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New winter beater: base 2004 Toyota Echo vs. base 1998 Pontiac Firefly (Geo Metro)
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http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1461594648
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. http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1461608704 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...)
Things the Firefly has that the Echo doesn't
Key specs:
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.) http://micra-forum.com/attachment.ph...4&d=1435153752 From: Review notes: 2015 Micra S 5-speed extended test-drive - Darin's thoughts - Micra-Forum.com |
observed fuel economy
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 |
You're not going to bathe it in SALT?!?
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1 Attachment(s)
I hear salt baths are soothing.
Based on these rocker panels, this car must feel VERY relaxed. http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1461627811 UPDATE: rust repairs under way... http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ics-34525.html |
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.
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That Echo should get better and better mileage as the body parts vaporize or fall off.
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I was not able to keep up very well while at annual training. Did you sell the Civic?
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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) |
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.
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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. |
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