2004 Toyota Echo from North America

Summary:

Moneypit

Faults:

My wife and I purchased our first Toyota ever and wow are we ever disappointed.

When we first purchased it we had problems: the fan cable breaking and a part in the front end. Most recently though, and the reason I am writing to you, our brakes wore out.

According to almost all other Toyota drives of other models, theirs last at least to 110,000. When we went to the local Toyota dealer in Prince George with a brake light blinking, they said it could not be the brakes, proceeded to top up the brake fluid and sent my family and I back onto the road with the advise to come back to them and book an appointment if the problem persists.

We went to a brake shop for a second opinion as out families lives are obviously more value to me then Toyota. The brake pads were as thick as a $5 bill. We immediately made an appointment with the brake shop and had them replaced the next morning.

When we brought the proof back to the service people they claimed they could not have known and they were not to blame, would not even give a sorry. Same with the service manager, and the sales manager (whose daughter was the day before person that said we would be fine).

My wife and I feel obligated to let the public know that the brakes go, according to 8 other Echo owners between 50,000 and 64,000 km unlike an other traditional Toyota, so please get them checked independently, not at your dealer.

They don't seem to care about your families safety and apparently, neither does Toyota by putting weak brakes in the Echo.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 9th September, 2005

10th Sep 2005, 13:25

Hah. That last comment was one of the most biased things ever.. A personal vendetta.. haha.

2nd Nov 2006, 19:51

I replaced the front pads on my Echo at 65 000 KMS (there was almost nothing left) and I don't consider that too bad, since I relentlessly beat the car; hard acceleration and hard braking. Original reviewer, thank you for an informative reveiw, but chill out, wear and tear items may require changing at different times depending on several variables. doesn't make the car low quality and doesn't reflect on the entire Toyota family of cars. Toyota fanatic, you chill out too; Toyota or not, it's a machine and it will break down eventually.

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2004 Toyota Echo Hatchback 1.5 from North America

Summary:

This is a great cheap and spunky car

Faults:

Nothing at all.

General Comments:

This is a very tight, reliable car it handles well up to about 140kmh.

The interior is very large and roomy.

Its quirky looks are sort of fun-a smart car on steroids.

Very cheap on fuel over 50 mpg on the highway and about 40 mpg in the city.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th March, 2005

20th Apr 2005, 05:50

If you read the original review again, he says a "SMART" car on steroids. As in the SMART fortwo... except bigger and more powerful. Then again.. almost any car on the road could be a SMART on steroids.

21st May 2005, 17:15

The above comments about steroids and SUV owners is completely ridiculous.

We are buying the Echo for my wife as she wants an economical work car. I like it as it affords her the luxury (which is superb) that she deserves.

It is a 'perfect' city runabout with the "legs" to take her an the children interstate to visit relatives in safety.

On the downside I believe Toyota was extremely stingy in not installing dual airbags in such a light car-this should almost be a legal requirement. Mag wheels also would have been a reasonable expectation given the price.

They lose a healthy 2/10 points for the missing airbag otherwise it would be a 10/10 for the purpose of such a vehicle:D.

I also own a 4X4 which I prefer for the height/visibility and as I go off road often Fly Fishing. Steroids / masculinity etc never crossed my mind. The person above has jealousy or here-say issues and should grow up. SUV 's are a very, very good family option.

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