Toyota Solara Convertible - 2004 and Newer

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Comments

  • dr_incredibledr_incredible Member Posts: 1
    hi..I have been dreaming to get a convertible for a long time,and finally i am going to do so..although i live in rochester,NY..(snows 5 months a yr)..still wanna get it:)..my problem is that i am not sure what is my best choice for a budget up to 30,000(i want a new car)..in a city with lots of snow and i don't have a garage..so it would be snowing on the top all time..would that be a problem?i have to get a FWD car..so it is either the solara or the eclipse spyder,but i was told the eclipse is very light and in very cold snowy weather it can be dangerous(i heared one guy saying he puts sand bags in the trunk to stabilize the car!!!)..any help would be highly appreciated,..thanks..
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    I actually liked just about everything about the Saab except for the harsh ride and the teensy navigation system.

    The things that I really liked that weren't available on the Solara were the fully automatic roof and the automatic boot. I just keep thinking that if Toyota would have done that and raised the price $5k or so I still would have bought the Solara because it is an excellent vehicle besides those shortcomings.

    Oh well, I'm still very happy with the car.
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    I don't know what to tell you. I wouldn't have a ragtop without a garage, I know that. And certainly not if that was the only car I had to drive.

    I'd say go with a cheaper beater car for now and put the extra money into building a garage/buying a new house with a garage and get a convertible for your next car!
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    Having a convertible without a garage is not a problem, as long as you don't live in a bad side of town. Hot weather is harder on a top then cold weather so I wouldn't worry about the snow as long as you don't allow too much to accumulate on the top.

    As for whether you should get the Eclipse or Solara, that depends on what you are looking for. The Eclipse has a tight back seat, a stiffer ride, and isn't as refined or luxurious. It is far from light though, has a better warranty, and is sportier and cheaper. The only thing that might make the Eclipse more skittish in the snow is its firmer shocks or if it has performance oriented tires. Put snow tires on it and it will most likely perform better then the Solara with all season tires.

    You might also want to look into the PTCruiser convertible.
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    I washed my Solara Convertible for the first time this weekend. I was very careful NOT to spray the side windows with an intense spray. I found that the windows on both doors leaked water about 4 inches in from the rear edge. The passenger window leaked more than the drivers and, interestingly enough, I've had complaints about wind noise there. The Toyota website claims they are tested with an infrared device to make sure there are no air leaks but certainly if water leaks air can!

    Anyone else notice anything similar?
  • candycandy Member Posts: 4
    Just washed my '04 last week and didn't notice any leaks. Also had had a killer Thunderstorm/hail shower that lasted about 45 minutes on Sunday and was a bit panicked as my new baby was sitting outside. Came through like a champ though.
  • robmat870robmat870 Member Posts: 11
    I'll be taking my new '05 to get washed for the first time this weekend. I know what the owner's manual says about automatic car washes, but I don't have much choice. (This is my fourth convertible, and I've always used automatic car washes).

    If you had to choose, would you go to a touchless, high pressure wash or a low pressure one with brushes?
  • fred713fred713 Member Posts: 7
    Toyota just released a bulletin regarding wind noise on the 2004 convertible. They now have instructions on how to replace the cables. I am getting mine done thursday.
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    Oooo. Describe!
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    I downloaded the TSB from the tech site but that doesn't help me. I have an '05 with a VIN after the cutoff. However I still have the wind noise and leak. We'll just have to see if the Toyota Service is as good as the sales.
  • uv4meuv4me Member Posts: 22
    My search for a convertible has left me with only 3 or 4 choices. The Solara is in the running but it seems they are scarce here in the DC area and selling for MSRP about as quickly as the dealers get them. Carmax sells them for $500 below MSRP but does not deal on the price. Is this a reasonable savings on the car or should I try the internet shopping approach (an firm offer below MSRP to multiple dealers) and see if anyone bites?
  • accurateaccurate Member Posts: 4
    Where did you find the TSB ?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Since you're in the DC area, try fitzmall.com. They have a Toyota store in Gaithersburg, MD, which has no-haggle prices.

    -juice
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    On the Toyota/Lexus Tech site. It's a subscription service but I have the TSB downloaded if you would like a copy.
  • uv4meuv4me Member Posts: 22
    Funny you should mention that....the guy who lives across the street is the sales manager for the Toyota dealership you mentioned. He was the one that told me Solaras are selling for MSRP. I went to their website and they do have them marked down a little (as an internet price), similiar to what Carmax is charging.
  • accurateaccurate Member Posts: 4
    I would appreciate a copy . send to
    Joersr@Accurateanswer.com

    Thanks ..

