Is This Toyota Echo Supposed to be a Parody? (UPDATE: DRIVER SPOTTED)

"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural)
06/29/2016 at 09:09 • Filed to: None

We find ourselves looking at a fierce reminder of every iota of the 108 standard horsepower this 2002-2005 Toyota Echo came equipped with. Unfortunately the front end damage is the best thing that ever happened to this particular specimen.

What draws our eye to it? Is it the appliqué brake vent? Or maybe second appliqué brake vent, you know, the one positioned to ventilate the rear strut towers so they don’t melt due to the massive downforce from the two-tier spoiler that’s wider than the body? Maybe it’s the faux BMW shark fin antenna, or the abandoned mounts behind it, the somber reminder of the Evo diffuser lost to an overly aggressive car wash. Or maybe its the contrast of the black wheels against the glistening silver of its sculptured form? These, and to say nothing of the obscured hood scoop AND NACA duct. Clearly, this EchoVIII330WRX, She Is a Thing of Beauty.

So what do YOU think, is this a shining example of “all things are possible with God” who clearly must be protecting the driver on his 140mph freeway races? Or is this someone’s 24 Hours of Lemons weekend driver (note: does not have roll cage, but could be a different series)? You must choose.

UPDATE 6/29/16: I saw the driver of this last night, and we have a long-awaited answer.

Was walking to the deli late in the evening and spotted it with hazards on across the street. 4 high school-age guys with basketballs and gym bags hopped out, driver excluded. When he drove away (the muffler is also not in great shape) I confirmed he was also high school age, and really nailed down the “awkward and doofy (but likeable (though not so likeable to get invited to exciting things)) wishes-they-were-more-athletic” vibe. A real aim-to-please type. As the saying goes, takes one to know one, but thank god I had a slightly better car at that age.

So, based on direct observation, I’m putting this one in the books as a parody.

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DISCUSSION (22)

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 08:34

All the down force

All the clown force

OPPOsaurus WRX > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 08:36

looks like someone got a gift card to pep boys

Berang > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 08:37

I really want to stance an echo now.

notsomethingstructural > Berang
05/20/2016 at 08:43

If it was stanced it would make this poll so easy though

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 09:21

When I started college, I went to visit my HS girlfriend in Philly, there was a guy on her campus who had a silver Echo with this wing on it, and ground effects, but they were in Absolute Red, not Lunar Mist Silver.

Very strange guy.

Sneaky Pete > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 09:21

I always thought the echo looked like a porpoise. With that wing and shark fin antenna on there...even more so.

notsomethingstructural > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
05/20/2016 at 09:23

Was it a parody? Man you gotta spill it

notsomethingstructural > Sneaky Pete
05/20/2016 at 09:24

The photo cannot convey how offensively large the wing is. It's got to be a foot wider than the car. I'm surprised it fits on the lid tbth

zveugen > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 09:27

yo, that thing is sweet

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 09:29

No, I’m pretty sure it was one of those cases where he was pissed about the car his parents gave him so he did what he could with it.

Speaking of which...

Had a friend in HS who got a 99 Beetle Turbo with a manual because his mother decided she wanted something bigger and automatic. He did some work on it and it was ridiculously quick by the time he was done. Thankfully the aftermarket for the 1.8T was pretty robust.

notsomethingstructural > zveugen
05/20/2016 at 09:44

BRUH LIGHT EM UP

[peels out alllllll the way across the crosswalk]

notsomethingstructural > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
05/20/2016 at 09:55

The beetle turbos had something oddly desirable about them, great sleeper car

zveugen > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 10:40

2 FAST 2 FURIOUS. ACT A FOOL!

Eli's Got 2 > notsomethingstructural
05/20/2016 at 11:50

Haha. LOVE IT! :)

functionoverfashion > notsomethingstructural
06/29/2016 at 09:26

I may not have had a better car at that age, but at least I didn’t pretend it was something else, or try in any way to “improve” its appearance.

notsomethingstructural > functionoverfashion
06/29/2016 at 09:29

The people who were not as cool as you had to invent ways to stand out, and goofing off with stunts like this would be one of them. If I was stuck with an echo I might have too.

functionoverfashion > notsomethingstructural
06/29/2016 at 09:44

Ha, don’t worry I’m sure I wasn’t cool. I just didn’t really care I guess. I also drove different cars a lot, I didn’t always have the same one. I rocked a Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, other Honda Civic, 1979 Ford F100, 1985 Ford F150 shortbed with a plow, and - on special occasions - my mom’s new-at-the-time 2000 Subaru Outback limited. All manual except the Caravan.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > notsomethingstructural
06/29/2016 at 10:54

Someone needs to MR an Echo now.

notsomethingstructural > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
06/29/2016 at 11:05

I actually like the bodies on the CDM Echo Hatch / JDM Vitz, thinking about importing one at some point and making a project out of it. MR is an interesting idea.

Amoore100 > functionoverfashion
06/29/2016 at 11:17

I concur, I hate people who pretend their cars are something more than they really are. If I were presented with an Echo I would just make sure to keep it maintained and overall in pristine condition. It may not have the panache or flair of even a European penalty box but it's light years better then a Grand Am so yeah, perspective. (No, I've never driven a Grand Am and I don't think I ever want to)

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural
06/29/2016 at 11:20

Not only is it an Echo, but it’s a 2-door. I don’t know if I should laugh or question the sanity of the owner...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Berang
06/29/2016 at 11:24

This car, stanced, and plastered with every random Japanese performance spec badge would be amazing.