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Comments
So tell me, how can a black car look like a red vacuum cleaner anyhow??
agree with you mitchflorida about the look. It is not growing on me either. Even then, I most likely will end up buying one, as this is the most practical 4-seater reliable convertible in this price range.
I wanted a tan interior in ours and my dealer informed me that the tan interior would include a tan top..and it wouldn't look so good. He is correct. There is a black one on ebay right now with tan...looks lousy with the top up.
My local dealer has a red/black combo with a $5k markup on it.
225/45/18, but the internal computer says 215/50/18 ? In addition they are trying to find out the impact,if any, on the tire warning system. Any info is appreciated.
Obviously, the looks are great IMO. I will say the car looks awesome with the roof down, and not as good with it up. I bought a convertible to drive with the roof down, so I'm fine with that.
The weather has been cool, so I've only driven a few miles with the top down before I took delivery. With the windows up, and the windscreen installed, there is so little wind in the cabin it is unbelievable. My wife and I were comfortable in 50 degree weather really, and had a conversation in normal voice with no effort. The ride is very quiet with the top up, with only a small amount of wind noise with the top up at 70 mph. I think the noise is only noticeable though due to everything else being so incredibly quiet.
The size is good. My wife and I sit comfortable in the back. My kids are fine, and are even able to use a booster to help sit up higher to see out the window better. The trunk is big for a convertible - great for beach trips.
Performance isn't bad, though I don't plan to push it much for the first thousand miles. It is tempting though. Even with minimal effort, it has good acceleration, and it handles well. I think the performance is probably the weakest aspect of the car, which is what I though before I bought it too. However, it has plenty for me, and the styling, comfort, large size, and reliability are more important to me.
As far the negatives listed on the list. I agree the fake wood accents could be better, including covering the middle console where the radio and climate control are. However, it is what I expected based on the solara coupes I test drove, and I certainly don't dislike it. The rear window visibility is limited, but nothing a few bubble mirrors won't fix. I haven't experienced any pulling to the left. So, no issues at all in my mind.
Anyone interested in the buying experience can check my previous posts on the convertible board, but I will say one thing in response to a previous post. I did call around to several mid Atlantic dealers, and found nobody willing to deal.
I searched the discussions but haven't seen anything on this..
Bought my '00 Solara SE a year ago with 31K and thus far has been a great car.
The only issues I've had have been my moonroof being a little noisy on the highway(which can be 85% solved by closing the sliding inner visor, and most recently my rear light indicator stays on despite all my lights appearing to function fine.
Anyone else have these occurrences(especially the rear light indicator)?
Thanks!
I live in the Northeast, and if you searched hard enough, you could also have found this kind of deal. There were no other add-ons other than the Title fees of $55.
Even so, an SE with the convenience package (which has everything I consider important) still only has an MSRP of about 28k, which is quite a bargain considering what other 4 seat mid-size convertibles go for. Go European (SAAB, Bmw, Audi) and it will be 40k+. Sebring is about the same as Toyota, but you do get rebates. PT Cruiser? Beetle? Not really comparable, but just as expensive.
Wonder if Honda can slice the roof off of an Accord coupe?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Large trunk, and a ton of rear leg room, even decent headroom. Should be plenty roomy (even as a convert) fro my 2 kids.
Question for owners: How easy is it to get out from the rear without help opening the door? Do you think an 8 year old could get in/out by themselves, without endangering nearby cars?
I haven't had a 2 door since I had kids (not counting my Miata, since there is no back seat), and am trying to anticipate issues that might make me regret it.
Did feel like a more expensive car though, even with the cloth seats. Smooth, smooth powertrain, but mediocre rear visibility (backing up was more of a problem than when driving).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
LFM
RED- ARLINGTON TOYOTA, ILL.
RED- SANDY SPRINGS TOYOTA, ATLANTA AREA
ALL IN MARYLAND,BLACK- YOUNGER TOYOTA
FROST- TOYOTA OF BOWIE
BLACK- BROWN'S TOYOTA
BLACK- SUPERIOR TOYOTA, ERIE PA.
