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Toyota Echo

5807 messages,  Last post on May 28, 2013 at 7:20 PM

You are in the Toyota Echo Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota ECHO, Sedan

Messages Page 451 of 582

#4495 of 5807 My ECHO by jojomonkeyboy

Nov 14, 2004 (10:26 pm)

Replying to: kneisl1 (Nov 13, 2004 7:15 pm)
I've got a 2003 ECHO with 23,000 miles on it, with no problems so far.
 
I drive it pretty hard, and get it up to 105 mph for 5 to 10 minutes at a time at least 3 times a week.
 
ya I know I'm crazy... but anyway, I'm happy with my Toyota.
 
I could have purchased a Kia or a Hyundai for less, but I questioned the Kia & Hyundai quality - (Yes I know that some hardcore fans of Hyundai are going to drag out that J.D Powers IQS) That survey wasn't out when I purchased my ECHO and I don't think it would have altered my purchasing decision. To me, one good year for Hyundai with one or two models on the IQS doesn't stack up to Toyota's history of years atop various quality ratings - including J.D.Powers & Associates Initial Quality Survey.
 
I also had a very bad experience with Hyundai - it was 10 years ago with the Hyundai Excell, so I don't expect people to believe that it is relevant to what Hyundai and it's dealerships are doing now with their latest cars - but there was no way I was giving Hyundai a second chance.
 
I want to stay out of the shop. I don't care about a 10 year / 100,000 mile warranty necesarily, I just want my car to stay out of the shop. My biggest fear was that I would have to hassle with the Kia dealership to actually get my car fixed - or that I would be without it for days on end while I haggled with them to fix it under warranty. Plus I wasn't so sure that they would even still be in business in the US in 10 years.
 
Anyway, I still have a ways to go with my Toyota - so far I don't regret my decision. I'm hoping that Toyota's reputation for quality holds true for my ECHO.

#4496 of 5807 Shipping an Echo by deanc2000

Nov 22, 2004 (1:36 pm)

It would be a very easy solution to buy a German car in Germany wouldn't it? Here is the catch: If one wants to go back to the states in the foreseeable future with the car, the car must be US specs, not German specs. I'm told it takes thousands of $ to change from one to the other. This is why it is a challenge if one is American and wants to buy a US spec car. You can buy brand new (mostly VW, BMW, VOLVO, and MB), or check out a very limited used car market. This is the main reason I'm considering shipping a car from the US to Europe.
 
On a tangent, I've got my eye on a 2003 Matrix with 14K miles on it, and the owner is asking $14000. It's got leather, power everything, subwoofer in the back, and well maintained. I'm told the owner can go down to $13500. Good deal or no?
 
Dean.

#4497 of 5807 echo reliability and shipping by wrgraham

Nov 22, 2004 (5:29 pm)

regarding reliability, I am also surprised by the problem with the oil leak and the differential replacement. I am now up to 118K miles on my 2000 Echo 5 speed. No problems.
As far as the shipping to Europe, and test driving ahead of time, and Matrix and Corolla and such: I wonder if you have some good friends in the USA. And I wonder where you are seeing the particular used car opportunities. If it were me I would ask one of my (few) tech-savvy friends to check out used car opportunities for me. If the price and model were right, and the condition was verified by my friend, then OK. But I wouldnt go along with anything else. You also talk about the options on a Corolla compared to an Echo. Do you want lots of options? If you do, then I guess they are worth something to you, quantify it.

#4498 of 5807 Another Brake Recall by slugline

Dec 06, 2004 (1:46 pm)

"CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECESS RETAINS A RUBBER SEAL RING, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE CYLINDER BODY, AND MAY BE CORRODED DUE TO AN IMPROPER WASHING PROCESS."
 
NHTSA Campaign 04V455000, Sept. 14, 2004
 
My girlfriend received this recall notification over the weekend. It looks like a 2000-specific recall that affects Celicas too. Just thought I'd post this as a heads-up to other owners.

#4499 of 5807 finally a repair by wrgraham

Dec 07, 2004 (7:13 pm)

My 2000 Echo finally has a problem that needs repair. The alternator is making some noise, though still functionning fine. Apparently there are both 70 and 90 amp alternators available, and mine is a 70 but I am getting a 90 replacement. With shipping it is gonna cost about $300, so not cheap. But it is my first problem of any magnitude.

#4500 of 5807 alternator by kneisl1

Dec 07, 2004 (9:32 pm)

How much more is the 90 amp over the 70? I would get the 70 if its much cheaper. $300 for an alternator is a lot of money! I wonder what good a 90 amp alternator is over a 70 amp? BTW did you remove the belt and wiggle the ac and waterpump pulleys too? Just to make sure the noise isnt from one of them.

#4501 of 5807 post 4500 by kneisl1

Dec 07, 2004 (9:33 pm)

Post 4500! BING!

#4502 of 5807 alternator choice by wrgraham

Dec 08, 2004 (10:47 pm)

The 70 amp is something like $240 and the 90 is forty dollars more. My mechanic recommended I get the 90 if we use the A/C a lot. My wife and daughter both do. He had a listening device that he applied to both the water pump and the alternator, and the sound was clearly the alternator.

#4503 of 5807 AC = more amps by kneisl1

Dec 10, 2004 (5:57 pm)

Hmmm I would like to know which cars have the 90 amp alternator and what options make it necessary. Im totally against things like bigger tires and wider wheels, or just making things bigger because it seems like a good idea. I drove a 1982 MB 300d Turbo the other day and Im thinking "This thing feels like Im driving a cement mixer, yet its the same body and chassis as my old 240D." Turned out the guy had wider wheels and tires on it. I recommended my friend not buy it.
  BUT the mechanic may have a very good reason for recommending the bigger alternator. Its a good sign that he checked your water pump!

#4504 of 5807 Male or Female? by kneisl1

Dec 15, 2004 (12:03 pm)

I just read a survey of echo owners in PM. Out of a thousand owners, 62% were female 25% male with the rest being owned jointly.

Messages Page 451 of 582

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