New winter beater: base 2004 Toyota Echo vs. base 1998 Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro)

[MetroMPG]

So if you follow the Efficient, cheap beaters! Used car ads thread, you know I just picked up this cheap 2004 Toyota Echo. It's going to be next winter's beater car.

And it's the base model. Base, base, BASE!

How base? When I showed it to my dad he chuckled and said, "that's pretty... fundamental." Fundamental as in: no options. No A/C or power steering. It's pretty close to 1998 Firefly base.



It immediately reminded me of the Firefly for its lack of amenities. And then it made me chuckle when I started noting the differences between them.

Things neither car has:

(Things that I bet most car shoppers today would not be OK without...)

• power steering (this surprised me in the Echo... in 2004??)
• air conditioning
• cruise control
• tachometer
• remote hatch release

Things the Echo has that the Firefly doesn't:

• ABS!
• tilt steering!
• dual (A & B) resettable trip odometers (Firefly: none)
• split/folding rear seat (Firefly: folds, but full width)
• cargo cover
• interior-adjustable (manual) side mirrors (Firefly: roll down the window to adjust)
• map lights!
• rear cargo light!
• switches on BOTH doors to turn on the dome light! (Firefly: only on driver's door)
• stowage cubbies galore!
• exterior/lockable hatchback "latch/button"! (Firefly: hatch access requires the key)
• audio (Firefly: came with nothing)
• power! (Over twice the Firefly's HP)

Things the Firefly has that the Echo doesn't

• temperature gauge
• top of class fuel economy (at the time)

Key specs:

• Engine: Echo: 1.5L, DOHC 16v, variable valve timing, 108 hp / 105 ft-lbs
• Firefly: 1.0L, SOHC, 6v, ~50 hp (XFi cam) / 58 ft-lbs

• Curb weight: Echo: 928 kg / 2046 lbs
• Firefly: 813 kg / 1792 lbs

EPA ratings:

• Echo: 30/38/33 (for the sedan 5-speed)
• Firefly: 36/44/40

Driving the Echo reminds me a lot of the base "$9998" 2015 Nissan Micra I got to test drive last year. Similar bare bones mission and power to weight ratio. (Although the 2004 Echo stickered at $14k twelve years ago.)





From: Review notes: 2015 Micra S 5-speed extended test-drive - Darin's thoughts - Micra-Forum.com

[MetroMPG]

I have stats for both cars on the same 1-way route at the same cruising speed.

~100 km (~60 mi.), 80 km/h (50 mph) cruising speed (some DWL on hills if no following traffic, no more than +/-10 km/h), mild & dry conditions, negligible wind.

It's a scenic country route that includes several stops, passes through 3 towns/hamlets, with easy (EOC-friendly) sub/urban driving at the beginning & end.

Echo: 55 mpg US (not calibrated), bone stock (other than ~50 PSI)

Firefly: 73 mpg US, ecomodded

[Frank Lee]

You're not going to bathe it in SALT?!?

[MetroMPG]

I hear salt baths are soothing.

Based on these rocker panels, this car must feel VERY relaxed.



UPDATE: rust repairs under way...
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ics-34525.html

[me and my metro]

Let the modifications begin. Looks like fun, the days of the Metros are fading fast. I ran them for 8 years, there is only one left in my family now.

[MobilOne]

That Echo should get better and better mileage as the body parts vaporize or fall off.

[Xist]

I was not able to keep up very well while at annual training. Did you sell the Civic?

[MetroMPG]

I sold the Civic! Don't worry, you're only 2 cars behind.

Latest beaters:

- 2007 Civic (winter 2014/15)
- 2004 Prius (winter 2015/16)
- 2004 Echo (winter 2016/17)

[jcp123]

The Echo is a fine little car. The low-hanging fruit is easy in this car but I believe it ultimately hits a wall going into 60+ territory. The really high numbers just won't be there.

[MetroMPG]

In what type of driving?

It does have more than enough power for such a light "economy" car. That's going to hold things back for sure.

This one will get my usual suite of ecomods. I'll start a dedicated modding thread for it sometime.