LUNAR- FAULKNER TOYOTA, TREVOSE PA.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE. GOOD HUNTING AND NEGOTIATING.
Of course, that might be to get you locked up and out of the market, so it's a crap shoot.
If you have to wait much into the summer, might as well wait for the fall and get an '05 (or a better deal when the weather turns. Or both).
At least there aren't too many variations/colors to confuse things (not like a Sienna where 40+ combinations only exist in the brochure, and will never be made).
If I decide to get one, it will be Lunar mist (since you can't get navy blue), SE w/the convenience package, and that's it. S/B about 28K MSRP, which I think is a good value, compared to what the compitition is, especially at that price point.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The real visibility is poor with the top up, thanks to the roll bars in the big rear seat headrests that block what little window you have. This takes some getting used to. I'd suggest parking the car in parking lots such that you limit how much backing up you need to do.
After driving a much smaller and less powerful Celica for over 2 years, this has been quite a different car to get used to, although all the controls are basically in the same place (except for the "mist" option is no longer on the wipers, that disappeared for some odd reason).
Although the V6 is very smooth, and you can squeal the tires from a standing start, this is still not a sports car. At 192 inches in length, it is still a large car to maneuver, so you can't take it through corners like a typical sports car. But once you get used to it, it's still worth it.
Some nice touches are the locks on the glove compartment and for the trunk, in case you leave it parked with the top down. I wish they had the same lock for the middle console, since all your CD's are still vulnerable.
With the top up, the ride is amazingly quiet. There is still a bit of cowl shake when you hit some nasty bumps (we have plenty on Michigan roads), but it's not nearly as bad as typical convertibles that are originally built as coupes with the top later chopped off.
Keep in mind the owner's manual suggests not taking it through a normal car wash, and my dealer also higher suggested the same, since it may cause damage to the roof. Try to find a "touchless" car wash if you can't wash it at home yourself.
For just under 30 grand, this car is an amazing value! Just think how much cooler you'll look than driving a plain old Sebring convertible!
lfm
My concern is that most of the importers selling them want a 20% restocking fee or have no return at all. HID bulbs are longer in length sometimes then the regular halogen bulbs... With Toyota's "HID wanna-be" elliptical dome that the bulb goes into, I'm concerned the HID bulb could actually go in too far and bang the front of the dome and not lock in. I'm not willing to spend $450.00 to find out they won't go in thanks to the shape of the '04 headlights.
P.S. Not interested in the non-HID halogens that claim to be 4,000-5,000k in color temperature - cause they're not!
Any thoughts/experiences with real HID?
Thanks
Just so you know -- PA title fee is $22.50. That $55.00 is called a "documentary fee." It is NEGOTIABLE and not a state required fee. It is the result of a "gentleman's agreement" between the dealers' associations and the commonwealth which sets the maximum (up from 40 something to 55 recently)--- this fee is for the dealer's expense to prepare all of your paperwork... I know it's only $55.00, but I love how they try to make it look like a state required fee....
next time tell them they already made enough!
I might be buying a SE Sport v6 (trying to buy it for under $21,000) and I've test driven it and I have not noticed a left pull. Does this start over time or should I notice it right away ?
Thanks, Tony
kirstie_h "2004/2005 Toyota Solara Convertible" Apr 5, 2004 4:36pm
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Since I ended up with an unexpected day off, I called Walker Toyata in Dayton, Ohio and spoke to John Moss, service manager. He promptly asked me to come in and take him for a ride to diagnose the problem. It was a loose nut on the rear strut, promptly fixed, tested, and ended the problem. Pleasure to deal with that service department.
Thanks for the post afterwards. Mine's noise problem seems to be the same problem. They agree to have a look, but the dealer refuses to give me a rental car while they need a day to look at it.
They should give us one, it is the car's problem, right?!
Here is my question:
The new top end Celica offers HID's. Do you think it's possible to just by that kit (assuming you can figure a way to fit them in). Do you think the ellipisoid dome's are the same???
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2000 SE-V6 5-speed manual/215's
Glad to see you're still enjoying your Solara.