Hi guys !
You have a really nice forum-system here, I would say - good job !
Now, to my question -- since I'm a collage student and I don't really have a lot of money, I've been inquiring the used-cars market. Toyota ECHO 2000-2001 with less than 50K miles on it was the best result I've got to the money I have.
I found a seller (private, not a dealer) who's offering his car for sell. It's 2000, which 48K on if and we agreed on $6200.
What are the general aspects I should take care of ? Any special parts of the ECHO I shuold depply investigate before buying ?
I took the car for a test drive - and here is my major question:
I've been reading your postings and never saw even one question regarding the safety matters. I know that the car is cool and has low mpg - BUT - isn't it too tiny for the big and crowded American highways ? When I drove it I felt like I'm driving a little box (after years on Accord and Focus)...
so - what do you think ?
Any formal details from Toyota as for the crushing tests ?
Thanks a lot
Gingi
It's not a Hummer it's a tiny car... and i'm very concerned
I think you just answered your own question.
I remember reading some crash test reports on small cars (older reports, 98 & older civics/corolla)
and none of them did too well. But at least the echo is bigger than the mini's and smart car.
This is the first iteration of the Yaris; in 2004 they made some structural changes to offer even better accident protection, so a new car will most likely do even better.
There is some truth to the notion that the bigger car always wins, but this is not always the deciding factor in traffic accident injuries. If you have a head-on collision with a Hummer H2 at highway speed- you're fucked. It doesn't really matter what you're driving. Even another Hummer H2 would be fucked. The accident force is simply too great to be dissipated by the vehicle's body structure. The sum of the two car's kinetic energies in a head-on collision is greater than either car hitting a stationary object. The Echo has an extremely well designed, and very strong crash structure, which will do a good job of keeping you from harm in most accidents.
In a single vehicle accident- say hitting a pole, tree, wall, rock, etc- the mass of your vehicle is entirely irrelevant, since the stationary object has no opposing kinetic energy. In this case, light or heavy, your safety is determined by your car's ability to direct impact force away from your squishy bits, and slow them down as gradually as possible. In this, the Echo does very well.
When it first came out, Toyota claimed that the Energy absorption capability of the Echo body structure was on par with that of the Camry, a substantially heavier car, and a feat of genius in a car as light as the Echo.
To add weight- he-he- to this argument, check out the NHTSA's web site and look up death rates by vehicle. You will see that the Echo, in spite of its small size, is safer than average.
Also, a couple of notes on similar competitors; the MINI also does very well, since it's actually quite heavy- four inches shorter but 300 lbs heavier than the Echo- and built like a tank. As far as chassis strength goes, the MINI is one of the stiffest, strongest cars in the world. It takes 27 000 nM of force (19 000 lbs) to get the chassis to twist even 1 degree. You can sit on the opened doors and swing! The SMART car does okay. The chassis is ridiculously solid, but since it has so little weight and crumple area, almost ALL of the impact absorption ability of the car comes from its restraint systems.
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The world is round, it has no point.
IMO try scouting for a used corolla in the model 1998 circa. despite the excellent mileage figures, which are very hard to duplicate in real life, coz with a smaller engine youd have to step on the gas pedal more to be able to cross leisurely through the interstates therefore translating to more gas usage. if you're gonna stick with the echo try looking for one with a manual tranny coz the matic robs some power from the engine.
GET A YARIS. dont mess around with corollas or echos.
trust me, the yaris will not disappoint u
Same thing just different sheet metal. Some people who buy the Yaris should pop the hood on a Echo and a Yaris and see if you can spot the difference, I couldn't see any. I drove both at my local dealer and I couldn't tell any difference at all...
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My Cars, 2006 Corolla CE, 2003 Corolla LE
My guess is you aren't an engineer. The Yaris is a brand new chassis, etc. About the only thing the same is the engine.
See now thats what you get for listning to the salesman cause he told me it was just a sheet metal change. Oh wait thats what the chassis is made of and he told me that they share the same struts, trannies, rear suspension and other stuff like computers and such. Maybe I'll go up to the Toyota Dealer today while they are closed and poke around under a Yaris and see how much it differs from my Echo...
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My Cars, 2006 Corolla CE, 2003 Corolla LE
The entire platform is brand new. This is basically the chassis. This includes the frame, all mounting locations for suspension, transmission, engine, etc, and as you noted, the sheetmetal. Also the interior is all new, so are the headlights, etc. You get the point.
About the only thing to carry over is the engine and transmission. And the transmission is set up differently, as noted by most Yaris owners who state that the Yaris will be at a higher rpm at the same speed compared to an Echo.
Not only is the majority of the car new, but it drives better, as noted in most first drive type articles. The driving feel is sportier, compared to the Echo being not as well connected.
Finally, never trust salesmen. Most of them simply don't know cars. A good majority of those don't care either. They are there to make money,and nothing more.
In summary, the Echo and the Yaris simply are not the same, not even close.
The entire platform is brand new. This is basically the chassis. This includes the frame, all mounting locations for suspension, transmission, engine, etc, and as you noted, the sheetmetal. Also the interior is all new, so are the headlights, etc. You get the point.
About the only thing to carry over is the engine and transmission. And the transmission is set up differently, as noted by most Yaris owners who state that the Yaris will be at a higher rpm at the same speed compared to an Echo.
Not only is the majority of the car new, but it drives better, as noted in most first drive type articles. The driving feel is sportier, compared to the Echo being not as well connected.
Finally, never trust salesmen. Most of them simply don't know cars. A good majority of those don't care either. They are there to make money,and nothing more.
In summary, the Echo and the Yaris simply are not the same, not even close.
Have you drivin both? I did, I drove a 06 Yaris and I bought my 05 Echo and I myself felt there to be no difference in the way they drove or the power. Of coarse the car has different interior and such I never said it didn't I just said they share the same underside. I would have bought a Yaris if they had the sedan but they won't have that till this fall so I bought the Echo...
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My Cars, 2006 Corolla CE, 2003 Corolla LE
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check your spelling - you are in college
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