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Comments
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
It has been much warmer the past few days and the sound is not the. The Car is still noisier and has more vibration until warmed up. The "rattle" sound was only happening while the clod engine light was on and it goes away when the engine has warmed up. I am wondering now if it's a valve issue due to VVTi not being active while cold, or perhaps the extra vibrating is rattling the heat shield on the exhaust? *shrug*
Mine is pretty loud when cold too. Very high idle and a little belt squeal I think. Only happens when temp gets down to low 30s for me, though not contained periods of acceleration--it's there until warmed up. I've gotta take mine in for first time since I got it to have oil changed and will ask mechanic if it should idle so high, be so loud when cold.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Cons: pretty unstable doing high speed, sudden maneuvers, where it gets pretty loose in the rear, starts to feel tippy. This is not in normal turns, but evasive type action, sudden swerving. Mine doesn't have ABS, so have to be pretty precise with braking and turning. Also felt to me that fronts would lock long before rears, so (mine anyway) arent adjusted quite right. Could definitely use bigger wheels for performance, though economy is more important to me. I wouldn't want to have to do anything reeally crazy at freeway speed, so let's hope no deer leap out across the road.
I told him to put a thermometer on the outside of the window, look at the sticker on the windshield, and put in the cup holder a compass.
Also, I wondering how this tiny little vehicle does in winter conditions? I love the idea of low gas expense but I would have to drive across Canada with it soon.
Thanks a lot everyone.
I have not had to use the warranty at all. It is at 94K miles now (about 155,000 kms?) and has needed no repair at all, powertrain or otherwise.
At the time I paid $9000 US, so what with the exchange rate now and a couple of years' inflation, I would think $9500-9900 CDN wouldn't be too bad...
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
See if the valve clearances have been checked. They were supposed to be at 60k miles. Also the coolant should be changed by now. I would make the purchase conditional on these thwo things being done.
If the maintenance is up to snuff I would offer $7500. As with nippononly Im an American where ECHOs are universally disrespected. ECHOS are well liked in Canada though. $9000 is too much here IMHO. But it might be fair there. But theyve had it since summer? (really?) They should let it go for less if thats true.
Good luck and tell us what happens!
Since ECHO is so popular in CN I would ask around what people say.
$13,000 is an insane price for this car BTW. At least here!
NOTE: I do not recommend trying to spin circles in the snow with the E-brake anywhere other than a wide open parking lot where's there's nothing to run into!
Toyota dealers charge a HECK of a lot for used Toyotas. They are the most expensive place, in fact, to buy a used Toyota.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I am not sure what this year's Yaris is rated for smog emissions. The Corolla is currently only LEV-rated, because it is an older model.
Anyway, the Yaris is not quite the bargain the Echo was in its day. Although it is close. (I like the Yaris hatch. :-))
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
But the sedans' base price is $1000 higher, and they seem to mostly run about $14K - hardly pricey either, but more than an Echo was back in the day, and that day was only 4 or 5 years ago. I will bet your $13,100 Echo had A/C and the step-up stereo, eh? Not to mention the clock and rear defogger, items which are standard on the Yaris? Mine was almost the exact same price as yours when new.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Im amazed the price isnt A LOT higher now. Maybe I should bite my tounge!
The Yaris sedan is pretty big looking. Its only a matter of time before it gets the 1.8 litre Corolla engine.
As for the stereo, I have the 3-in-1 with the dash tweeters and it is one of the best factory stereos out there. I finally got around to installing my aftermarket Panasonic MP3/CD player in there and it sounds quite a bit better than stock.
If only Toyota could put a 1.5L diesel is these little cars, then you would have something (thinking WV Polo-esque)
I hope not - the 1.5 is the key to the great gas mileage in town. What they should focus on instead of boosting engine size is maintaining/reducing weight. The Echo put on almost 300 pounds when it became the Yaris (a good 100 pounds of this was due to power steering and A/C becoming standard, I am sure).
