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Lexus automobiles are loaded with every option known to man, from a folding metal roof to a Mark-Levinson audio system to seats that give you a backrub—even several that are not available on a Mercedes. With the Echo, Toyota has gone in the opposite direction, delivering a car that is downright mean on equipment. Okay, the car has power steering, windows, mirrors and door locks. However, some truly useful and necessary items are missing. Such as a rear wiper, which we sorely needed after a rain-soaked drive along the South Expressway. Or a third brake light, which we had to buy from Hong Kong and pay to have installed. Or map lights. Sliding and split-folding rear seats. Rear center headrest. Parcel shelf. Rear defogger. ABS. Airbags. Mudflaps. Including these rather basic safety and convenience equipment as standard (as they are in other countries) would have made the Echo a lot more attractive and convincing as an alternative to sedans. Initial quality, measured as lack of defects in a car when it’s delivered, has also been a Lexus strong suit. Apart from a rattle in the dashboard area, the car didn’t exhibit any apparent defects. Correcting any defects is the job of the service department. From our previous service, our Echo came back without its “T” badge on the hatch and with a scratched dashboard (the result of an accident). The most recent checkup included these two items, and installation of a third brake light. The preventive maintenance, change oil and the like were accomplished quickly. However, the third brake seemed to puzzle the technicians. They called us to say that we had bought the wrong part. We told them, no, we’re sure we bought the correct one; please check it again. They asked us to go all the way to the shop and see it for ourselves. We did go there one afternoon, only to be told that, yes, it was the correct part after all, and they could install it. Other service items, like installing an alarm sensor for the hatch, were not accomplished even after five days. What’s more is that the car came back with an interior smudged with greasy fingerprints. Once again, our dealer, Toyota Otis in Manila, has failed miserably short of Toyota (not even Lexus) standards. When one buys a Lexus, because of the car’s level of refinement, equipment and service, the owner feels like he’s riding First Class. Sure, he paid a lot of money, but he’s getting the best for his bucks. Mechanically the Echo shares some positive traits of its big brother: particularly in the engine and transmission department. Granted also that the Echo was never meant to be a luxury sedan—it’s a budget hatchback. With the car’s equipment level and the service we’ve experienced, though, Toyota is showing just how far Economy is from First Class. |
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