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passenger compartment.I tryed this on both doors and leakage occured.Has anyone else noticed this.
THANKS
My Solara is white and I have yet to get my first paint chip but I am aware of the fact that many other owners have had a problem with the paint chipping so I would think that in the future the chipping may become an issue for me.
Now to rate the overall car....as for comfort I would have to say the Solara rates with the best...truely an extremely comfortable car....very quiet cabin at all speeds...as for smoothness I would have to say on a smooth road I find the car to ride fantastically smooth but on a rough surface I find it to ride surprisingly rough and choppy.....the gas mileage is a little disappointing but livable....as for the power I find the Solara quite fast of the line and just so-so at high speed passing....my biggest complaint about the Solara would be that it does lack many features that you may expect in a car of it's price such as automatic door locks,power passenger seat,trip computer,ect.
As for back seat room and comfort I would have to say that for a sporty car like it is it does have a roomy and comfortable back seat even for adults but it is just a little awkward getting into the back seat but this should be expected with a 2 door car.
As for the sludge issue you asked about it's my understanding that Toyota will now correct this problem as long as you can document proper maintenance.
As for the spongy brake issue you asked about all I can say is that I find the Solara brakes to be just fine in every aspect.
So to try and sum it all up I would have to say in my opionion if a sporty comfortable reliable car with a great resale is your main concern then I think you will just love the Solara but if luxury features are of importance to you then you may be just a little dissapointed....just my opionion
I hope this post helps you in some small way and I wish you the best of luck with your future new car purchase.
I'm not afraid of the sludge monster, and paint chips are unfortunately part of owning a car. Change the oil like you should, and get a bottle of paint for the chips.
One thing I noticed: If you plan on getting the V-6, the Solara likes premium (it'll run fine on regular, but the owner's manual states using premium for "improved performance"), whereas the Honda V-6 actually hates premium. A recent Car and Driver article noted that there was a decrease in performance in the Honda engine after using premium vs. regular. I don't know why this happened (maybe some of you would care to explain), but it might cost you a few less pennies with the Honda.
And yes, I have the "chugging" thing with my car, but overall I'd buy the Solara again. It's a minor problem but the dealership should have it fixed soon (I hope!) It's really a great car nonetheless. Tell us what you'll choose.
Chips - yes, most of which happened my first year of ownership. Recommendation: buy the touch-up paint.
Other recommends: Mimi, WEbG, Canc, and CoolDude all have valid points about their cars. Realistically, have you test-driven everything in the same price class? You might want to also consider: Seabring, Stratus R/T, Altima, Infiniti G35, or even a used BMW - although I haven't researched reliability on the new R/T or new Altima.
Versus the 2003 Honda Coupe... well, the Edmunds editors thought it was a good ride, but not sporty. Are you going with the auto tranny or stick? You should test-drive both, preferably back-to-back in order to compare the two... personally, I think the Honda coupe looks a little bleah/boring.
Good luck!
And to anyone....what's the highest speed (in MPH or KMH) that you've driven?? I've been up to 85mph, cruising, and it just sailed right along.
Between the 2 cars, having owned a Solara, the only reason I would buy another Toyota is for the local dealers hours, and parts availability. They have everthing, until midnight. Otherwise I would not recommend the Solara, at least for anything near the sticker price. Take a $25,000 + MSRP, and get it for $15 to $18, then great!
As far as the sludge problems, I believe most people were not fearfull or outraged as much, that they would get sludge, following the service manual, as should it happen, that Toyota would not back there warranty, even with proof, following their recommended oil change intervals, having left many, many people disgruntled.
It is fast, and peppy, for a small car, and I like the curb appeal. But for the price, I don't believe it to be a good value, unless you get a GREAT deal.
Paint chips, down to bare metal, do not make for a good quality vehicle, unless you trade every few years, and I am not aware, from my dealings with Toyota in Torrance CA, of any changes in paint production, outside of the engine changes, to make it less sludgeable.
Window seals seem to be leaking air, and it is time to replace them or try silicon spray. Car was quiet as a tomb before, now just whistles on the highway.
Factory 8 speaker JBL is good for a factory stereo!
Advise about black cars in general, unless you baby your car, and it is garage kept, don't do it!
IMO, it looks best in black and white, but black shows every flaw! Other colors are more forgiving.
I sounds like something is loose or the suspension is loose. I have checked the spare tire, the jack and the trunk lid and everything seems fine.
