Toyota Solara

evaddave

The SLE comes with the programmable (HomeLink ?) system that has three buttons on it. The SE has a box with your choice of two "doors"--one that can hold sunglasses, or one that can be used to hold a garage door opener.

The garage door opener "door" has a pass-through button on the front that, with careful aligning and proper placement of Hook-and-loop fastener, can push a button on a remote garage door opener.

-Dave

mgw1

I asked about a remote entry for the trunk for my 2000 SLE the other day when I was in for service, and the guy confirmed your observation that a mechanical cable operates the remote next to the driver's seat. I'm sure you're right that it will be extremely expensive to upgrade to remote. Since this feature has been around for so long on so many vehicles, it still boggles my mind how Toyota overlooked it.
As to your strut problem, it so happens that they've ordered a left rear strut and support bracket for my Solara too. Should be installed in the next 10 days or so. I hope it solves the problem, since one of my favorite things about the car was how quiet and smooth it was. But after only couple of months, both the noise and vibration have increased dramatically. Let me know how you make out with the strut repair, and good luck.

radracer

on the brochures and everything it says remote trunk release. what a bunch of [non-permissible content removed]. but anyway, my friend installed remote trunk release and it only cost $80.

ral2167

there is nothing B.S. about the 99 and 00 solaras having a remote trunk release-- it's just mechanical, not electrical/keyless....it would have been nice to have the electrical/power on my 99-- but i survive nicely--- the lousy coinbox causes me greater heartache.

luphy

Okay, I recently took my car in to have two
problems looked at...of course they could not
duplicate it and it really pisses me off, but
what should I expect right? Of course I'm able
to duplicate the problem once I get the car back.
I am too busy this month to take it back again,
but I will next month when I have more time.
The first problem was the need to recrank the car.
I would drive the car somewhere, turn off the engine to do whatever errand I had to do, and when
I try to restart the car, it would fail to start
up on the first crank, and would do fine on the second crank...sounds like a problem on a brand
new car don't you think? (1200miles).
What should I make them look at?

The other problem is excessive vibration/decreased
shock-absorption....this car drives very nice on
flat roads and the engine noise is very well
insulated..but if I go over bumps....this is not
the car I had bought..and the freakin dealer says
they could see no problems with it.
I told them to look at the struts/shocks, but I'm
not even sure they did....for those who've had
their struts or shocks replaced, just how bad was
the vibration, etc. and how did you make them
really address the problem?

And how bad would it be if I decide to go to another dealer to have my car looked at...if they
blow me off again next month, I'm gonna ditch this
dealer's service department.

Thanks for any input/help.

solara11

I am getting leary of my shocks and struts also. I am on e of the guys who pull to the left, and on good, smooth roads, the car sails down the road. But, hit a small pot hole, or a bump from where construction begins, or an tiny bump, and their is a shudder, that goes right through me. I am also concerned abut the steering a bit, as this is the first car that when I hit a tiny bump, when interchanging between highways, with the wheel turned to the right or left, depending on the highway, the steering wheel will pull, somewhat abruptly, and very sharp to center. This car requires 2 hands at ALL times.

solara11

Anyone else notice that the passenger side carpet always pops out of the center console. My friends 1999 Camry does the same thing. I never notice this until I have a passenger in the car, or am one, and it is rather embarrassing.

solara11

By the way, my car is a 00 SE V6, manufactured in 8/99. Anyone else with any of these problems know when their car was manufactured.(just check the sticker on the drivers door) his may be useful to me when I talk to NHTSA, or the Toyota regional manager.

cnman

Yes, I too have noticed that the steering on my 2K SLE is more sensitive than some other cars I have driven. I also have read in Edmunds that the Solara has a more "sport oriented" steering design than the Camry. Perhaps this is the difference. I usually can feel little bumps or holes in the road as feedback in the steering wheel especially at low speeds, but I have dismissed this as part of the Solara personality. Maybe my playing with the tire pressures might help some. However, this is still a very satisfying car for me to drive and I remain happy that I bought it.

radracer

This is usually caused by the tires with a symmetrical pattern and also a wider sized tire.

scholl

I read something from Toyota awhile ago (I forget where) that stated the 2002 Solara was slated for some mild styling changes (probably to coincide with the intro of the new Camry). Any wild guesses about what this might entail?

