas cap and replace it if it looks dammaged.
I just read the latest edition of consumer reports and the ECHO does very well in it. It was listed as the most reliable car in the subcompact class.

toyotalgal · March 2003

that's great about the mileage on your Echo - the best I ever got with my Corolla in the city was 34 mpg - which is pretty good - the worst was 27 mpg/city, most of the time I get 30-32 mpg city - if I were in the market for a new car today I think I would get a 2003 Echo - I think Toyota did an excellent job re-styling them, as with the new Corolla - the Prius was impressive, but I too was a little surprised that 41 mpg was the best it did on my 7 mile test drive - and the Prius would cost around $21K with the options I would want -

vocus · March 2003

Consumer Reports said the same thing about the Echo vs. Prius. The Echo is just as economical, not as complex, and alot cheaper. The only thing they didn't like about the car was its overall sparse interior feeling. With some new options like power windows and locks and sporty interior pieces available now, that point becomes sort of moot.

kneisl1 · March 2003

Like you Toyotagal I take test drives when I see an interesting car, but Im not really in the market for one. I liked the Prius very much, its like a super ECHO with upgraded interior which was very nicely finished. A beautiful car. I just dont think the hybrid concept makes any sense. I recently drove the Matrix which handled like a truck. It weighs like 3500 pounds (which the sedan approaches also) which is far too heavy to give good gas mileage. The salesman was flabergasted when he asked my opinion of the Matrix and I told him I was disappointed! I also recently looked at the Honda Element which I found to be in the same class as the Matrix. What I really want is a 1.3 liter diesel ECHO. And a brand new 1974 VW Beetle. And a brand new 1971 VW Bus.

vocus · March 2003

The Matrix handles satisfactorily when pushed, but it has hardly any power. I drove an automatic XR model, and was very disappointed in it. With the Prius, I hated the brakes. The dealer said they would feel different because of being part of the regenerative braking system. They made me feel like I was going to have an accident, so therefore no Prius.

I also have heard raised concerns about the environmental consciousness concerning the batteries that are in the hybrids. I hear they're not at all good for the environment, and no one thinks about that before purchasing one of these vehicles. In addition, replacement of these batteries will most definitely raise your operating costs. I think the best way to go is a diesel engine, but a 'good' diesel engine like they sell in Europe that's pretty environmentally friendly. I wish the US would get on the ball with their crappy diesel fuels and up to Europe's standards.

kaz6 · March 2003

Just did a trip from LA to Palm Springs and back. Speeds were 65-70mph and a/c was on for one leg of the trip. Managed 40mpg for the first time! I usually go 80mph and average 36mpg. With gas going for $2.13/gallon here, I love my ECHO even more!

kneisl1 · March 2003

Now that gas prices are going up, Ive had several people ask me about my ECHO, if its as good a car as theyve heard it is. Im wondering if I should get a club for mine now...

reaper3 · March 2003

I currently reside in Germany. My profession has taken me here to Europe from Canada and I shipped my 00' Echo over here. My Echo has been great on the autobahn! The car likes to cruise at 140 to 160 kilometers per hour, yes 100 miles per hour and it handles fine. I can count on one hand the times crosswind has affected me, which is great considering I have to to deal with trucks and BMWs, Mercedes going at 200+ KPH. Speaking of that it is SWEET to pass some of those marvels of german engineering in my Toyota Echo!!! Love this vehicle, it is my third Toyota, I had a 96' Corolla and a 00'. Best car by far!

kneisl1 · March 2003

The was a Saab cruising in the fast lane of the NJTPK at 65 who would not let anyone pass him. He would speed up if you tried to pass on the right, which was dificult because traffic was heavy. Several people tried and failed, then it was my turn. When I saw an opening I just put my foot on the floor and left it there. He speeded up with me, and Im thinking "Man this is a good way to get a ticket! I must be going 90!" I looked down at the speedo and I was going 106. (Im not trying to top you reaper, Im just telling the story. You of course can go that fast any time you like!) The car was amazingly quiet at that speed and like you say it handled fine. Its a real little buzz bomb. I did get by the Saab. What a crank!

pulgo · March 2003

Yep, 106 is possible. LAst year in Nevada, on the so called "loneliest road of the world" I tried to reach te top speed and saw an indicated 185 Kph. This would be 115 Mph. If its true it is not bad at all. The car felt extremely safe.

Today, on my commute to work in Vancouver we had very strong crosswinds, about 50 mph and many other cars were all over the road but in their lane. I felt extremely safe, no problems at all to keep the car going straight.

My old '71 Beetle was much more of a handful at 75 mph when it was windy!

vocus · March 2003

In an Echo? I don't know, maybe the (used) one I drove had worn tires or something like that. The car felt like a bit of a handful to keep steady at 80mph on the highway with crosswinds. Also, quick cornering (like making a left turn at 10mph or so) caused all 4 tires to squeal loudly in protest.

kneisl1 · March 2003

I used to drive my 74 beetle to work on hardpacked snow at 60-65 on route 7 in upstate NY. It sure was twitchy, and Im lucky I never had to stop suddenly! Returning from Houston TX I was about 20 miles from home on route 7 in a blizzard (and I mean blizzard) in my 67 VW Bus. I had just stoped to pick up a hitch hiker and was moving about 25-30 with winds about 50 mph coming from my right. Suddenly, the bus just went stage left into the other lane, skidded sideways and the front wheels dropped into the left ditch and the bus flipped on its side. The gas tank broke and we could smell (and hear) gas sizzling on the hot engine. We just looked at each other with a "We really need to get out of here!" look on our faces and stood up and bashed the passanger door open and climbed out.
Maybe thats why I think ECHO is so stable!

Toyota Echo

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