    Joe
  • robmat870robmat870 Member Posts: 11
    Up here in the midwest, I couldn't find any way to pay less than sticker...and there is a 1 to 2 month wait to get the car. Most dealers have one or two available for test drives, but can't sell them.
  • wjovelwjovel Member Posts: 17
    I bought my one month a go from DARCARS in silver Spring Toyota Cherry Lane of Route 29 North, they are a pain as a Dealer but after running into MSRP everywhere else i was able to buy the car $1200.00 under MSRP, i pay $450.00 more that i wanted to pay, but is been well worth it 100%, Do you home work ahead of time and have finance in place and maybe you can deal with them i can tell you that in the weekend they send me home and would not deal with me with me but the following Wednesday they call me and bought the car. hope this help you
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Cool, so you already checked. Their non-internet price includes perks like 6 free oil changes, loaner for life, etc.

    -juice
  • maggieaprilmaggieapril Member Posts: 5
    mfullmer,

    May I please have copy of the TSB for the cables in the convertible top? I have that problem.

    Thanks so much, Maggie
    maggieapril@hotmail.com
  • mikeb4mikeb4 Member Posts: 4
    I just ordered a SLE Convertible (Cosmic Blue with Ivory interior) yesterday and I have a few questions:

    1. Is it okay to store the car in my garage with the top down or should the top be closed(up) when in my garage overnight?

    2. Is an extended warranty a good idea for a convertible? I never buy extended warranties because I consider them pure profit for stores/car dealerships. However, with all of the parts and the motor for the top, do convertible tops break often or is this a rare occurrence?

    3. Is it better to get a warranty at the dealership that I purchased the car from or should I go to toyotawarranty.com and purchase there?

    4. To lower the top, do you have to hold down the convertible button and the top lowers or just press it and the top will lower?
  • oliverholiverh Member Posts: 2
    I have an 04 Solara convertible V6. Manual said car can take regular gas but performs better on premium gas. I assume that there is a knock sensor that backs off the ignition timing when regular gas is used and knocking is sensed. Anyone out there with any information or experience on the difference in performance and any long term effects of using the different grades of gasoline?

    Thanks.
  • oliverholiverh Member Posts: 2
    In other Solara forums I have seen a lot of discussions about the car having a tendency to drift to the left and that the factory had a fix for it. This seems to be mostly for early 04 coupes. My O4 convertible seems to have a bit of drift but I am not sure as the steering is not as firm as other cars I have before. Anyone with issues of front end alignment and drift to left at city or highway speeds?

    Thanks.
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    Mike, congratulations on your purchase.

    1. It is ok to keep the roof down as long as the roof is totally dry before going down. Since I've had mine (August 15) I have not put the top up in the garage if I've had it down. Sometimes it went for a week or more with the top never going up. When it rains, however, I make sure it has been exposed to the sun at least a few hours before putting the top down. The only negative thing I've noticed is that the top wrinkles after being down a long time and those wrinkles take a couple of days to smooth out.

    2. If you keep a car longer than it's warranty then I would definitely search out an extended warranty on this car. While I love mine, there have been several quality issues that I didn't expect to have with a Toyota. AND Toyota dealers are notorious for ingoring/"not finding" problems so you have a greater chance of things not being taken care of in warranty. I don't keep a car over 2 years or so therefore I didn't buy the warranty.

    3. I would do a search here because I think I saw some people talking about a Toyota dealer somewhere that offers the Toyota warranty at a reduced price over the web. If your dealer won't give you the same price you could go with them. I'd just make sure it's a Toyota warranty and not an outside company.

