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Toyota Echo

17677798182115

Comments

  • libertycatlibertycat Member Posts: 593
    It is my favorite subcompact, the Kia Rio taking a close second.
  • aeroterremeraeroterremer Member Posts: 79
    I would not only agree that Echo is my favorite subcompact, I would go as far as to say Echo is my favorite car...period. I'd have to say the mini-cooper is my 2nd choice.
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    I found out the steadily increasing pain in my shoulder is from two ruptured discs in my neck. It started with sitting up at the computer and now I cant ride my bicycle, motorcycle, or drive my 5 speed ECHO. Im driving my wifes Saturn, which has automatic. At least is much less painfull.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Is that Saturn an S or an L? If it's an S, I don't see how the pain would stop for you. Those are the most uncomfortable cars I ever sat in for me!

    Maybe it's time to trade for an auto Echo...
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    I nominate the current Honda Civic for most uncomfortable car. I got to test drive one (along with many other makes and models) at GM's Auto Show In Motion.

    I agree that perhaps an auto Echo is in order.
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    Its not that the car is comfortable or uncomfortable its just that I dont have to shift. I agree wholeheartedly that the Saturn is one uncomfortable car compared to the ECHO. The seats are unbelieveably bad but its bliss for me in my circumstances. When the Saturn goes its auto ECHO time for sure.
  • rajmoranrajmoran Member Posts: 46
    I still have it and I still love it. I'm up to 55,000 miles now with no problems of any kind to report. The ECHO is still in perfect mechanical and cosmetic shape, and carries me, my wife, and two small children quite capably. Commuting mileage seems to hover around 32, while long highway trips work out to about 40 MPG.

    For you motorcycle fans out there, I'm the recent purchaser of an '03 Honda RC51. It will suffice to say "Whoa."
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I have to agree about the Civic. I hated it when I just sat in it, and didn't fit anyway because I am 6'3 and rubbed the roof.
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    Be carefull with that sucker. Dont get carried away. A friend at work (who usually rides a Harley) was rding a cousins cbr6004f and wrapped it around a telephone pole breaking his shoulder. His helmet actually hit the pole a glancing blow. The cops said you couldnt even wheel the bike away it was so trashed!
  • rajmoranrajmoran Member Posts: 46
    As you probably know, riding a motorcycle will eventually make you careful or dead.

    Hey, does anyone here buy car parts online? Are there any good sites for that sort of thing?
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    Well, my roommate got a car yesterday and guess what? It is a 2003 automatic Toyota Echo. Gray in color, but otherwise a twin to my 2001 in terms of accessories.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    A buddy of mine has an 00 Echo with almost 60K miles on it now, automatic sedan in white. I had a chance to drive it from Baltimore to DC and back last Friday night. I have to say, it was smaller inside than I thought it would be. I am 6'3 though, so that might have had something to do with it. The seats hurt my lower back, but I think it was because I wasn't able to stretch my legs like I wanted to. Also, I kept hitting the 'OD off' button on the transmission shifter, very annoying.

    He definitely needs new front brake pads and a rotor machining, as the car starts shaking once you get it up to about 60mph. But 60K on front brakes (if the previous owner didn't replace them in the 36K they had the car) is pretty good I think.
  • mrowens42mrowens42 Member Posts: 15
    Local used car dealer (not Toyota)has 2003 Echo w/5000 miles.Pretty much base car but has air.Asking $9,800. Dealer's rep not the best,but could take it to local Toyota dealer and have it checked for $50.00. Opinions please.
  • aeroterremeraeroterremer Member Posts: 79
    I personally would not buy from that used car dealer. I'd prefer to buy a certified used Echo from an authorized Toyota dealer. I do not trust used car dealers and don't intend to in the future. That price seems awfully low for a used 2003, I'd be more suspicious than interested. Pay a little bit more and drive with peace of mind.
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    Well it would be under warranty. ask if you can contact the previous owner. sometimes people dont know the value of the used car. then again maybe its a lemon someone is dumping. i would buy it if i could contact the previous and he said it was ok. a possible opertunity to score a good deal here.
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    Im gettin' post 4000 while the gettin's good!
  • wrgrahamwrgraham Member Posts: 112
    I certainly agree with kneisl, I would want to contact the previous owner. If you don't feel confident in your communication with that owner, skip the car. Could be a good car with a shifty owner, and you miss it. But better safe than sorry. If all is well and the specs of the car are in line with what will work for you, then it sounds like a good opportunity. And that $50 you spend to have it mechanically checked is also well spent money, in my mind. (I think the Toyota shop would be glad to have you own the car, and be future business for them, perhaps.)
  • wrgrahamwrgraham Member Posts: 112
    Kneisl, what a rotten development to have disc problems in your neck. I had a problem with C6 due to standing on my head too much! All clear now. I think following some regular yoga routine would be good therapy. Not directly working on the cervical area, but getting the rest of your spine flexible and well oriented will bring benefits to the cervical portion also. Best wishes.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    ... with front-end shaking at speed? Sounds like he needs his tires balanced!

