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Best MPG to date: Bend, OR to Redding, CA - - - 37.5 ('course it's downhill.....)...ez
Of course I believe it.
I read it on the internet.
I don't think it needs a 6-cyl. Guess it depends on your driving style.
They have designated an exclusive Japanese engineering team to work on the fix and are now working on it with great urgency because it is a steering safety issue (liability). Apparently, thousands of vehicles are affected.
When they come up with the final fix (1-2 months approximately), they will issue a TSB, at which point our left leaners will be immediately called in for repairs.
Stay tuned
They checked my alignment and it was on spec. For more in depth info, try solaraguy.com
Thus far Toyota believes that the strut assembly is not perpendicular. If it is off center then the vehicle pulls.
As stated previously, the Japanese engineers are on it because it is a "Priority 1" problem to be fixed ASAP because faulty steering is a huge liability for them.
Well, at least that's how the mechanic at my dealership explained it to me.
I have a few questions regarding the 1999 Solara I purchased a few days ago.
What are your thoughts on using synthetic oil? (37000 miles).
Any comments, for or against, any particular wood dash supplier.
No manual came with the vehicle; I was told by a Toyota dealer mechanic that the v-6 uses regular grade fuel but a review said premium; which one? Thank you for any forthcoming advice.
This has been a long winded post but I wanted to express how impressed I am with the vehicle. I believe that once the automotive world recognizes the value at hand with the Solara, the vehicle will really benefit in terms of resale value, etc. This is just the MOST car you can get for this amount of money. Period.
Routinely, I log 31-33 highway MPG with my SE-V6 Solara. Are you familiar with a manual transmission....again, cogent review (for the most part)
Are you sure there is a different between the 4 and 6 cylinder? I was thinking about special order my 2005 4-cylinder 4Runner to tow my boat up to Lake Tahoe. Just kidding. May be the 4 is fine for normal driving but the V6 is much better IMHO. If the Solara comes with a V-8 then I would say a bit overkill.
Happy Holliday
not sure it's worth the extra money, but oh well........
"2004 Toyota Solara."
please don't take it the wrong way, but maybe YOU'RE the one who needs to take it elsewhere?
When are you going to have the first oil change? 1.5K miles, 3K miles, 5K miles?
My wife drives about 15,000 miles per year, so that will mean an oil change abour every 4 months.
Will there be any harm if I change the "break-in" oil too early?
The 4-Cyl is a very good engine and is fine for almost everybody. If you have a few extra bucks ($$$), the V6 is worth it to have and fun to drive with the manual shift feature. Both engine are very good.
Theflow
I changed my oil at 2000 miles (probably don't need to) and 5000 miles and every 5000 miles after that. Old habit never die. For city driving only, I would consider every 3000 miles. With this interval, there is no need for synthetic oil. Definetely stay away from added on stuffs (Bad habit from yesterday technology). It will not help the engine but eat up the gasket over the long run.
I took the car to LA. It ran beautiful over the Grapevine (mountain). It cruise at 70 mph (4th gear maunual shift all the way up).
When an engine is first put together many of the parts are lubricated with special oil - this is so they are not dry during the first start up. I think this is how / why many people have the mistaken idea that the oil that comes from the factory is somehow special.
I drive the car 1-3 times a week, usually during weekend when there's not much stop and go traffic on freeway. Each time I put at least 100 miles on it and I would say it's 77% freeway, 23% city driving. I have the car for 2 months and have 15xx miles on it. I drive it gently and don't floor the car too often. Given my driving habit, what do you guys think is the proper mileage for the first oil change? I'm not trying to be cheap on oil changes and I don't mind changing it frequently at 3K miles. But I just want to make sure I do it right for the first one.
Matthewh: In about a week, it's south toward the Grapevine. This time - per your post - I'll use 4th gear (it's an overdrive also) just for variety. Happy Holidays...ez
Actually, I'm glad you didn't buy it.
And I guess all those positive reviews by Edmunds, C&D, KBB are from a bunch of shills for Toyota.
Is Snakerbill an Acura salesman? I wouldn't be surprised.
Called another Toyota dealership service rep today and asked for a left pull update. Unfortunately, there is no TSB yet.
However, they had 2 engineers from Toyota California head office in and they turned the strut supports about 1 inch counter clockwise then fitted on a new 3 dot camberbolt 90105A0005. They then realigned the vehicle to spec.
They have done this fix to 5 Solaras and 1 Camry and reported that they are all running dead solid perfect. Also, they now do this to every Solara they sell before it leaves the lot.
They faxed this fix to my dealership to have the work done on Monday.
Until then.....
He advised me to be patient and wait for the official TSB to come out and begin the arbitration procedure at the same time (carrot and stick).
I'm cancelling my Monday morning appointment and making an appointment with the regional manager instead.
This beautiful car deserves to be fixed properly.
And still recording 31-33 highway fuel economy using cruise control/5th gear....happy h...ez
Thanks in advance.
Why someone would change the oil even more often than the severe schedule recommends (changing first oil at 500 or 1000 miles etc.), makes no sense. This is not 1970.
But for other owners, the peace of mind is worth the more frequent changes, I guess. It's their time and money.
There are others as well, but I can't link from the site. Is everybody *else* wrong?
as a happy 200 Solara owner, i have to agree with The Flow - so your one bad experience with a car makes you hate the whole company? maybe you should take your bile someplace useful?
When you wrote this---
"Consider this; if Toyota allowed these cars to hit the street with a goofy front suspension, and a transmission that is not in sync with the engine and jerks through the gears, why would anyone buy one?"
---I was almost sure that you were making a sweeping generalization about all Solaras. I'll remember in the future not to be "confused by the facts" as reported by one person based on one alleged experience.