Also - does anyone regret getting the manual transmission - especially with V6?

evaddave

I have an SE V6 5 spd. It's a nice transmission. It's a good compromise between luxury and sport, given the target demographic of the car.

In fact, I gave up on the extras like the automatic climate control, automatic dimming mirror, and heated mirrors just so I could have the standard transmission.

The throws are a little long and the clutch is hard to feel sometimes, but I'm comparing it to my del Sol, which is a completely different style of car.

My fiancee, who is an Auto kind of gal, had no trouble getting used to the clutch in the Solara, and still has trouble with the del Sol.

solara11

Anyone checked out the new 2001 Chrysler Sebring??? Similar stats to Solara. My Solara is at 14k, and it getting B-O-R-I-N-G!!! I dont know about Chrys-Mitsu, however. My Avenger of yesteryear was a living nightmare!!! Anyone have any comments(+ or -) about todays Chrysler???

automophile

After renting many while I travel. I can't think of a single domestic car I could stand to drive for long. Outside appearances, inside ergonomics and looks and overall build quality and realibility just pale by comparison to almost any import.

Why? I believe that the American investors are so fickle and short-sighted that they won't allow the car makers to lose money for a while so that they can do some serious R&D. In Japan, for instance, that type of thinking is well understood.

I'd rather drive a simple Nissan Altima than a Cadillac or Lincoln or Chrysler for the long run.

Meanwhile, ask "fastdriver" HIS opinions of his Chrysler! He checks in here frequently, and you can go to his site to see the whole gruesome story!

radracer

160hp vs 200hp. what would you like?

if you want to get rid of your 5 speed, i'll trade you with my auto/22k

solara11

The 2001 Sebring V6 with auto stick, fat tires, cool design, mod style, blah, blah, blah blah!!! Not the 2000 and less Sebring! Japan is the size of California, and their is no being an individual(thus, all the white cars). I am re- thinking American inferiority, and stating to believe in the American worker, because thats what I am! Anyone else go to the 2001 Chrysler Sebring sight???

fastdriver

solara11-

DON'T do it! You'll be sorry. If you're retired and have nothing better to do then you might like visiting the Chrysler dealer on a regular basis for repairs, replacements and adjustments and a LOT of BS from their "wonderful 5-STAR" dealers!

My 1999 Chrysler 300M may be the nicest looking car I have ever owned, but that's IT!! In the 27 months that I have owned it, Chrysler has spent OVER $3,000 in warranty repair work. I only have 30,000 miles on it and do not abuse it. Yea it looks great thanks to Zaino, but that's as far as it goes!

Read this- http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/ -it might change your mind. If not, go into ANY Chrysler topic area here and see how "happy" all those owners are. IF Chrysler was doing something right, their stock wouldn't be down to almost its lowest price ever. In addition, they are on a cost-cutting mission. This will really help the customer!

Good luck with whatever you decide, but if you do buy a Chrysler, I'll be looking for you in the Chrysler topics. Just don't change your screen name so I can see how happy you are with your new Chrysler Sebring. ;-))

fastdriver

mikecai

I have SE and the receiver seems to be lack of power ever since I dropped in a 12" subwoofer in the trunk. Now the lowend is overpowering the high/mid. I'm wondering if I could order the Solara 6CD (which is available as a option for SLE) in dash changer as a replacement part.

Does anybody know if there is anywhere I could just order the CD-Changer unit (200w)? Installing it should be a walk in the park. I'm also looking at a few Double-Din unit at http://www.discountcarstereo.com/ if I couldn't get the Toyota factory unit. Anybody upgraded their headunit? Any comments on the factory in-dash CD changer?

