New member with Echo

[adf_604]

Hi all, so I know the Echo is not truly a Yaris, however I have been looking for an Echo specific forum, and this was the closest I could find. I was using Toyota Nation, however its size lent itself to limited activity.

Hoping there's room for Echo owners here too! Cheers :)

[IllusionX]

there are tons of echo owners around here... the echo sedan was known as a Toyota Platz in other countries.

[WeeYari]

Hi all, so I know the Echo is not truly a Yaris, ...

Hoping there's room for Echo owners here too! Cheers :)

Echo is technically the first generation Yaris, so yes, you are in the right place.

[LTHatch]

adf 604: Welcome and post pictures of your 03 Echo! What are your plans for it in the distant future?

[yougojay]

We'll rename the forum YECHOWORLD, stick around...:bellyroll:

Yes, please post photos, and details about your new Echo! I know it's got the World-Class 1NZ-FE engine in it :clap:

[jambo101]

There used to be a big Echo forum but it kinda went out of business when the Yaris arrived.
I just bought my 3rd Echo, an 03 sedan in mint condition,lady driven always garaged,runs nice, my previous 2 echos ran 250K trouble free kilometers, i only got rid of them because i could foresee lots of needed maintenance becoming necessary before the 300K mark, great little cars

[adf_604]

Thx all for the friendly welcome, glad to see Echoes are so popular on this forum, I really am happy with mine. I've done nothing drastic to mine in the way of mods, mostly cosmetic tweaks and a bunch of minor maintenance when I first picked her up (spark plugs, filters, fluids etc, as she was somewhat neglected in this area when I bought her) Will take some good photos and post soon!

[adf_604]

hi again all, just posted some images in the photo section, however I think they are still being moderator approved. Cheers.

[IllusionX]

I'm not sure why everybody says they need mod approval to post images...

[Flipper_1938]

I wish I still had my Echo....

[nookandcrannycar]

I wish I still had my Echo....

...I wish a USDM ECHO hatch had been available back in the day. I would have purchased one rather than the new 2001 Suzuki Swift I purchased.

[jambo101]

We certainly had plenty of Echo hatchbacks up here in Canada, 2dr or 4dr, plain or RS version, surprised they didnt sell them in the USA.


This RS version came with alloy rims,twin exhaust and suspension upgrades and rear wind deflector...
http://www.motorstown.com/images/toyota-echo-hatch-06.jpg

[IllusionX]

the RS did not come with twin exhaust and suspension upgrades.

the RS came with 14" alloy wheels, bucket seats, leather steering wheel, leather shift boot with chrome trim and leather boot, chrome door handles, side skirts and rear spoiler.
The borla center exhaust and lowering springs were sold as an option on all trims.

That was my base model with spoiler and borla option installed.
http://illusionx.dyndns.org/Pub/echowithborlatinted.jpg

[adf_604]

The hatchbacks are definitely more stylish and sporty, in 3 and 5 door. When i bought mine I was more inclined on the sedan as it is slightly more spacious, but now that I've owned it for a while, I must say I'm starting to like the look of the 5 door Echo a lot more.

C'est la vie; perhaps a 5 door Yaris hatch is on the cards down the road.

[jambo101]

A quote from this site

http://driving.ca/toyota/echo/reviews/road-test/road-test-2004-toyota-echo-hatchback-rs-2

Hence the RS package with alloy wheels, “sport seats” and body-colour side skirts, and the separate audio options that include an MP3 player and a crate-sized rear subwoofer.

It got better yet with our smart, Blue Metallic tester, which arrived with a pair of chrome Borla exhaust pipes poking out below the rear licence plate and a dealer-installed lowering spring kit.

The Borla issued a marvellous burble, and the reduced ride height kept our little Echo nicely fastened in the corners, though we did hit the bump stops while carrying three full-size passengers.

Your red car seems to be sporting hub caps,doesnt have the RS badge in the lower right of the hatch lid

I guess some of the RS versions came more equipped than others.

[WeeYari]

^ as quoted;


That was my base model with spoiler and borla option installed.

[jambo101]

I came very close to buying an RS and remember that dual exhaust set up being one of the styling cues i really liked, it was the salesman who told me of the suspension upgrades, maybe he was bsing me. i never gave it much though as i never ended up buying the car..

This is probably what the salesman was talking about and was probably on the car i was looking at.=
A TRD suspension kit will add lowering springs, Tokiko shocks and a strut tower brace. A Borla exhaust system and cold air intake are also available