Anyone have this problem?
Is there a way to just search THIS message board
for specific words?
Thanks!
Jim in Ohio
Recall 00V154000: Rear Axle Hub Failure
Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. Due to improper heat treatment, the rear axle may not have adequate strength in some areas. After extended use of the vehicle, the rear axle shafts could fail or break.
Dealers will inspect and replace the rear axle hub assemblies.
Owner notification is expected to begin late June or early July 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
"loose body part" clunking sound from inside the trunk.
Thanks for you response.
Jim in Ohio
I have an 02 SLE ragtop. If I do not drive it for a week or so, I experience this problem. I start the car, and when I put it in gear, nothing happens! It is like the transmission or torque converter has failed. In a few seconds, the car starts to move, but sluggishly. In thirty seconds to a minute, or so, the car operates fine.
I took the car in to be looked at by Toyota for this problem. The senior tech told me that this is normal. That the new technology transmissions require a warm up period for 30-60 seconds after being idle for a few days. I have never had a car with this problem (?). Comments?
Sure sounds like a load to me.
But I really don't know. Maybe someone else here could explain why (if it's true).
Good luck.
Where are you? True or something you would MOST likely hear from an "award-winning Chrysler 5-STAR" dealer?? They all do that!! ;-)))
fastdriver
The dealer is true about the warm-up, but it is mainly for the heating up the catalytic converter. It does it by not shifting into overdrive for the first few miles.
I bought I 2002 Black SLE Solara in October. Took it in yesterday to Firestone to have tires rotated (12,000 Miles). They called and told me that the front tires were badly worn on the outside (alignment/toe issue). Since I bought the car, I too have noticed that it drifted side to side (drove me crazy) but got use to it over the past 9 months and assumed it was normal based on other comments from Solara drivers. The dealership is looking at the front end this week.
1) Has anyone had this problem with the front end alignment balding the tires?
2) Should Toyota replace my front tires since their alignment issues caused the balding? I don't want to spend money on new tires in 2 years due to premature wearing. Thoughts?
Other than that, 0 issues with my car. I agree, paint is soft and scratches/chips easier than most cars, but oh well.
Tires bald at 12,000 miles!?! My input about the drift/pull, and alignment issue is it will never go away, as I have found at 38,000 miles. I did not get premature wear from it, as it was aligned about every 6-8 weeks for the first year, and I just gave up. Michelins are shot at 40,000 miles, but what did I expect!?! They retail for around $130.00 to replace, per tire, if I chose to use the same brand. I posted about my last alignment, with the dealers new $80,000 something $$ machine,which gives them a printout of the specs using lasers, etc. The "SAI" (I believe) was out of spec (see GOOGLE), and highlighted in RED as it was recommended by the new machine that those specs were dangerous and could cause loss of control of the vehicle. That was after the alignment!!! The service advisor told me they could not fix it, cuz they did not know what it was. I drives straighter for a few hundred miles after alignemnets, but never like any of the loaner cars I get, or renatl cars I use frequently. My 2 cents, get used to it, or sell it.
Cliffy, since my transmition does not seem to have this crawl, is there something wrong with it????When I returned from Europe after being there a week, I had the taxi drop me at my car, I jumped in, and headed out for a soda with ice, as I had difficulty find ice cubes in Europe (Super size Coke Lite)! My car started and moved with no hesitation. There was a loud bang when starting, but no tranny hesitation!
My car is basically great. No left pull, no hesitating, booming base fixed, rides, drives and looks great. I'm planning on keeping it a long long time so I need it to be good for a while.
Thanks. I still keep my eyes open in here because my 80+ year old aunt still has her 99 SLE with every option except the moonroof. Not one problem. Think she only has about 13 or 14,000 miles on it. She still wants to sell it and get a Camry because the Solara doors are hard for her to handle in her 1 car garage getting in and out of the car. This car would be a gem for someone.
fastdriver
The hesitations, or chugging, that I referred to in my previous posts, have been checked out at the dealer. No problems whatsoever anywhere. I had the chance of driving it again lately for a long period of time, and I noticed that it only does it at 70 km/h, and according to Toyota techs, this is the point where it goes into overdrive, so if you cruise steadily at this speed, it would probably start "gear hunting", not knowing if it should downshift or not.
I'm still amazed at how quiet and comfortable this car really is. Whenever I get into other cars and then get back into my Solara, I realize how serenely quiet it is! I wonder if the new Camry is as quiet as the Solara. Did anyone get the chance to compare?
