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I also read through the reviews the Edmunds staffers posted only to realize they didn't do this car any justice. Having driven one myself, I got the impression the Echo is a true Toyota through and through with all the build quality of any of their vehicles. I feel the staffers were more hung up about the looks of the car and made the mistake of overlooking many of the car's qualities. It does sound like they do have a valid complaint about the way the wind catches the car from the side, other than that, it sounds like the vast majority of people who own this car would buy it again.
I'm interested in finding out from owners what kind of problems you've had (if any), your specific likes and dislikes, and what kind of fuel economy numbers you're getting. When you post your numbers, please indicate whether your car is equipped with a manual or auto tranny. Thanks.
I use my ECHO (with manual transmission) to drive 6 miles or so to work everyday. Very seldom does it go over 45 mph or take the freeway. This summer its been getting 40-42 mpg in this role. I expect when winter comes the mileage will drop to 38-40 mpg. This summer when I drove to Atlantic City on the freeway I got over 50 mpg driving at a steady 60 mph.
I like the ECHO mostly because its a Toyota and therefore needs few repairs. It gets great mileage. Its the easiest car there is to get in and and out of, with its high seat height. Theres a lot of room inside for a small car and lots of places to stuff things in the dashboard. The car is agile in city traffic and super easy to find and get into a parking spot. The engine has excellent power for so small a displacement (1.5 liters). The car is super easy to work on, oil changes, air filter, sparkplugs, coolant, transmission oil, brake fluid changes etc can easily be done at home. (Toyota has NEVER seen this car. The only thing I will let them do is put a new muffler on it when it needs it (free lifetime warranty parts and labor) change the belts and the rear brakes)
Dislikes? The only one that comes to mind is driving in snow. The car has all the traction of a pickup truck, especially uphill and especially in deep snow. Its super twitchy on packed snow and feels like it going to swap ends any second. I borrow my sons 93 Nissan Altima whenever possible! I have the Bridgestone Potenzas on it PE 92. Im hoping for better results when I get new tires. (but that might be a while as the Potenzas are only half worn out) Im thinking the light weight of the car (2000 pounds) is responsible for the poor performance in snow.
You are not the first person to notice the distain Edmunds has for this car. In no other review that I read of the ECHO did anyone dis it like Edmunds did. On the contrary they were very enthusiastic about it. Almost to a lister everyone here like this car very much.
Toyota doesnt sell the ECHO in the US anymore. I read they only sold like 3000 of them here in 2004. Suposedly there was going to be a "replacement" in 2006 but that hasnt happened. Theres talk of another replacement next year. So you might go for a used ECHO (an excellent idea!) or wait till next year to see what turns up. I DONT recommend the xa at all but you might like it. Good luck and tell us what you decide!
Dealer code P0171 System Too Lean: Replaced MAF Sensor Control Motor, 22204-ODO3O Meter Sub-Assy, INTA.
Also did a Fuel Induction Service (Top Eng Clnr Kit) and 4 Cyl Tune-Up (4 spark plugs).
Service done by dealer in Jacksonville, Florida.
Labor $160.39 (Rate $78 per hour), Parts $178.14, Shop Supplies $20, Sales Tax $25.10, Total: $383.63.
"Check Engine" light is now off.
Do you know what the top end clnr kit is? Do you understand what was wrong and how what they did fixed it?
Do you know what the top end clnr kit is? No.
Do you understand what was wrong and how what they did fixed it? No.
I bought a used 2003 4 dr Automatic at 34,000 miles and have had it for about 8 months. I live in the city and drive the wonderful rush hour commute. I have been getting 36 mpg quite consistently. On most freeway trips I can get 41 mpg.
If you are looking for a basic good quality car, go for it!
Install the new air cleaner (bounce me back if you need to know how). Atop the air cleaner housing is the MAF (mass airflow sensor). Disconnect it and clean with alcohol (gently clean the probe - two wires with what looks like mercury-type liquid at the tip). You can also remove and clean the other sensor adjacent to the MAF (closer to the windshield). Clean inside of tubes with Q-Tips and alcohol.
Reinstall, and your Echo will run like new. Good luck!
Radar 4
Yes but it not here yet. Given the failure of the ECHO to sell many vehicles one wonders if they will attempt another car like it. Or change in around into something America will buy. Edmunds is already doing its level best to kill it off by describing it as being economical but lacking in power. Does anyone know how many xa units Toyota sells every year?
www.pressroom.com.au/pressroom/sample/presskits/echokit/htm
I just bought a 2000 Echo a few days ago. This is my first car, and the only car ive ever driven that had a CD player, and I can't figure out how to work it. Every time I put a CD in it just pops it right back out, even if I press the CD button. And I dont know if this is a problem with the CD player, or with me not being able to figure it out. I bought it used, so it came without a users manual so there are a lot of things I cant figure out, but mainly just the CD player and the dash lights. If somebody could please help me I would really aprreciate it-these are really the only things I need the manual for, so I do not want to spend the $30-$70 to order one.
