Echo owners, your help please

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by goofy1

Kenny Tran of tuning specialists Jotech in Garland, Texas, credits the tight tolerances Toyota engineers put into their engines as the reason.

I call BS. Dependability is rarely about engine internals, and tolerances are rarely to blame for those already rare failures. A vehicle is much more complex than just its engine, and problems are consistently outside of the engine.

"They are well-built, with many overengineered heavy-duty parts," Tran says, "like using a timing chain versus a timing belt."

I too am a fan of timing chains. They are more common on some brands than others.

[FrugalFloyd]

My xB uses the same 1NZ-FE engine used in the Echo and Yaris. My family also owns three Hyundai Elantras, a '94, '00, and '06. No major mechanical issues with any of them. If I were in the market for an inexpensive high mpg economy car, I'd look at Hyundais and Kias, simply because a 10 year old Echo will cost you more than a 5 year old Hyundai or Kia. That price difference will pay for any and all maintenance costs, including a lifetime of timing belts, for the Hyundai or Kia.

[goofy1]

I don't know where everyone lives. But here in Louisville, KY area, people and dealerships have raised their prices on KIAs and Hyundais. People now know that they can make a good car. I saw a 05 RIO with 98,000miles for sale at $6,500.
ECHO's are hard to find in good conditions and "lowish miles".

[FrugalFloyd]

I was afraid people would discover Kias and Hyundais. As little as three years ago, the Kia Rio was in the top ten cars with the worst resale value.

[bowtieguy]

resale value is NOT synonymous w/ quality. it's often overstated as a deterrent by "experts." if one decides to drive a vehicle for many years...

[goofy1]

I really dont care about resale value, because during this time, the value of the car means nothing. I'm trying to sale our 05 Solara. It books between $12,000 - 13,000 and we have it for sale below that and we haven't received one serious buyer. I took to Car Max to see what they would give for it. They offered $6,000 HA!!! I told the guy, you do realize this is HALF or less then it's real value. And they guy had the nerve to ask "Yes sir, do you want to sale it to us?" Hopefully we'll sale it soon and use that money we get from it to buy a nice 4 door hypermiling-worthy car.