    Meade
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    Yes my C6 is shot with a 6mm extrusion. And C5 is bulging. Doc says if he fuses them c5 could go in a few years and Ill need surgury all over again. At least its not as painfull as my lower back was four years ago...which healed.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Never thought about that. I am used to the shaking when braking and know that means rotors need replacing or resurfacing. I know he needs pads though, because the brakes feel less effective then they did the day I drove the car when he bought it (with 36K on it).

    He hits every bump in the road and isn't careful with the car, so no wonder it shakes and rattles like it does.
  • coolguyky7coolguyky7 Member Posts: 932
    I saw a few 2003 Phantom Gray Echos. They are nice looking in this color. Nice pick by your roommate, Major!
  • echowranglerechowrangler Member Posts: 23
    Just dropped off my 2000 Echo at the dealer - I think the left front CV joint is toast. 32,000 miles. Back in February, my wife complained about clicking - since the car was at 30,000 miles I dropped it off for a 30k check - $400! They said they couldn't find anything. Now it's nice grinding sound, they won't be able to miss it.

    They also say it will take them 9 days to get around to the car (Servco in Honolulu, Hawaii). Apparently broken Toyotas are stacked up so deep they can't see over the top. What's up with this quality reputation - major repairs at 30k miles? So many dead Toyotas they can't keep up?I bought the dang thing because of the reputation - maybe I made a mistake.

    Anyone else having CVs go?
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    If you complained of clicking the first time and the dealer couldnt find the problem they are incompetant or theres nothing wrong with the cv joints. Did you look at them and see a torn boot? A good way to keep them honest because some people will replace perfectly good boots! Its a little unusual for boots to go that soon, but it happens. Perhaps they were dammaged by debris. I always inspect my boots at every oil change, even though my ECHO has only 18k miles on it. If you catch it early you wont have a destroyed joint. I recently caught a torn boot on my daughters Camry and Toyota charged $400 to change them all. good luck and tell us what the dealer finds out!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    One of the ones I saw at Enteprise a couple weeks ago was the grey color. I like that, the blue color, and the dark and bright red colors the best.
  • mishima8105mishima8105 Member Posts: 43
    Coolguyky7, that looks like the Spanish flag next to your sign-in name. Where in Esp. do you live? Are you an American living abroad?
  • mishima8105mishima8105 Member Posts: 43
    So how do you peeps like your Echos? Any regrets? With my present car I could have bought 2 Echos w/ change to spare.
  • coolguyky7coolguyky7 Member Posts: 932
    I'm an American in the states. :-D I just like Spain.
  • jackiedoodlejackiedoodle Member Posts: 11
  • pulgopulgo Member Posts: 400
    There's an excellent article about the Toyota Echo in todays local newspaper, The Vancouver Sun.
    If anyone is interested, send me an email and I'll send you the scanned article in PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) or as a JPG if you prefer (smaller).