    4. Yes, to lower the top on the Solara (or any convertible I've seen, for safety reasons obviously) you must hold the top button. It's quite a quickly folding top - I think about 15 seconds?. Were you not able to test drive one before ordering?
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    There are no "long term effects" of using different grades of gas as the octane is only a knock reducing additive. Most all gasolines these days have cleaners and detergents in them. As far as performance. I've only used regular in my '05 SLE and it has plenty of power and performance is on par with any V6 I've driven.
  • daveh1daveh1 Member Posts: 1
    Paid $29997 out the door. MSRP list was $29950. So, if you subtract out the tax/fees, it looks like I paid about $2000 below MSRP. The dealer didn't have a Red SE convertible, so he traded with another dealership. The funny thing is the best price I got from the other dealer was $1000 more. Same car, $1000 lower from a different dealer. I gave the car to my wife as a surprise gift. Take a look at it at www.pbase.com/dhilbe/car. This vehicle is quiet, smooth - we love it. It rides smoother and it is quieter than my 5 year old Avalon. At highway speed, the interior is as quiet as a hard top.
  • kwrightkwright Member Posts: 3
    I just placed my order for a 05 sle, pearl white with black top. We paid $31,200 out the door. They said it will be a 2-3 week waiting period. This will be my first convertible. It seems like you all really like your solaras. My only question is....How well do the tops hold up to sun exposure? unfortunately we do not have a garage to keep ours in.
  • mikeb4mikeb4 Member Posts: 4
    I picked up my car today. It came in three days early. My car is the SLE convertible (Cosmic Blue with ivory interior). The only option that I got was the floor mats. My out the door price was $28,424 (includes $3200 for trade-in of my Celica). I got $500 off MSRP and no documentation fees.

    I love this car. I live in South Florida and I drove off the dealership lot with the top down and it stayed down for the entire day. The only time the top has been up is when I put it in my garage so I don't get any wrinkles in it like mfuller said. This car is so fun to drive.
  • lfmlfm Member Posts: 35
    Would you be kind enough to send me a copy of the TSB on the Cable Replacement Problem. It appears that the cables on my '04 have either broken or pulled free. There are parts showing up under the top on both sides between the second and third Bow. The dealer is planning on sending it out to a repair shop, and I am not sure that they will know how to fix it, or if the cable broke, will not have the parts. My email is lfmbhm29@comcast.net.

    Thanks,

    lfm
  • lfmlfm Member Posts: 35
    Could you supply any info on the cables? I think mine has now developed the problem. I picked it up in April. It was built in March, one of the first ones.

    My email is lfmbhm29@comcast.net

    Thanks,

    Lloyd
  • rscott77xrscott77x Member Posts: 6
    Can you let me know who your dealer was?
    I live in the DC area and with all the people with lots of money (or credit!) it is a sellers market for just about everything.
    I am willing to go to a surrounding state to save $2,000!
  • rscott77xrscott77x Member Posts: 6
    I just sent in a request for a quote. At least on the internet they show MSRP and their price. It is about $1,000 lower.
  • lfmlfm Member Posts: 35
    Contact Diehl Toyota in Butler, PA. It is just north of Pittsburgh. They currently show having one in stock, and are taking about $2K off of MSRP with no dealer add-ons. I got mine there in late April and saved a little over $2K on an SLE with Nav,VSC and Preferred pkg which includes carpet floor mats, trunk mat, first aid kit and car also had wheel locks. It was $32,237 MSRP and I paid $30,211.
  • rudy331rudy331 Member Posts: 27
    I don't have the actual TSB, but have encountered the problem. First on the passenger side. Dealer had Central Atlantic Toyota (div. of Toyota) visit their dealer to repair. Everything is fine. The service mgr. informed me that Central Atlantic are the ones that work with engineers when a problem arises to correct it and then teach the technicians at dealers how to do it. I've now had the cable break on the driver's side and awaiting new parts to have the repair done. Very frustrating. Make sure you check the car before leaving dealership--they got black grease all over the interior and exterior while repairing. Good luck!
  • lbrownlbrown Member Posts: 5
    congratulations on your car. I am buying mine at 30,975+taxes+licence (around 10%).
    What additional options did you get with your car?
  • kwrightkwright Member Posts: 3
    Well, we had to pay like $200 more for the "special" white paint. Other than that we just got the floormats and a paint protection program that is supposed to maintain the "showroom" shine. The car is supposed to leave kentucky on the 28th of october. I have no idea how long it will take to get here to baltimore.
  • mfullmermfullmer Member Posts: 773
    Wow, I hope you didn't pay much for that "Paint Protection". It's essentially a good wax job that wears out in a year or less and any warranty is void if you don't wash the car with their "special" car wash. I can't believe people are still falling for that.
  • rlewallenrlewallen Member Posts: 1
    Hello Michael Fullmer,
       Could you please send me a copy of the TSB? I have a blk 2004 xle convertable.
       lewallenric <at> yahoo com

