Jello's car review: echo vs corolla

I should've gotten an Echo. Damn me and underestimating a 1.3L, short, stubby, tall car. I drove Cynthia's Echo to the airport and to uni. It's a good car.

For roughly $10000, maybe take $1000, one can get either a AE101R Corolla Seca or a 1.3L Echo hatch. Manual of course. It's the only way to drive an economy car. I can say that both cars a good options.

Age & Mileage:
As of now, 2-11-2005, you could get the later half of the AE101 generation and the early Echos at the $10K range. That means 1996-1998 for the Corolla, and 1999-2001 for the Echo. Mileage should be around 100000km. It's awesome to see the odometer tick over from 99999 to 100000 =P.

Actually, most of the AE101's would be over 100000km.

Exterior:
Being older, the Corolla looks like its... old. I don't know why but the front of the AE101 reminds me of the Camry of similar age. I guess that's why I didn't like the sedan version- it's a mini Camry. The Echo... ignore the sedan... that's butt ugly, and more expensive because it has a larger engine. The hatch Echo, took me a while to like. It looks quite nice actually. It's an EGG! Try googling EGG80X for photos of his Echo. He supercharged it, lowered it, put on a carbon hood. I actually looks quite nice...

It's your opinion...

Interior:
I like my Corolla's interior a lot more than the Echo. That's probably because Cynthia's is a light greenish colour. Makes it look really cheap. There's a darker interrior trim for the Echo (I think). Ooh! Echo has lots of storage bins and a really cool centre mounted dash with digital stuff! Steering wheel feels smaller. No foot rest either. My Corolla seats are actually pretty crap. It's just cloth trim. Easily corrected with a $50 seat cover pack. Scorpions ^^

Seat covers make both cars look nicer on the inside. I don't like the aircon vents in the Echo

Performance:
Just because my Corolla is 1.6L doesn't mean it is decent. It's an old technology 4AFE. Power and torque wise it's about inbetween the 2NZFE (1.3L) and 1NZFE (1.5L) engines in the Echo. But in the AE101, the 4AFE is pulling a larger heavier body. Folks, don't get the 1.6L Corolla, unless it's the 4AGE AE92-SX model. Or the AE82 Twincam. But those models would be thrashed by P platers who have been infected by the Initial D bug. (Damn hachiroku and the almighty 4AGE) Get the 1.8L Corolla. AKA AE102. Or the AE112. But that's the next generation and slightly more expensive. But it looks so much nicer. The 1.8L 7AFE is pretty much the same as the 4AFE but its got a little bit more torque, and it comes in lower. 3000rpm sounds about right. That means better acceleration under normal driving.

What this means is that the Echo is about as nippy as my Corolla. Just because it has a puny capacity, and it doesnt have much kW, I reckon it can pwn my Corolla. Don't forget that with smaller capacity comes small fuel consumption. I can get around 400km with 35L light driving shifting at 2500rpm.

Clutch and gear change in both feel about the same. In comparison to my dad's 2002 323 Protege, it's a lot nicer. I can't change gears fast and the I have to press really far on the clutch in his car.

*shock, horror!* Echo wins on zippiness and fuel consumption. If you're lazy and try moving from 2nd gear in the Echo... it doesn't like it... Corolla wins on that! =P

Handling:
The small steering wheel on the Echo is nice. Then again, it could be psychological. I put a steering wheel cover on mine because it came with the seatcovers. There's a fair amount of body roll. As expected. It's shorter, narrower and taller than the Corolla. Going round bends a little faster than what a driving examiner would like results in hearing the wheels skid. And getting tossed around.

I would imagine that the handling on the Corolla would be about the same as any other basic hatch/sedan.

I'd say about the same, after you weigh up pros and cons.

Safety:
My Corolla doesn't have ABS and airbags. I don't know about the Echo but it does have airbags. Echo is smaller and lighter, but all that RnD at Toyota should make it safe. Who cares if there's no ABS. Pump the brakes. You can make it skid. Thats fun.

Overall:
Meh. Get the Yaris YRS. 1.5L. Leather steering wheel and gearknob. MP3 player. More features than the basic 05 Corolla.

Oh, right. We're talking about $10K budget. Both are pretty nice cars. Don't bother with the Echo's predessor, the Starlet- it has even less oomph and less features.

Note: I wanted a 96 Civic Gli hatch. Same price, higher mileage, better equipped. When you're not paying for the vehicle, don't complain. However, if you're paying for the maintenance and general upkeep of whatever car you're getting, don't get an old beater. I was going to get an older Corolla. Insurance would be roughly the same. Same petrol bill (same engine), same if not more maintenance costs. Smaller, older, and bleh.