    My email is in my profile.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Why not just post a link to the article? That way we can all enjoy it, and you don't run the risk of violating the Sun's intellectual property rights.
  • pulgopulgo Member Posts: 400
    Pat, I would post the link if it was an online article. It is not. I scanned the actual article from the newspaper. It contains an excellent opinion about the car. The article says that the projected sales for the next year in Canada will be 50000 cars, including the new hatchback. This would be the equivalent of 500,000 Echos sold in the US which would make it one of the most popular cars.
    Since in the US small cars don't sell that well total sales would probably be much lower.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Yikes, well then it is likely your providing the article to others may very well violate the intellectual property rights of the Vancouver Sun. I just suggest that you be careful to check that out before sharing it for your own sake.
  • gaiffemgaiffem Member Posts: 11
    No regrets. Like the handling, interior room w/the fold-down rear seats (a got-to-have IMHO), ease of getting into and out of the vehicle, the high seating that allows me to look "over" traffic and avoid problems ahead, center-mounted instrument cluster, economy, and ease of maintenance. 42,000 miles so far, 2000, 5-speed, option packages #1 and #2. (I'm a 56 yr old guy with so-so knees. Am I a "peep"?)
  • mcvarneymcvarney Member Posts: 8
    In #3694, sfecho says that there is a TSB on replacing the rattling door lock pulls. Babyboomer also had these replaced with a newer design.
    However, my dealer didn't seem to know about the TSB or the newer part. I've scheduled an appointment two weeks from now to have the child restraint anchor and rear brake tube modifications done, as well as to repair the buckled rubber strip on the roof and a rattle in the dashboard. Because most of my rattles come from the door lock pulls, it would be really nice to have these replaced at the same time.
    If anyone knows more about this TSB (e.g. its number or where I can find it online), I would be very interested in hearing about it. The lists I've consulted don't seem to have anything beyond "fixing interior rattles" or something like that.
    Thanks,
    Matt
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I know there is a TSB on that. I remember reading it here not too long ago. That, and the clicking wheel covers. My friend's ECHO has the rattling door lock pulls as well, you can actually see them moving in their moorings when the car's moving. But that's not the only thing in his car that rattles.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    You can go to Technical Service Bulletins and ask the Town Hall's good friend 0patience to check on whether that TSB exists. If it does, he'll post it for you.
  • mishima8105mishima8105 Member Posts: 43
    I like to play with language sometimes. That's my applied linguistics background.

    Where are the Echos manufactured? I was surprised to learn that Acura TLs are manufactured in the U.S. My Jetta, and I wasn't aware of it when I bought it, was assembled in Mexico a few years back. I don't think VW fired those Mexican assembly workers yet because the VW Jettas and New Beetles are still rated as unreliable according to Consumer Reports. I agree.

    In 2000 I could have bought 2 and 1/2 base Echos for my fully-loaded Jetta GLX.

    Does anything on the Echos ever fall apart?
  • pulgopulgo Member Posts: 400
    No, apparently nothing falls apart. My 2001 Echo now has 72k miles and absolutely nothing has failed or been replaced.

    Only regular oil changes, 1 drain and fill of ATF and coolant, respectively.

    Tires are still 70% (Michelin), brakes are 60%.

    Average MPG=41.9 (Automatic, AC)
  • wrgrahamwrgraham Member Posts: 112
    Sure no maintenance problems with my Echo. I am up to 83k miles. I change oil every 6k miles and have never gotten more than half a quart low in between. Original brakes, clutch, battery, muffler, no need for changes except the tires. I did add coolant once, makes me think I should check that coolant level again.
  • pulgopulgo Member Posts: 400
    I visited my Toyota dealer last week to take a look at the new (only for Canada) Echo hatchback.
    I test drove a plain 2 door, manual transmission Echo (very plain, no extras, not even power steering) and I liked it a lot. Price = US$ 10000. Not a bad deal in my opinion although I would add AC.

    Dealer checked brakes and found them at still 60% and suggested a brake fluid drain and fill. Sounds like a very good idea to me.
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    Sorry I haven't posted lately, but my computer at home remains the same slow dinosaur and it has been next to impossible to get online here at work.

    My roommate and I think of her Echo as being silver in color and that is her Echo's name, "Silver." As in, "Hi Yo Silver, Away." You also have to know that my roommate and I go to casinos and we both like the Lone Ranger video slot game.

    Had the car for a couple of weeks now and it still looks pretty clean even though we have not been able to wash it. Quite a contrast from Major Tom (my black Echo) which looks dirty a couple of hours after I wash it.

    Silver has her (yes, the car is a she) first door ding. Not bad and hard to spot, but a ding nonetheless. We have been so careful. All I can say is that people are such jerks at times.

    One thing I noticed was that Toyota changed the wording of the break-in period. Now you are not supposed to drive at high speeds during the first 1,000 miles. Would someone tell me what "high speeds" mean?

    Silver had 906 miles on her when my roommate's son took her for a trip to St. Louis this morning. I told him to keep her at 60 or under for the next 100 miles. He claims his mother told him 70 and I know she did not. I suppose if he does 70 that it won't hurt that much since we are so close to the 1,000 mile mark.

