Stylish changes to a 2005 Toyota Echo Hatchback

[gone.st]

So the car in question:

2005 Toyota Echo Hatchback (blue btw ;P)

OEM:

• bug deflector
• steelie rims, can't remember the tires off-hand, running a max pressue (37 PSI)
• front and rear mudflaps
• automatic transmission
• no power steering
• 2-door
• a/c
• no rear wiper
• manual locks, windows, side mirrors

Parts I've added so far:

• Panasonic headunit (need tunes!)
• Rain-X wipers
• mpguino (need to calibrate!)

As you can see, this car is a good starting point for hypermiliing. It's lightweight, simple with no gimmicks. I guess the only improvement could be a manual transmission but since I haven't learned stick, c'est la vie. I drive this car 100% in overdrive.

My family is a hybrid family, a 2001 Prius (got smshed by a taxi), a 2008 Hybrid Highlander and a 2010 Prius, all of which I've gotten far below EPA. So I have experience with hypermiling driving.

My goal is to get this car down to 4.5L/100km. Regular highway driving I can get her to 5.6L/100km. I live in the city currently but drive most of time time at 80km/h or higher so aeromods are a must here. I would like to keep this car looking "unductaped" so my gf won't turn up her nose :P

My plans for this car:

• remove mud flaps
• remove bug deflector? (would this make a big difference, I think it was installed by the previous owner to reduce the number of stone chips
• removable belly pan
• possibly new rims and LRR tires (would this make a big difference?)
• if not new rims, covering with mooncovers
• kammback tail
• carbon fiber hood ;p
• lower grill block

I have much hands on experience with carbon fiber/fiberglass so I'm considering a composite kammback tail and possibly CF hood.

Thoughts?

[Jean-Seb]

Sounds great so far and welcome to Ecomodder.

I could suggest a passenger side mirror delete, I'm working on one that's based off a spare mirror with the base cut off, hole filled with fiberglass, I'll paint it gloss black and should look OEM when done. You could easily do that as well.

You pretty much covered all the bases so I can't think of anything else really. Have fun with your project !

[redyaris]

start a fuel log in emgarage. This will keep you focused.

[gone.st]

Thanks Jean!

I've considered it. I'm unsure of the regulations here in Ontario with respect to the Highway Traffic Act. My parents had an old suzuki swift with no passenger's side mirror...

Also, I forgot to mention that I'd like to add a rear wheel side skirt and antenna delete. Currently the antenna is a little stubby sticking above the roof. I have some copper trace tape (adhesive on one end, conductive on the other) that I might string up inside the car to keep the radio.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by sombertattoo

My goal is to get this car down to 4.5L/100km. Regular highway driving I can get her to 5.6L/100km.

I've achieved the same kind of improvement, so it's definitely possible
Currently no aeromods anymore - not even a grille block.

[*]remove bug deflector? (would this make a big difference, I think it was installed by the previous owner to reduce the number of stone chips

where is it located ?

[*]possibly new rims and LRR tires (would this make a big difference?)

When you need new tyres, by all means get LRR tyres.
I got almost 7% better fuel economy with them.

[*]carbon fiber hood ;p

If you do a lot of highway driving @ higher speeds, weight won't matter very much.
It'll help, but only marginally and you'll probably never recover the cost or time involved.

[gone.st]

The bug deflector is on the front, just above the headlights. My next post will be my 5th so I will post a link to someone else's picture.

By next year, I'll be needing new tires (old ones starting to show some wear), so I will go for LRR. I'll get some more specs of this car up tomorrow. Make this my official project thread.

Thanks for the thoughts, especially on the carbon hood. I wasn't entirely sure about that one!

Originally Posted by euromodder

I've achieved the same kind of improvement, so it's definitely possible
Currently no aeromods anymore - not even a grille block.


where is it located ?


When you need new tyres, by all means get LRR tyres.
I got almost 7% better fuel economy with them.


If you do a lot of highway driving @ higher speeds, weight won't matter very much.
It'll help, but only marginally and you'll probably never recover the cost or time involved.

[gone.st]

Not my car, but same bug deflector.