New Car- no more Echo

[tmontague]

385,000km later I've finally decided to retire the '02 Echo. It was still running fine and other than oil consumption had no real issues. It was a pain in the ass to work on due to the rust build up but that was about it. The oil consumption was about 3-5 quarts every 8,000km. I got $200 cash for it when they towed it away. I took out the alternator and VVT-i solenoid (both less than 1 year old) and coil packs since they'll work in my Yaris if need be.

I just changed the oil filter every 8k km and stopped changing the oil since I was always topping it up. The main reason we ended up getting a new car was due to the fact that the a/c wasn't working, it didn't fit a stroller well (have a baby due in January) and it was very rusted.

The "new" car...

'05 Pontiac Vibe awd. Picked it up 30 mins north of Kitchener for $2300 as is but came with a recent e test but sold "as is". A/c blows cold and it has moderate rust under the car and little to none on the body.

The seller was great and had no issues with me scanning the ecu and putting it up on ramps to inspect. Rear differ had a leaking axle seal, timing chain tensioner was leaking, brakes needed to be done and drive belt was old.

It failed safety as expected so I fixed everything and it passed yesterday. In the end with licensing and taxes as well as parts the car cost about $3300.

It now has new control arms (old ones were fine but shop said bushing was cracked which was bs), ball joints, brakes (pads, shoes, rotors, drums), drive belt, tensioner o-ring, rear axle seal, rear end links, brake boots, all fluids/filters. The car is only about 1 foot longer than my Yaris but holds way more stuff. The awd version has 1-1 1/2" more suspension height than the standard Vibe so the clearance is great.

Lookin forward to driving it this winter, just bought some used Pirelli 15" winter tires for it. I'll post a separate thread regarding the failed safety and the isues I experienced since the laws changed June 1st of this year.

[ern-diz]

Congrats on the new wheels.

I assume that's the family car and the Yaris is your toy?

[tmontague]

Congrats on the new wheels.

I assume that's the family car and the Yaris is your toy?

Correct :biggrin:. The Yaris will hopefully be getting a lightweight flywheel and better clutch next summer. I still commute in it but its all off peak highway and still puts a smile on my face. I got it tinted (20%) all around the other day and it looks great with the paint so still doing small mods here and there.

I'm picky about how many ppl and what goes in my car since it lowered and is my baby. now I can load of the Vibe since it's got a ton of wheel clearance and awd.

YW the Barber convinced me of the Vibe since it was selling for about $1-1.5k less than a comparable Matrix and is the same car. I put all of the proper Toyota fluids in it as well as any parts

[ern-diz]

YW the Barber convinced me of the Vibe since it was selling for about $1-1.5k less than a comparable Matrix and is the same car. I put all of the proper Toyota fluids in it as well as any parts

Wow, I didn't know that. Was the same with the Geo Metro and Corolla back in the late 90s.

What's up with that? How is it that two completely diff car companies, like Toyota and GM, can basically re-trim and re-badge the same car? I get alliances like Toyota and Mazda, and they make it public, but the Geo Metro / Corolla deal and Vibe / Matrix is strange to me.

[WeeYari]

Wow, I didn't know that. Was the same with the Geo Metro and Corolla back in the late 90s.

What's up with that? How is it that two completely diff car companies, like Toyota and GM, can basically re-trim and re-badge the same car? I get alliances like Toyota and Mazda, and they make it public, but the Geo Metro / Corolla deal and Vibe / Matrix is strange to me.

Where were you during this conversation?

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56467

The joint venture was never 'secret', just forgotten.

[ern-diz]

Where were you during this conversation?

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56467

The joint venture was never 'secret', just forgotten.

I did totally miss that, which is odd because I'm all over this site like a cheap suit.

In any case, I still find the partnership interesting.

[tmontague]

from my understanding GM paid the bill for the design that was all done by Toyota. GM then got to throw a Pontiac badge on it. Only difference is the sheet metal for the most parts. I'm not a fan of having a Pontiac badges car in my driveway but the price helps makes that pill go down easier

[Bluevitz-rs]

In Japan this car was sold as the Toyota Voltz. Look it up, maybe you'll want to convert some stuff LOL.

[kimona]

I'm not a fan of having a Pontiac badges car in my driveway but the price helps makes that pill go down easier

What about a simple rebadge... Toyota Voltz?

[tmontague]

In Japan this car was sold as the Toyota Voltz. Look it up, maybe you'll want to convert some stuff LOL.

I like Kimona's idea of a simple rebadge, I don't want to start modifying my family car that goes on back country camping trips...my wallet can't handle that!

[dogsridewith]

Glad you're still in a Yaris so you come here and help us solve things.
(Circa 91 Corolla about the same as Chevy Prizm. GM's Geo Metros were built by Suzuki.)
Some Chevys and Corollas were being built in the joint-owned NUMMI (?) factory in CA...later sold to some hopeful electric car entrepreneur or something.)

[WeeYari]

I like Kimona's idea of a simple rebadge, I don't want to start modifying my family car that goes on back country camping trips...my wallet can't handle that!

I'm not sure, but I think the Voltz still has the Pontiac symbol on its nose.

BTW, time to update your side pane details since you no longer drive an Echo, AND have long since moved out of Mississauga.

[tmontague]

I'm not sure, but I think the Voltz still has the Pontiac symbol on its nose.

BTW, time to update your side pane details since you no longer drive an Echo, AND have long since moved out of Mississauga.

Yes it does look like it has the Pontiac symbol on the front.

Info changed:wink:

[WeeYari]

Side note: thebarber is parting out his Vibe so if you discover you need anything *cough* GT drivetrain *cough*, contact him.

[ern-diz]

In Japan this car was sold as the Toyota Voltz. Look it up, maybe you'll want to convert some stuff LOL.

Rebadging was Bluevitz's idea.

Just sayin' :biggrin:

Info changed:wink:

What up with that garage, tho.

[tmontague]

ya, I gotta get on that for sure...classes just started again so give me a few weeks lol

[tarkus]

I hadn't realised the Matrix/Vibe also has an awd version.

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

[SirDigby]

Wow, I didn't know that. Was the same with the Geo Metro and Corolla back in the late 90s.



I think you mean geo prism.
what was really nice about the prism is that you got a giant AC Delco air conditioning compressor instead of the punny Toyota one. it worked waaay better!

[ern-diz]

I think you mean geo prism.
what was really nice about the prism is that you got a giant AC Delco air conditioning compressor instead of the punny Toyota one. it worked waaay better!

I think you're right, it was the Prism.

Interesting about the AC!

[scratchpaddy]

The Geo Metro (and Tracker) were built at CAMI in Ontario, a joint venture between GM and Suzuki. The Geo no one remembers, the Storm, was a rebadged Isuzu Impulse, imported from Japan.

Some Chevys and Corollas were being built in the joint-owned NUMMI (?) factory in CA...later sold to some hopeful electric car entrepreneur or something.)Yes, I think his name was Elon Musk. Started calling it the "Tesla Factory" or something. Dunno what happened to that guy. :iono: :laugh:

[thebarber]

ugh, gen1 awd vibe...otherwise known as the worst model.

make sure you check that rear diff fluid.

but yes, im parting out my 03 GT, so if you need bits, i have them.

interesting note: your "pontiac" alloys are stamped toyota on the inside face.