    Well, I better post this as I want to visit another thread before I have to sign off and go to work.
  • wrgrahamwrgraham Member Posts: 112
    Pulgo, that plain hatchback sounds like a great deal at $10K US. What is the feel like when inside, is it roomy, and does the hatchback area look to be of real functional value? I personally prefer a car without all the modern fancies. My friend was talking about his new MiniCooper and how he liked it, then started talking about all the electronic gadgetry with it. No thanks. Maybe a large part of my disdain is due to owning cars up through high mileage, and not wanting to have all those issues to deal with at the repair shop.
  • pulgopulgo Member Posts: 400
    The hatch back has the same room as the regular Sedan. It just does not have the big trunk. Other than that it looks the same on the inside.

    Go to www.toyota.ca to have a look.

    The surprising thing was that even without power steering I felt the steering was very responsive and the car was very agile.

    Only when parking the heavier steering effort was noticeable.

    Wrgraham:

    I feel the same as you about cars with all kinds of electronics and gadgets. I used to own a 91 Chev Caprice Classic with all options. The engine and transmission were bulletproof (sold at 280k miles), but the repairs of those electronic gizmos were starting to pile up.
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    My wifes Saturn SL1 is getting a little transmission challanged and we might have to replace it with a new car. We both like the ECHO, but there are other cars for sale now where you can get 0% financing. Toyota wants you to go to a bank and pay like 5%. So I looked at the Focus and ION just to see what they were like and how much they would cost. Putting $1000 down on an ION 1 with ac would result in a $184 dollar a month payment..not bad. I was hoping it would be simple like the SL 1 but it isnt. The battery is in the trunk (where it can outgass hydrogen in an airtight area and be too far from the starter...and cost a fortune to replace the positive cable) The oil filter isnt spin on and the cover which screws over it is PLASTIC. There is a brake line routed over the exhaust pipe behind the engine which is only four inches from it. Its covered with a cheapo piece of insulation which looks like it will fall off in a year or so. The front strut mountes are covered with the insulating stuff which is crudely cut out and you can peal it off by hand. The car drove ok and its a big car for the money. Also, it has the ECHO type central mount speedo! Im going to wait until there is some reliability data on it befoire seriously considering buying one though. The Focus drove VERY nicely and was all around a nice solid feeling car. The interior was nicer than he ION. The oil filter is behind the engine like my wifes old Accord...fails right there in my book! Its a nice car but I sure dont want to commit to something thats got such a lousy repair record. If I bought one I know it would end up in the shop and boy would I be PISSED! If they get some better financing for the ECHO maybe well spring then but for now just nurse the SL1 along. That new hatchback might loosen my wallet quicker but alas not in the USA yet.
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    I was just in Quebec, and was very surprised by the number of Echos I saw on the road. On the ride around the Gaspe Peninsula, Echo was by far the most common newer car I saw.
    [I was also suprised by the number of Tercels I saw there.]
    I guess people there are on a much stricter car and fuel budget than here in South Jersey. And I guess the econo Toyotas handle the weather there real well. Made this RAV-er proud.
  • malibu_jackmalibu_jack Member Posts: 75
    You won't be able to get an Echo Hatch in the states. This car is only being built for the Canadian Market.
  • odmanodman Member Posts: 309
    Canadians buy a lot more small cars than Americans to begin with, and Quebeckers buy them the most. The reasons are a) they have more expensive gas than other provinces, b) disposable incomes are lower (after-tax, etc.), and perhaps this is open to debate but c) Quebeckers seem to have LESS of a love affair with cars than Anglos. They are very fashion conscious, but more in personal clothing than cars.

    Other factors favouring small cars include the fact that until the 1970s/early 80s, they preferred European cars (Renaults) which are smaller. As well, winters are brutal there so cars don't last as long. Finally, ever try driving in old Montreal or Quebec City? These cities predate the automobile and are tough to navigate with big cars!
  • kneisl1kneisl1 Member Posts: 1,694
    MY wife brought me home from the hospital after a microdiscetomy on my neck in the ECHO. It sure was nice not having squat down to get in the car and the passanger door was plenty big to get into also. You know how you feel sorry for someone wearing one of those neck collars? Well I can tell you wearing one is like having power steering! They have to cut a lot of the muscles in your neck to get at the disc and sew them back up again so the collar really helps hold you head up. Cant wear it all the time thoug. You need to exercise the muscles so they get strong again. In the operating room there were three other patients like me having the same surgyry, sort of like assembly line. The head surgeon and anestheisologist went from table to table showong the restdents how to do their jobs. Interesting.
  • aeroterremeraeroterremer Member Posts: 79
    kneisl1, just curious. What would cause one to have a microdiscetomy? If there were three of you in the operating room at the same time, it must be a common procedure.
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