Hi all! I'm seriously looking at getting a Echo RS hatchback. Question - is the RS factory tuned verison worth getting or would it be cheaper to mod a CE or LE version? Having said that where can i order Toyota performance parts here in Western Canada? I'm new to the Toyota scene, having a 93 Jetta currently that i'm tired of. ANy suggestions?
let me break it down. the ECHO hatch engine is no different from the echo sedan 4 dr. or even the bottom of the line CE hatch. the engine is still a 1NZ-FE (the body code is NCP10, i think). the so called top of the line echo engine that toyota made. there will not be any parts offered here in canada anytime soon. since the car is only offered in canada and not the USA, it will be some time before the echo trend catches (thats if it does catch. thats why canadas gettin the echo hatch. we testin the market. we the lab rats, you dig?)
fortunaly for you, the VITZ/YARIS is a VERY popular car in europe and in japan. so aftermarket parts are a plenty if you got links overseas. the only parts offered now are the TRD packages (strut tower bars front/rear, eibach springs lowered 1.3", tokico shocks, and if you trd muffler tip.).
as for cosmetic reasons, the RS trim line will have the side skirts and spoiler with leather steering wheel with matchin shifter knob. a HUGE advantage would be the seats. the fabric is MUCH MUCH better than the stock ones from the CE/LE. and the side bolster is slightly better. if its worth the extra 1600$ that you gotta reason with yourself. since the seats sit higher than any other cars, gettin aftermarket seats (eg: recaro, sparco, bride, etc.) would change the over all seat height by ALOT ! when you chk out that car(or test drive it) you will notice the seats are seated SUPER high !!soo high that when you exit the car, your thighs will be parallel with the ground. kinda hard to explain, you gotta just try it to understand.
the 4 dr version will have power locks, and 2dr version will have manual locks. you cannot add power locks to the 2 dr version and cannot remove the power locks in the 4 dr. there is also NO power windows for any trim level. its not even an option. there is also no TACH or temp gauge.
if your looking for a civic killer, this is the WRONG car to buy buddy. if your looking for something different with a budget, then hey cant go wrong ! 1.5L 108hp under 20,000$ on the road. hey, cant argue there !
if you want the turbo kit. i really doubt they gonna bring one out. lets just look at the toyota line up. they're really not marketing towards the sport car line as aggresivly as Honda or saturn. they got the celica line and the MR-S line. to put a low budget sports car line in a market where there is no demand would be a risky step. thats why they wanna test the waters in canada with the hatch. if you want the turbo power, and you wanan smoke hondas, you wanna see their mouths drop when you spot at a red light with the blow off valve going off then yea, IMPORT BABY !! order them from japan, its pretty straight forward to install since its designed for that engine anyways ! i would buy the RS echo if they had the turbo here in a heartbeat. but they dont, and i really dont htink they will in the next 5 years. so, in the meantime gotta play with the ae86 until it dies (or until i find a SUPER mint s13 !!).
IMHO, wait till there is a larger market or at least a larger demand in the aftermarket industry that will justify companies to produce products here to tune the rather weak 1.5L. lets all be honest here, a 1988 honda civic can go faster backwards then a echo 1.5L. echo has a redline of 6grand, civics can reach 7 easily. so it buy it for show, its not a really good track car (without the turbo.).
im sorry for the rant, and im sorry if my sentences done make sense. its been awhile since i had to write. im just typing as tho im speaking. i gotta improve on that soon and fast ! hahaha.
the exhaust system i have no idea, i just kno its a just a muffler replacment. its not a straight pipe (infect there are more bends cause they put it in the centre) and the intake system is just them removingthe air box and replacin it with a cone filter. its not really cold air. it does not dip under the engine. it actually just sits rite dead in the centre of the engine bay. its really hot there !
sorry to break the bubble but the cai is a aem unit that will go right in the fender... beside the battry....450$ at the dealer installed...
as for other parts all suspension parts from the vitz /platz/yarris and echo will fit strut brace front and rear trd suspension... and other things....
there is a blizt compressor available but will void the warranty
as for turbo you can put a kit from japan taht is available in option there for at and manuel trasmissions....
i dont know why you guys especially those driving Honda always think Echo is a slow car. I myself drives Honda too, I drove 2 Accords, 1.6EL and now drivng Civic Sir (EK4).