On a completely different note, I saw this Aerostar proudly bearing a giant "NOS" logo in the back glass. Hmm, it just looks weird on a minivan.
I had a chance the last time my Solara was in for service to drive the all new Toyota Camry. Sorry, the time before last. Last time I had the Corolla. Felt like a new car, but Camry LE model felt "cheap", like too much sheet metal upfront, and nothing under the hood, but space or air. I remember being able to see under the hood, near the windshield as I was driving. Between the new Camry, and the old Solara, I would of course go with the new, simply cuz it's new! As far as quiet or serene, it smelled nice like a new car, and the windows went up faster than my Solaras. It did not seem to have as much sound dampering, as the Solara did, when it was new.
Anyone know how to get rid of the "spots" in the rear window of the Solara??? The green tinted window, isbeginning to look like bubble wrap. They are getting progressivly worse, and don't come off with Windex. Any suggestions?
Polarized are unique lenses which work similar to a Venetian blind: they only let light in at certain angles. Polarized lenses work by eliminating either the vertical or the horizontal vectors of unpolarized light, thus reducing glare. With this reduction, objects become more distinct and we see our surroundings more clearly.
I prefer the iridium, and have not had polarized since the 70's. I do not believe these are the same spots, but I will see if I know anyone with a pair of polarized, or go buy a pair and see.
the solara has one brutal coinbox-- that was my main beef with the car. happy motoring. gooooo browns!
I was looking at an Accord recently, but it is so similar to the Solara, I feel like it would be the same car. I think Accord has more masculine look to it, than Solara. I am checking out the Matrix, for a potential 2nd car pocket rocket car. Have not driven one yet, but looked at one up close, and it has more plastic, than metal, almost!?! And the local dealer MSRP's are all $20,000 and up! Not sure about the quality of a "North American" Toyota, after my experiences with my Solara.
Discouraged in Ontario...
Do you think this could be the source of your chugging problem?
I have the feeling that it's either the main computer that's going crazy when it's hotter outside, or the (eek!) transmission.
Really Canc, I believe you should not have to deal with the problem any longer. Although I believe you purchases your car used, Toyota should fix it properly. Although I don't know you, Canadians in general seem to be very polite compared to many Americans, say from major American cities (not the people who relocated from small towns to big cities), but it's your money, time, and your car. Have the dealer take it until it is fixed properly.
As much as I liked this car, then became disenchanted with it, I was trying to tough it out until the wheels fell off, and not just the little caps in the center. I don't think thats going to happen. This is the 2nd worst quality vehicle I have owned since I was a teen with a Ford Festiva. Even that car did not have any "quality" issues, other than being too small, and very ugly, and rusting prematurely!?!
I feel like I got robbed this time around. Going to see what the dealer will give me for a trade... LOL, and/or put a sign in the window soon! My friend unloaded her Camry, 1999, 50k, LE, as it was already falling apart, literally! Lost a bumper on the highway, and I believe she lucked out and got $5000.00 at a dealership, and only ripped off an extra 2 grand on her new car! The dealer was never able to fix her interior light so it stayed off, so she drove without the fuse for the last year and 1/2 to prevent the light from intermittantly coming on, and draining the battery! I should be soooo lucky!
On another note, that whole story of your friend losing her bumper and the interior light is really something. That sounds like a complete lemon! What did she trade it in for?
And you say that your Solara days are coming to an end... what are you thinking about getting?
An odd effect happens when viewing another car with this treatment through your treated windows. You get a really strange checker-board effect as the "spots" go in and out of phase with each other.
As far as the glass spots in the rear window, they are visable without glasses, and as far as other cars having them, I am sure some do, but while walking the grounds of the development where I reside, 1500 units, I did not see any others. I drove a buddies BMW 7 series, and after having to be shown how to get it to go, I took a look-see at the rear window, as this is a more expensive car. NO spots.
I haven't been able to locate the right year and was debating whether to look into the '99's. For all you '99 owners, have you been satisfied with your car? Any major problems?
Also, if you purchased used, can you give me an idea of what the total cost of the car was (SE or SLE)?
Thanks.
I did see a few cars with spots on there windows this morning, a Honda Civic, and a Honda Accord. The more expensive cars!
I am real curious, as I researched Consumer Reports and the overall rating was very good.
Thanks.