Art of the flip: Examining the Echo’s damage

"Kevin W" (2o6)
08/12/2020 at 11:22 • Filed to: Art of the flip, Toyota echo, toyota

Any of y’all ever been around an elderly person in your life? Namely, when they kind of lose their concept of time? They told me this car had been “sitting about a year” but the more they explained, I realized it was far longer!

And my hunch was verified when I saw the oil change sticker, this car has 131k, and it’s next oil change here:

Originally, I had plans to drive the car back home - some 50 miles, all freeway. But then my roommate casually pointed out that the tires on the car were from 2008. In other words, these tires were from Obama’s first term.

Yet, we were able to loosen the alternator enough to slip the accessory belt off so I could at least start the car and see if the motor is any good. After a bit of coaxing, the Echo started up. It ran pretty decently for having who-knows-how-old gas in it.

I went and looked at the car today, just to get a better look as to what I’m in for.

The body is okay; no rust which is important, but it’s got dents and scratches. But also it’s a 20 year old economy car. I also need a hubcap, too.

I actually plan on maybe clay barring and waxing the car. It’s quarantine, not like I have much else to do.

The interior is in decent enough shape, albeit dirty. I think I’m going to rent an extractor from Home Depot and do a hot water extraction on the seats.

The stereo has already been wired for an aftermarket setup, so looks like the Toyota stereo they gave me won’t work. No biggie.

Look at this old-school aftermarket cruise control! None of the Toyota NBC cars supported factory Toyota cruise control. The Echo, Scion xA and xB, were never offered with cruise. If you wanted it, you had to use one of these kits.

The next generation supported it natively, as adding cruise to my 2007 Yaris hatchback only involved adding the stalk and a wire.

The guy gave me a whole bunch of “echo stuff”, most of it was trim pieces, and old accessory belts that were cracked or moldy - but there was one gem: a box of NGK Iridium spark plugs, unopened. Score.

The woman kept the dealer stock key tag all these years. Why? I don’t know.

Ok, so here’s a breakdown of what I have budgeted for the car:

Purchase price, tax, title, registration: $765

Used alternator: $45

Brakes, accessory belt, wiper blades - $90.48

Tires, Weslake NP18 175/65/R14 ~ $170 Mounted and balanced.

I’m aiming to get about $1800 for it or so.

Stay tuned for more about this dopey ass car.

DISCUSSION (9)

Wacko > Kevin W
08/12/2020 at 12:48

I hate echo with a passion.

Hate the center speedo, hate the looks, but what i hate the most is the seats. I have never planted my ass in a such uncomfortable seat. My Ex had one, and we would take my car as much as possible since she knew i hated it so much.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Kevin W
08/12/2020 at 12:51

If it were me, I’d totally drive home 50 miles on 12 year old tires. As long as they aren’t dry rotten and cracked or bald, it’ll be fine as long as it doesn’t rain.

I need to start flipping stuff.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/12/2020 at 12:54

Driving on 12 year old tires? T he only thing you’re flipping is your car.

Kevin W > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/12/2020 at 13:01

Yeah seconded, they would have likely blown up.

MoCamino > Kevin W
08/12/2020 at 13:13

As long as that car got regular oil changes, it’s barely broken in. My wife drives an ‘01 with over 350k miles on it. Still runs great. The A/C did die long ago, but it’s been a great car otherwise. So much so that my daughter is buying a 2003 Echo as her first car.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/12/2020 at 13:18

Dude, it’s an echo, it’s got like 75 hp and a top speed of 60. It isn’t gonna go around a corner fast enough to so much as lift a tire. I’m not suggesting driving long term on those, just to get it home.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Kevin W
08/12/2020 at 13:55

You’d be surprised. I drove a vehicle from my parents house to mine with 40 year old tires. It was only 15 miles and I took slow back roads, but still, tires held up fine.

Kevin W > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/12/2020 at 14:16

At 50 miles, all freeway, at 70 MPH? That’s not a good idea. Either way, it doesn’t matter, the car is home

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Kevin W
08/12/2020 at 14:32

Fair enough, but if 12 year old tires regularly resulted in wrecked cars, we’d see a lot more wrecked cars. As long as they’re not dry rotted, I’d be more concerned with belts and greased suspension components that have sat. If they were dry rotted or sat flat for a long time, it’d be a hard pass from me too.