In general, I wish 4 cylinder cars were made tougher. This is not a bad car. I just wish it were not such a huge hazard when the wind blows and for sure, this car has no guts when it comes to hills and mountain passes. The fan is squealing more these days- stops after the engine warms for a few seconds- horrible to put up with no air when it is over 90 above out- and I probably will have to eat an over 200.00 bill to get the fan fixed cause mechanics will not just fix the bearing. They have to take out the entire fan.

The 2004 Echo Hatchback appears to challenged when it comes to adequate ventilation. I noticed that on most days including those with no visible moisture (rain or wet roads) the windows fog up. The effect is very similar to that obtained when one activates the recirculation button. You know that button or knob depicting an arrow doing a U-turn. Anyways, I think the source of the problem may be two-fold. First and foremost, the car is quite small and requires an continuous resupply of fresh air. If you purchase this car, expect to have the ventilator or fan motor on the second speed setting almost continuously to alleviate this problem.

This brings me to my second point, the ventilator motor is anemic. On paper the Echo Hatchback fan motor has four speeds. In practice, there are only two; heck, I exhale more forcefully than the first speed of this fan motor. If the fan motor first speed was any slower or weaker, I think it would actually be sucking air into the car !

The remedy to this problem is non-existent as I believe the source lies within the concept and design. A more powerful fan motor would control the window fog however it wouldn't permanently resolve it.

Good luck !