Thank You!
As far as the dash lights theres a little round knob near the coin holder to the left of the steering wheel. It might be turned all the way off. Could you be a little more specific about what deash lights are out or not out? My service manual says if the dash lights dont work check the TAIL fuse in the fuse box. Fuse box is under the dash to the left off the stering wheel fuse #8.
www.msnusers.com/Sorensonbrian/mylittleecho.msnw
Sounds like something is defective.
With re: to the dash lights, are you meaning the dimmer switch? To the left of the steering wheel is the knob that adjusts the brightness of the dash lights. I just recently figued that one out.....
Good luck!
By the way, has anybody experienced substantially worse MPG when traveling at high speeds on the freeway? When I go to school and back (12 each way), I usually get around 38 MPG. However, I went to go pick up my brother at the airport in Sacramento (150 miles each way) and when I got back I got gas and I only got 33 MPG. I was going about 80 MPH the whole time, but I didn't think going fast would make that big of a difference.
Once in a while I go on a long trip and go 80 mph. I find my ECHO gets 40 mpg or better then. This summer I took a trip at 60 mph and got like 51 mpg. How are your tires pressures? Is the maintenancde up to date? (oil changes, air filter) Try making the trip at 65 mph and see if its any betteer.
I did try with several CDs and it still didnt work so my mom called the dealer and we found out it actually was broken but I think I am going to try that CD cleaner kit type of thing also-sounds like it could work.
And for the dash lights what I meant to say is that I don't know what any of them mean. The only other car Ive driven was my mom's 2000 Dodge Neon and it had different symbols. But Ive figured most of them out on my Echo. The red and blue sailboat-like ones I still dont know what they mean-but they go off after the car is turned on so I guess its not really a problem.
http://www.rinku.zaq.ne.jp/piroppy/yakutatazu/pirotz/link.htm
Not sure if I would replace the ECHO though, I may wait till it dies, however that will be a long wait I think :-)
Here is a link to a Yaris blog:
http://anamericaninyaris.blogspot.com/
But I agree the one big downside of the Echo is it does get knocked around on windy days when on the freeway. But since I'm not on the freeway too often it isn't a real issue with me and I've always avoided driving in bad weather anyway. I live in California, weather isn't a real issue here anyway.
Although the ECHO is no longer made, there really isnt any car that can replace it. They dont get the mileage, they dont have the ergos, and they dont have the price. For all intents and purposes the Yaris is the same thing, just a little heavier. A hatchback would be nice though!
open or short in engine wire
connector connection
vacuum hose connection
ignition system
injector
fuel pressure
EGR system
manifold pressure sensor
engine coolant sensor
compression pressure
valve clearance
valve timing
ECM
Did they even attampt to go over items in this list?
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/8/wo/Home.Vehicles.Go.YarisHatchback-NtmJy- wAJyrNUOdduBABxPw/4.11?v124040e%2ehtml
I drove the car yesterday and it is much quieter than my 2001 Echo. It gets virtually the same mileage, it is roomier, smoother and it is a HATCHBACK. It is now classified a an ULEV vehicle. Much safer too.
In my view there is not much to dislike.
Kneisl, you talk about mileage? AFAIK you mainly use the car for city driving and put very low mileage on your car.
One or 2 MPG will not make or break your yearly gas budget.
I have been accumulating miles like crazy and now reached 126k miles. Average MPG: 41 I am not complaining.
I am getting a new Yaris for Christmas!
Yes its true 2 mpg wont break you. But what we need are cars that weigh 1700 pounds. They COULD have done that with the Yaris but chose not to. It would help immensely at least in the US if we could cut our fuel bill (balance of trade) in half. Its possible with cars like ECHO but we are too stupid to do it. I hate to see the cars going in the wrong direction.
By the way, I will keep my 01 Echo for at least another 5 years. What I am trading in for a new 06 Yaris is my half ton Chevy pickup truck!
I'll bet I can keep my "old" Echo for at least another 150 k miles, without the need of any major repairs. In fact it would not surprise me at all to reach 300k or more before I sell the little critter.
No, seriously, what is the fun in driving the same car forever? Once in a while, economics aside, it's rewarding to purchase a new car!