I am looking to get into a compact that gets high MPG and hear good things about the Toyota Echo.
I know 2005 was the last year so am looking at 2002-2005 year models.

Anyone own one?
Any Toyota Shop Wrenches have anything bad to say about them?

Thanks

Quoted: I am looking to get into a compact that gets high MPG and hear good things about the Toyota Echo. I know 2005 was the last year so am looking at 2002-2005 year models. Anyone own one? Any Toyota Shop Wrenches have anything bad to say about them? Thanks

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My girlfriend has one (it's for sale, incidentally, but I don't know for how much). Good news: It's been stone-cold reliable and gets 40 mpg. Bad news: It feels like a cat-food can on wheels and the thought of an accident with it makes me queasy. I'll stick with my diesel pick-up.

I don't know if I'd buy one, I heard there was a factory recall because the workers put the instrument cluster in the wrong place

Seriously, I hear it's a nice car.  

I dont know why they put the guages in the center

Quoted: My girlfriend has one (it's for sale, incidentally, but I don't know for how much). Good news: It's been stone-cold reliable and gets 40 mpg. Bad news: It feels like a cat-food can on wheels and the thought of an accident with it makes me queasy. I'll stick with my diesel pick-up.

That's why I've never been fond of the small compact cars. Seems like they could fold up much like a catfood can in a wreck. It sad really to see how thin steel(the ones that even still have steel) has gotten on the years.
1. 05 Chevy Silverado pops in easily
2. 71 Pontiac Firebird pops in but you really gotta hit it and your hand is hurting
3. 30s model Chevy coupe a relative owns.....well you might as well whip out the insurance card cause your hand is prolly broke.....

Back to the Echo, it is a Toyota so it's probably well made and a good vehicle aside from being small. I've known one person who had one, they never complained and just raved about the fuel economy.

Quoted: I dont know why they put the guages in the center

I don't know either.

FWIW I had the pleasure to ride in a Saturn Ion once that had the center gauges.  It's just a stupid idea.