    tks,
    ric
  • lbrownlbrown Member Posts: 5
    I didnot get any of those coverages, expect I got 7 year, 100K mileage warranty.
    Drove my car, twice since yesterday, it is just GREAT! , however the comments I read about the back headrests blocking the visibility is so true. I cannot believe they overlooked it when designed the car.
    I guess I will get used to it.
    Hope you will enjoy yourcar!
  • kwrightkwright Member Posts: 3
    the back headrests really are a bad design, but the rest of the car looks so good i dont mind. I had the paint protection on my suv and i loved it because it always looked shiny no matter how dirty it was. I am also going to go for the 7yr 100,000 mile warranty. I am very excited to see the car since i have only seen pictures of what it looks like. I test drove a red one w/ tan, but i really did not like the color combo.
  • rschleicherrschleicher Member Posts: 79
    I'm considering buying a 2005 Solara SLE convertible, (white with biege/beige), but I just don't like the reddish color of the wood trim. I know that I could get an SE instead, with black cloth interior and carbon graphite trim, but I don't want to give up the extras that come with the SLE. Has anyone tried to change out the wood trim on their SLE? The things that have occurred to me are to:

    1. Buy a wood overlay kit in another shade.
    2. Try to replace the wood trim with the brushed aluminum pieces from a base-model coupe

    Any other ideas?

    Bob Schleicher
    bullswin5@aol.com
  • daddywazdaddywaz Member Posts: 1
    this forum is loaded with pricing information and experiences, and most of you seem to talk about MSRP as your reference. i think it makes a lot more sense to use dealer invoice as the reference point. as far as evaluating your "deal" is concerned, we should talk about how much we paid in relation to invoice, not a meaningless number like MSRP!
    i also have a question-has anyone come close to paying dealer invoice for their 2005 solara convertible? over the past 10 years i have purchased 3 honda accord EX's, 2 camry's, and 1 subaru outback wagon (for myself and other family members). i have never paid more than $200 over invoice. are the solara convertibles a lot more difficult to purchase at reasonable markups?
  • uv4meuv4me Member Posts: 22
    I have been looking at the Solara convertible for several months and hope to purchase one next year....we are waiting to see where my wife will be stationed (Air Force)after she finishes grad school. I'd hate to buy one and find out we are on our way to Alaska!
      Anyway....it has been my experience here in the DC area that Solaras are in pretty good demand and command almost MSRP. As we head into winter the prices seem to be coming down some. For what it's worth, Carmax sells new Solaras here in the area for about $1000.00 under MSRP.
  • uv4meuv4me Member Posts: 22
    Funny how the small things irk us....my Dad was in the market for a new truck a couple weeks ago and wouldn't even look at the Nissan Titan because he doesn't like the Nissan logo!
     Not sure I can offer any help on the wood trim other than to say I would think you can order the trim pieces from Toyota and have them installed or do it yourself. Good luck.
  • rschleicherrschleicher Member Posts: 79
    I looked into ordering non-wood trim pieces from Toyota, but the parts guy at the dealer said that the trim pieces were only orderable as part of much larger pieces. For example, he claimed that the door trim was only available by ordering the whole door panel! His advice was to order an after-market wood trim kit in a different shade, to glue on top of the existing trim. Maybe the dealer parts guy didn't know what he was talking about?
  • ms_solarams_solara Member Posts: 6
    I noticed that everyone is comparing the purchased price with MSRP, this doesn't mean much.

    I am currently looking for an SE convertible, with the SZ and CF options, so far $1300 more than invoice is the lowest I got.

    I am in CAlifornia (southern) - seems like the south east region could get SE with leather seats - which is what I am looking for but can't find it here in california.

    I don't like to pay extra for the SLE just because I don't like the woodtrim... ;P yeah right. not because of the 3K difference.

    -r
  • ms_solarams_solara Member Posts: 6
    just to add this,

    the SE with SZ and CF options
    MSPR 28221
    Invoice 25254

    I want to pay 25600
    Best quote right now, 27047
  • ms_solarams_solara Member Posts: 6
    what did everyone pay for his or her solara w/ options? thanks.
  • soonerforeversoonerforever Member Posts: 2
    Price here in Houston.....SLE all options less navigation $29,891 + TT&L.....which I am told is $500 over invoice....most other dealers want $1500 over
  • wjovelwjovel Member Posts: 17
    Hi, I Purchase my on 08/18/04 in the DC area, have 2000 miles and i love it and enjoy it a lot.
    i have exactly the same package. I was just like you, did not want to pay no more then $25,600.00, but i love the car so much i did not want to wait and I end up paying $26,450.00 it hurts to pay that much over invoice but i dont re great it one bit. in my opinion the way the market is with the Solara Convertible it will be difficult to get one for less than $26,800.00 for a SE.Good Luck
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