thanks,
Mike

solara11

Your car looks nice, and I am sorry about your bad Customer Service problem with D.C. When I hade my 1997 Avenger, they were quick to reimburse me for a battery, which I found later that 20 percent were defective, and the dealers, both Dodge and Chrysler wouldn't touch the battery, as they said batteries and tires are not under the bumper to bumper warrenty. That changed right after I got my reimbursement(the battery, not the tire policy) The dealers are bad, or slow, every problem I had took 2 to 6 days to order parts and fix the car. I drove the Neon loaner more than my Avenger it seemed, at times. The problems I had with that car seemed more of a build quality problem. This was a very steady car on the road, not pulling left like my Solara. The paint did not chip, and I had no door dings, like Solara. My Solara is a more plaesant car, but I am not as impressed by Toyota quality as everyone else seems to be. In my car driving/buying experiances, my 1997 Chev Cavalier had the least problems, and believe it or not, Chevrolet service depts, I worked with were great! That car served its 50k life with me, and is hopfully helping a nice poor struggling family or a young person that needs a reliable car. I drive about 25 k a year and need a good reliable car. Solara has been okay, having reached her 14k day! She does pull and shutter on little bumps, and needs a face lift or peel for all the craters in the hood. I dont have the time to complain to the dealer as I would like, but when I saw the new Chrysler Sebring coupe, it wowed me. And it looks better in person. I even brought a Maxima fanatic to look at it, and she was very impressed! it's numbers are a little less than Solara's, but it seems to be made of that good Mitsu steel, that doesn't ding like the Toyota skin on my car! I am getting so many door dings, I am thinking people are jealous and want to mess my car up or something. I am not one to park in 2 spaces or a mile from where I need to be. My over all experience is good, but I have lost that loving feeling I had when I first got Solara. Another thing about Toyota, they did not even admit anything about the alloy spare when I called, and they dont offer road service. Not that I will need it, but it is noce to know you have it if you do. Good luck with your 300M!!!

automophile

Sorry to hear that your car is collecting dings from incobsiderate people. I am going on 2 years with no dings except one I did myself - D'oh!

The Toyota quality will become more apparent the longer you have the car. At 50K it will still be the same, not deteriorating like other cars.

The new Sebrings are very attractive, but you will never catch me in another domestic car - I've had it!

solarpwr

I just washed my SLE tonight. When I finished, I noticed that one headlamp lens was fogged over due to moisture on the inside surface. It disappeared after leaving the headlights on for a while. I can't see anything that would indicate a bad seal or crack in the lens.

Anyone else have this problem? Any ideas on a cause and/or solution? I'm reluctant to take it to the local dealer since they did damage to my previous Camry.

2000 SLE blue/ivory

solaraman

I would not recommend purchasing the factory 6-disc in-dash changer. I've been having problems with mine and Toyota is trying to figure out how to handle it.

cliffy1

Every Toyota is on a 5 year body style cycle. We have the exact same design for three years, and then get a "freshening" which means minor changes to the headlights, and tail lights. The 2002 Solara will have this done to it. It will not be a major change but you will notice something. I have not seen it yet but don't expect anything dramatic.

BTW, vacation is going well. I'll be back to work on the 26th.

y2ktrd

I can't believe you would even compare a sebring to a solara!!!! I have one word for chrysler products.........SCRAP!!!!!!!!!!

bja104

After reading about some people's strut problems, I wonder if I have the same problem. I hear a strange clunk from the front right wheel area when I hit a bump. However, it seems to happen only in cooler weather (40's or lower) and seems to happen only when the engine is cold. After driving a while when the engine is warm, I don't hear it. Seems unlikely, however, that a strut problem would be evident or non-evident depending on the engine temperature.

Anybody have anything similar or have comments (I have had the dealer listen for it, but did not hear the noise.

Thanks.

decon

Where is the thermometer located on the car? Is it by the rear window antenae?

solara11

Sorry about the Sebring comments. I drove a new Sebring today, and I only have 3 complaints about it.
1) Cheap plastic dash!
2) Poor visabilty backing up.
3) Infinity stereo system doesn't sound as good as stock factory JBL!?!
Otherwise handled better than Solara, probably because of the wider tires, and lower suspension.

I almost bought it on the spot, but the dealer was only willing to give me $14,000 for my Solara SE V6 package 4, plus fake wood, cargo net and alarm! He did not even look at the car! Tan he said I could have the Sebring for around $1500 less than sticker or $200 over invoice. These #'s did not set well. He suggested I go to a Toyota dealer, because not many people come to a Chrysler dealer to buy a Toyota, and the wholesale price for my car is low! Car Max offered me $17.5 in writing, and Kelly Blue Book says I should get $18.5 in my area, (trade value) for my car. I paid $22,000 and the sticker was $25,000ish. I am since looking for a better deal! Oh, yeah, 1 more prob was the compact spare. I did not even ask about getting a full size spare. I just left the dealership ASAP!

ejy

Funny, I got the same line from an Acura dealer when I test drove the new CLS... I just think that the Solara has set the bar so high as to what I expect, most cars (especially domestic) can't compare.