Honestly 1.5 echo isn't a slow car at all, if you are driving non-vtec Civic, Echo will give you a hard time, and if you are driving one of those SOHC VTEC civic, it will be a close race, and i am saying stock vs stock. And remember Echo is 1.5L and your civic is 1.6L
And speaking about Turbo. If you are driving a Sir or GSR really lucky to meet an Echo with HKS turbo or Blitz supercharge. It's a close race and hard race. I am now in HK, those 1.3 Echo with Turbo can get to 150hp easily, do the math yourself 1.5 Turbo, 170-200 is very easy.
Back to stock vs stock, in HK 1.3 MT echo can beat a stock 1.5 MT Civic VTi.
I am not bias, I am not a Toyota fan at all, but just want to be fair. Since you have to compare apple with apple, not apple with orange.
1.5L car with that kind of performance is pretty good already.
Actually the Echo is quicker than the non Vtec civic up to about 60 MPH. because the Echo is so much lighter.
But he's wrong ..
The Echo is a slow car.
So is the civic.
Check out the ratings on car and driver.
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Ricers - Imitate, Racers - Originate.
1989 Corolla GTS -4agze propane (rebuilding ... again)
2005 Subaru Legacy (we'll see if if lasts as long as the Yota's)
2008 Yaris
yes, i agree
civic isn't a fast car when you are talking about 60mph+
again, please consider the displacement of the engine
you think S2000 or Evolution, WRX Sti are fast, when happen when you compare those with F360 or 911 turbo
i mean we have to compare the car in the same catagory.
and echo is in 1.5 class, and 1.3 in some area.
again when you compare with the same class it's much better already.
try to compare it with Honda Fit (Jazz) they are in the same catagory, but Echo is much much better.
so has anyone found a link to that turbo kit from japan?
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87 Celica GTS (RIP)
88 Celica All-trac (In the Rebuilding stage)
*Update on alltrac rebuild*
change of plans, now sporting a ST185 block with the 165 ECU & WTA IC.
The RS is a much nicer looking package IMO, but as stated is all appearance. A partial bodykit with little spoiler, aluminum rims, leather wheel and knob, chrome accent ring on the shift boot, RS scuff plates, badge and seating...surfaces only in the rear. Front seats are great buckets, and remind me of the older recaros that the JZA70 Supra's had...only taller. Again, is it worth the price...for me it was, for you maybe not. Buy some of that stuff even aftermarket and the price will prove higher after painting.
Slow car...not in town. Sure it's pretty gutless over 100kph, but any NA 4 banger is.
Turbo kit...look to Scion xA/xB. Same engine, almost identical engine compartments...most parts are somewhat interchangable (a bracket or 2 is usually needing a change). Have no Japanese links, but there are a couple of companies in the states coming through with them.
Supercharger is available as a TTE branded device, and may even be coming soon under the TRD name plate (mainly for the scions). It's the rebadged Blitz. Should be able to order it from a full TRD dealer if you ask nice enough and flash the bills to cover it. It was on the echo at the TRD booth in the Toronto Intl. Autoshow this year. I would have to strongly consider this one if it comes as a TRD part. Again, not staggering HP (140), but the 190 ft/lbs will haul ass to speed!
Aftermarket support is fine due to the scions having made use of the engines. Most parts are also interchangable with the sedan and coupe versions, so there is some support already here and in the US. Agreed, most comes from other places (australia in particular), but nothing is too much out of hand in terms of price.
The Echo HB (aka Vitz,Yaris,Platz) has more than enough aftermkt support.....if you can get the parts. As the others already mentioned, there is a Turbo verison avail overseas http://www.toyota.co.jp/Showroom/cus.../sportscustom/
hey dude... i picked up my RS 2 weeks ago...
my opinion is that if u are going to get racing seats and rims aftermarket, get the LE, cuz there's not much other big difference in that and the RS
dont go for the CE cuz its got no powersteering, it handles like its a truck..
and yes, I HATE THOSE NON VTEC CIVICS LOOKING DOWN ON US!!!
dont have much to say, but i totally agree with Roon, ur sooo right.
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I LOVE MY ECHO IT'S A VERY MANLY CAR!!!
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