2000 Toyota Echo

Summary:

A trusty, reliable, inexpensive little car that won't let you down

Faults:

MAF sensor had to be cleaned a few times.

I did a lot of work myself - ignition coil replacement, front brake replacement.

Had a belt break, but nothing major with this car - no major repairs the whole time we had it.

They do rust - particularly on the hood, up front, and the wheel well area.

Due to the way it's built, it can be a little tough to control sometimes when the cross-winds in Alberta break 60kmh!

General Comments:

Reliable. Very low cost. Great gas mileage. Would still have it if the O2 sensor didn't need to be replaced - the car was still running to the end (used by two of our four kids, daily), but the rust was becoming major. Interior was mint.

With the 13" tires, going thru snow is actually very good - with the right tires, these are excellent cars in the snow.

Very light, so high winds can be an issue. Has little "pep", but can pass trucks on the highway. Anything near 120kmh is pushing the little 4-cylinder, but it responds. Doesn't burn oil. Some blind spots when looking back to pass.

I'd buy another - simple as that. These are very good daily commuters, and great first cars for a high school or college kid.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th November, 2020

26th Nov 2020, 16:52

The car was not flawless - a flawless car was never made. But I think it was one of the best cars produced in the past 20 years or so. YES, it had a (very) ugly interior and the exterior was funny to look at, however the engine was very economical, the seats were exceptionally resting for very long drives (note I'm not saying comfortable, I'm saying resting), the transmissions worked very well, the great suspension gave the car a very nice feeling, the car had very few maintenance problems (wheel bearings, rust, some VVT engine issues), and ABOVE ALL this was an exceptionally easy car to live with: very easy to hop in - very light big doors and high seating position - and very easy to drive around.

That's why I say it was among the best cars produced in the past decades by any car makers. The overall design - again with the strong exception of the ugly and plasticity interior - was very well done. I would say the only weak point was the very slow steering turning; it felt like a truck and it took away any feeling of sportiness. In comparison, the next generation launched in 2005 - which was called Yaris in the North American market, was a disaster. CLEARLY the two models were designed by completely different engineering teams. The 2005 Yaris had horrific bad seat comfort on long drives - even though the seats did 'look' better than the Echo, and the suspension was worse than a Trabant - absolutely horrible suspension setting for a modern car. However, the Yaris had good points for the very nice interior design and plastics, the exterior was also better looking, and Toyota did put a much better steering feeling mechanism into it. Speaking of the Yaris 2005-up, the Sedan had very little head room clearance for tall drivers, much less than the Hatch version.

2000 Toyota Echo 2 door coupe 1.5 liter

Faults:

Zip!!

General Comments:

I bought it for 1500$. Everything works like it should; no leaks, burns, nothing. A/C was freezing this summer :) (I live in Kamloops BC so I know) Still has some decent pull, not much from a stoplight, but if you wind it up you can pass OK on the highway.

Never bought it to be quick; just reliable and good on gas. It's strictly a highway commuter for long distance and it excels at it. Changed plugs when I bought it, oil and filters every 10,000km, and that's it (ya, ya, you're supposed to change it twice as often!!!).

Very few squeaks and rattles either!! This was a nice bonus after owning a 96 Suzuki Swift with only 150,000km, that was a tin can by comparison. Build quality is night and day by comparison! The Swift would've been good for a 1 hour commute, but 6 1/2 hours each way in that thing was really pushing it. It was frugal, but that's it! I use it to commute from Kamloops BC to McCall Field charter air terminal in NE Calgary AB every ten days for work, and it's rock solid.

ECHO has a very good sounding stock stereo actually, and surprisingly good headlights.

Pulls up mountain passes pretty decent as long as it's just me and a travel bag. If traffic is light at late nights, I average 120km/h when I can, and over the 640 km drive I use almost exactly 34L of gas each time very consistently... and about 36-37L in winter... what's that? 5.3 liters/100km or about 45 MPG??? And this involves the outdated, mostly two lane Rogers Pass, which means stomping on the ego pedal to pass 5th wheels, RV's and big rigs. I'd get 50 MPG easy on a flat freeway run!!!

Yes, I get strange looks as to why a 6-3 250 lb guy is driving a stupid little car, but I know I have an 09 Mustang GT CS and a blown/cammed 500 HP 04 Vette in the garage for sunny days, so I just laugh. And after my ten days off end and I put the muscle away for ten more and get in the ECHO, I swear I like it almost as much. No BS! Best 1500$ I ever spent.

Just need to find another lower KM model... maybe an 05 hatch with cruise and power options. Mind you, I can reach the pass window crank and mirror adjuster anyways. Just gimme one with cruise, and people can take their stupid looks and shove it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th October, 2013

23rd Nov 2014, 19:07

Come on... if you're really honest, I bet you prefer the Echo over the muscle cars. I'm in a similar situation, and deep down, beyond the ego trip of muscle cars (silly stuff); whenever I'm driving the Echo, it feels more "me"... Mmm, wonder why? Anyway, good review.

7th Nov 2017, 14:31

A big guy stuffed into a tiny car IS comical, but if you're going to do it, at least make the car something sporty, like a Miata, MR2 Spyder, or a Mini.

Not a penalty box like an ECHO!

7th Nov 2017, 20:48

A 6'3" 250-lb guy will not fit into a Miata. It's a freaking $1500 runaround, the man has a Mustang.

7th Nov 2017, 22:18

1960 MGA.

8th Nov 2017, 10:40

Waiting to read a new review on the guy that indicated he’s quickly buying a 1960 MGA that doesn’t have snow in his area. Or so we all read.

8th Nov 2017, 10:41

For $1500 he bought the Echo for?

8th Nov 2017, 20:07

Should have no problem finding one with the joy of the internet.

9th Nov 2017, 04:32

Or perhaps the comment was posted by the individual who got fantastic rides in one after fresh snow that we all read.

9th Nov 2017, 14:43

Obviously you have never driven a Miata, or even been in one...

9th Nov 2017, 23:31

Did you buy yours yet? Would be nice to drive it down the Pacific Coast Highway.

10th Nov 2017, 00:39

I have - that's why I said so.

10th Nov 2017, 15:05

It doesn't snow there, what fun is that?