bgerwe

i hear the same [non-permissible content removed] with mine..it seems like it only happens when the car is cold...lately it seems as if it has been happening more and more, and now im starting to wonder if i should take it in....do others have the same weird noises as well??

brian

cardude4

I get wierd noises when turning corners, like pebbles or ball bearing rolling, from the rear wheel weels. The front end makes a violent stutter when going over small bumps. Also when driving on wet pavement, at a constant speed, I get a rumble in my drivers seat. Dont know why, yet!

y2ktrd

It still blows my mind why you would consider a sebring over the solara!...Ive been a auto tech for 15 years now and i think you should listen when i say that the sebring doesn't even come close to comparing to a solara or any other toyota product!...

solara11

Well, I am not auto tech, or even a car guy, I just buy what I look good in! I get a new or new/used car every 1-2 years anyway. The Sebring is mostly a Mitsu Gallant/Eclipse anyway, being mostly made in Japan. The engine and tranny are both from Japan. It felt like a nice soild car. Even my crummy Avenger was built solid. In its 35k run with me it had many little problems, but no big ones. It felt safe, and heavy, like it could tough out a collision, and got very good scores for collision. My Solara has little things that get to me. I am a very visual perosn, and the chipped paint makes me cringe! I love the interior, and the quiet cabin, and even the stock JBL. I am not one to put extra stereo stuff in the car. Another small quirk is that Toyota doenst offer road service. Winter is coming, and I live outside Chicago, where -80 is not uncommon. I already bought an auto club mebership, and my job gives me some roadside stuff, but it is nice to know the company that built your car will help pick it up and take it to be fixed when you between a rock and a hard place. I have not been too impressed with Toyotas Customer Service, other than that they are very nice people to talk to. The dealership people are nice, but thats it. The few problems I ahd have not been resolved to my satisfaction, and I don't have time to complain to them over and over again. I have few interested people at work willing to give me at least what Kelly says I should get. The Sebring was fun, like a sports car, but a bit softer. You sit low, and it handles great. My Solara feels too soft, like their is almost something wrong with the steering, or geometry of the front end of the car. S far it is only a consideration. The main reason I bought a Solara was because I went to the Acura dealer down the street, and they would not wait on me. I even called from the outside lot asking about a car, and do think they would come out to greet me? NO! I then took my check book down the street, put 10 grand down, financed and traded, and paid it off the first month. I find you get a little better deal when the dealer thinks he can screw you with financing, then when you pay cash. We will see what happens this weekend, as I am off again for some test drives!!!

radracer

Just make sure you get the 3.0L (mitsu) and not the 2.7L (chrysler). I like the look of the new Sebring, but if I were to buy a convertable, I'd get a Solara with the TRD suspension.

radracer

btw, i've heard a very similar complaint about acura

robmb52

I noticed that a lot of people are complaining about the paint on their Solara's? I too am one of those people. Yesterday I was washing my car (2000 SEV6) and found another chip on the drivers door. Again, like the first one I found (with under 500 miles on the car at the time) this one is right down to the primer. I don't know what cause the chip on the door, but for the first one
--it is on the hood just above the grill--I guess that it's from a rock flying up from the road. (bought a hood protector after and it's done the trick--5,100 miles and no more chips to the hood)But for the chip on the door, I don't have a clue what caused it.

It seems to me that Toyota is using cheaper paint or doing what Firestone did (skip one step in making those tires that saved them $1.00 per tire). I wonder if Toyota is skipping a step to save them $$$? HMMM? Don't get me wrong, I love this car and will be holding on to it for a long, long time. I just hate trying so hard to keep it in great shape and finding things like this.

Rob 2000 SEV6 Silver.

solara11

My Black 00 SE has many, many chips in the hood, and I even had a big spider like web cracking on my rear bumper. Barely noticable but their none the less. The only reasonable explantion for this was my bicycle tire, yes the tire may have bumped it a few times. Or maybe I got hit when it was parked in the city. I don't put the bike on the car so it is close enough for the bike to touch the car, except for the pedal, which I line up with the rear liscense plate and put a sock on the petal before putting the bike on the bike carrier. The bumper cover was replaced when I got rear ended in a driv-thru, and looks good again. The paint manufacturer recommemded no commercial car washes for 30 days, and no waxing for 60. Does anyone think this a long time, or an indication of poor paint quality?. Shop guy assured me was OEM paint, as it was Toyotas owned body shop.

y2ktrd

Well maybe if they give you 2 sebrings for your solara that would be a good deal!....one as a spare when the other is in the shop!.......lol

solara11

It's not a Jaguar! That was the long standing joke for people who bought a Jaguar.

