Questions concerning 2003 Echo

[torontoworker]

I've just bought a used 2003 4 door, 5 speed Echo from a used car dealer.

The car came off a lease with 80K on it.

I have a red flashing security light insatlled on the dash along with central door locks. I have NO remote key fob for this car. The car came only with ONE key. Am I correct in assuming that I *should* have been given a remote key fob? I called a dealer near by and the parts guy says they sell a "universal" key fob for $49.00can each that has to be programmed.

Does the red flashing light indicate a factory security system or is this just a "fake" light to fool car thieves, (like it would anyway)? Does this car sound like it is equiped with a factory remote lock opening system? I must say it is a weird location for a central lock switch - between the seats.

This car came with the upgraded 15" wheels but the silly seller or lease back dealer who sent it to the retail market - put Bridgestone ice radials on the BACK END of a front wheel drive car! For now I have swapped the tires and put them on the front with the no name other two tires on the back. The dealer is finding me new tires as his cost and is going to mount them free. Looks like Harmony's are the only tires in the Michelin brand that fit - 185/60/15

The handling with mixed tire construction sucks at the moment.

Impressions after one week, tire issues aside:

- Brakes appear to be lousy - and this after the dealer installed new rotors and pads. Noisy, poor pedal feel and not very effective compared to other econo boxes I've owned.

- Air conditioning is ok. Not fantastic, but not bad either.

- Handling: Can't comment till I get these goofy tires off the car, but seems ok. Although I get the impresson you could get into a real tank slapper in winter conditions if you really don't watch what your doing. I also found the car moves around in a cross wind a lot more then other cars such as Civic's and Swifts - two cars i've owned in the past.

- Gearbox. Not a great gearbox I must say. Very "notchy". 2nd gear seems like it has a bad syncho. You cannot rush a gear change into 2nd or it grinds. You almost have to double clutch it or really take it very s_l_o_w when you up change into 3rd. Every other gear is fine. I'm going to take it to a dealer to have it checked out. I still have a powertrain warranty left, but I don't know how they will react. My luck the dealer guys will take it around the block and short shift at real low rev's and say it's fine. I say - if your turning left at an intersection and you really need to GO - like NOW, because a car is coming... that it will grind even with your foot flatto the floor on the clutch pedal. It's also a very hard car to heel and toe on - the pedals are way to far apart, (Not that I do that on street cars anyway - too much...)

When I get the new tires I'll see what it's like around Mosport, (I have had a CASC racing licence for regional level racing in the past and currently am a track marshal). I will most likely scare myself as the car seems top heavy as far as center of balance. I won't go near the speed curbing as I don't feel like having to get out and roll the car back on to it's wheels if I get it wrong!

- Power band seems pretty good and I note a 175K top end which is not too shabby from a 1.5L motor - I think the VVT and 16V really help in that regard.

- Needs a tach!!! I found one at a speed shop which I'm putting in this weekend. I'm going to go the OB2 pin 9 route for the install. I haven't decided where to mount the tach yet. Maybe in that little storage box above the radio? I have a custom mount/plate design running around in my head. I don't like the "in front of steering wheel" idea that I've seen other Echo owners do however. How come Toyota feel that 5 speed owners don't require a tach? Silly.

- CD skips over bumps! What's the fix for this - a new CD player?

- Seems like 16 sq feet of little storage boxes all over this car!!! LOL Just found the one under the passenger seat yesterday when installing my SIRIUS radio wiring.

- My 17 year old daughter loves the car so I guess that counts for a lot!

- Big driving adjustment the first day on the highway from my 3.6 CTS to this car! Holy Crap mode getting around a rig! I thought the motor had quit when I hit the gas and didn't... GO. I've got to reset *MY* brain.

- This car runs on air - not gas. I *might* visit gas pumps every other week in the Echo instead of every other day in my CTS or my Taurus wagon!!

Sorry for the long first post!