The Yaris has only one available stereo from the factory, and it sounds like mud. For $13K, your Echo had a much better stereo than the $14K Yaris has. But I agree, the Yaris does look nice.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I looked for years at the Echo. Options are high on the Yaris but they were outrageous on the Echo. I never saw one with many options. I wanted power windows, door locks , cruise, and keyless. I never saw a single one with those options the whole time the Echo was sold.
I have seen plenty of Yarii with those options including mine. The additions of the airbag package and the auxillary input for the stereo system are major improvements for me. It would be nice if they could take out a few pounds, but it is the lightest car out there now I believe.
Oh, and Parksgirl, I bought my 2001 Echo Sedan back in '04 with 75K miles. I had the full service history - in fact the dealer I bought it used from sold it new originally and it had been serviced there it's whole life. It's been fantastic. I'm up to around 99K miles now and the only thing I had problems with was the electronic lock on the driver's side. A piece broke off of the arm inside the door so the electronic part wouldn't actuate but you could still lock and unlock it manually; it was replaced under the extended warranty. No problems with anything since.
Thanks
You forgot heated steering wheel! Intermittent wipers aside (which reminds me I need to get on that) I'm happy not to have the options. My last car was running awesome after 20 yrs, but all the damn options had gone out and made it worse than it would have been if it never had them. And to fix those things is ridiculous. So glad my echo has no power steering. On my last car there was a fluid leak on the rack and pinion and would have cost 1000+ to fix, and that was the nail in the coffin. Didn't want to have to junk the car for no other reason, but that made me appreciate the simplicty of this car.
I tried and tried to get an ECHO with zero options but it wasnt possible. (or the dealer put me off!) I would kill right now for no power steering and a diesel engine. Still I am happy with the fold down seats, the intermittent wiper switch I installed, the super stereo, and the AC (which I know will go flooey and cost me $1000 to fix at some point)
One thing that hangs in there pretty well overall in Toyotas is A/C. And I think all A/C systems are more durable than they were 20 years ago.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Yaris Wiper Switch
Echo Wiper Switch
On a side note, I couldn't find a single '03 - '07 Corolla at a junk yard that had the variable spd intermittent wipers. I DID find an '03 Matrix and that DOES work. I now have variable spd int AND a knob for a non-existent back windshield wiper , but it doesn't bother the Echo a bit. Maybe I'll re-label that turbo-boost or something. Just thought I'd pass that along to broaden everyone's search potential.
Seems to me that the ECHO is Smarter.
I would love to have a little mini car like the Smart Car. But it would have to get 60 mpg and be reliable. Right now the best thing out there is the ECHO. The Yaris is about as good but is going in the direction of the Civic.
I love my Echo, and I think the Yaris took everything that was good about the Echo and made it better with the one exception of removing some of the storage cubbies on the sedan for some reason. But I have to say, if I could've afforded it, I'd have bought a Prius.
I read an engineering anaysis of the Prius which claimed all its gizmos at most represent an increase in efficiency of 5%. My brother is a chemical engineer and he says thats about right. When the German car industry did a study of the Prius they were astounded anyone took this car seriously. A similiar sized Diesel engine has about the same efficiency (although not the emissions)
I know a lot of well intentioned people admire the Prius and Im sure I appear to be insensitive at least. But its really about as effective as those magnetic devices unscrupulous people sell to increase mileage.
I like the Yaris and if my ECHO was somehow destroyed I would probably buy one. But I see the Yaris as a step in the wrong direction because it is heavier than the ECHO. Its like what Honda did with the Civic, taking a fuel efficient vehicle and turning it into a bloated version of itself. How horrible if they have deleted the cubby holes!
I think you have done wonderfully well for yourself to be driving an ECHO rather than a Prius.
I guess you dont believe a word I am saying?
That being said, the only way anything gets made in today's world is if there's money in it. So, now that the Prius has done well as a commercial endeavor it's encouraged everyone to make something better. For that alone I think the Prius is a success - if not for what it does, then for what it's making the other automakers do. If in the meantime a few people consume a little less gas, that's ok too.