BATTERY: Anyone know what is the minimun rated battery for Solara, in the cold northern climates. Mine was replaced already with an Interstate at the dealer, and it has like 475ish CCA. I don't think this enough for my car, and there is not a thing in the manual.

automophile

solara11 and you other Northern Types -

The best battery to get for our car is supposed to be the "Optima Spiral Cell Battery" - a new type of battery that is much more efficient and takes less power to recharge.

cnman

Another thing Toyota may have overlooked with the Solara is a sportier exhaust system (not louder). I have admired the dual exhaust setup that I have seen on some Acuras and Accords, and wished that my Solara was similarly equipped. Does anyone know if something like this is offered by aftermarket manufactures?

y2ktrd

Well it's not really dual exhaust,it's just 2 mufflers that are connected to one pipe.The next time you see one in a parkng lot,look under the rear and check it out.....looks kinda cheesy to me.

automophile

It is eay to find a dual tip that can be attached to your existing muffler. Check catalogs or larger auto parts stores.

Also - My service rep told me that the "Sport" option Muffler on the SLE has a valve that opens on full throttle to reduce back pressure for faster response. Anyone know if this is true?

y2ktrd

I wasn't aware of any "sport option" for the solara's exhaust.I do know that the maxima does have that style of muffler with the valve.
(although my solara still beat it....)

solara11

What is the sport option muffler??? Mine is the same as the Lexus ES300 tail pipe/muffler. Is this the "sport" muffler??? Sort of oval shape, chrome, black paint...

marnie3

I recently purchased a '00 Solara SLE and after about two weeks noticed that the paint was badly pitted (Fairways Green). The dealer was willing to repaint the car but did not have the authority to proceed so he palmed me off om the Toyota rep. The rep said it is environmental damage and that Toyota has no responsibility in the matter. I am now in the process of instituting legal action and have been advised to get estimates from two body shops as to the actual cause of the damaged paint. It seems that "environmental damage" is a manufacturer's catchall to avoid responsibility for their incompetence. For those of you who have similar problems, and are not satisfied with the dealer's handling, I suggest you contact your state consumer advocate for assistance. Lemon laws in many states are in place to address such issues and are not as limited in scope as you may have been led to believe.

automophile

Sorry I was not clear - I meant the muffler that comes with the "Sport Option" on the SLE. Supposed to be slighly stiffer springs, etc. He said that the muffler was diferent also - but it is impossible to tell from the outside!

solaraman

I'm having the similar problems as marnie3 in regards to customer service. The dealership and national office keep pawning me off. I don't really have a problem with the dealership; it's the national office who is waffling on the decision.

I did find out that the national office did make a decision, but it never told me. My e-mails were ignored and I had to call in.

Toyota Customer Service is lousy.

luphy

What is this about a sport option for the SLE?
With stiffer springs and a different muffler?
The reason I ask is, one, I don't remember any
sport option (thought the 99 model had the sport
option, but that was subsequently made standard
on the 2000 SLE model), and two, with this stiffer
spring, would that account for some people's
complaints of rougher rides (from me also)?

Those of you who don't really notice any problems
with the ride, especially over bumps, do you have
the 2000 SLE?

kdonkor1

I am coming up on my 30,000 FLAWLESS miles on my 2000 SE v6 5spd (yeah I know that's a lot but I don't like staying at home :-)... Anyway, here is my question...is this scheduled maintenance really worth close to 500 bucks ( which is what my local dealer wants ) or can I get away with doing a few specific things. I already did the 15,000 check up when it was due and I regularly rotate and align my tires( re: pulling to the left) and, change my oil every 4K miles. You see, I'm a 23 year old college student and I don't want to spend any more money than I have to but I do not want my baby to start getting temperemental....any input will be really appreciated.

Also, do any of you guys hear any unpleasant creaking noises coming from the drivers seat (leather) whenever driving over bumps? If you do, how did you fix it? Thanks...

fastdriver

solara11-

STILL thinking about a Chrysler product? Read this-
http://www.detnews.com/2000/autos/0009/26/b01-125690.htm

Stick with Toyota! I HATE to say I told you so! ;-)

fastdriver