Toyota Solara

rdaniels1

I had a question

I was trying to figure out if the new 2004 Solara is a Hatchback, I sure hope its not! Someone please let me know.

And also, is it me or does the new Solara look like a Hyundai Tiburon? (That's scary)

coolguyky7

I don't think it does at all. Is the Solara for sale now? It mentions it on that Toyota sales commercial.

ral2167

i dont think the solara is a hatchback---but... would be nice if there was a coupe hatchback out there... accord used to have a 2 door hatchback... had an 88 accord LXi... i think the currect accord coupe would be a nice hatchback style-- kinda looks like a mercury cougar anyway from the rear.

seems to me that a two door hatchback allows for more storage. am i nuts?

webguyster

Like the current model. A notch back! Whatever that is!

i_luv_toyota

At least that's what I think, because I don't see it on Toyota.com's website (aside from the "minisite") yet, the 2003 is still there.

coolguyky7

Edmunds has a lot of new images of the 2004 Solara under its new car section. There is a lot of pricing information for packages and options as well. Nice job, Edmunds!

coolguyky7

I'm a little confused. Some of the interior pictures are labeled as being SE models, yet they have the autoclimate control system gauges. Perhaps the manual and auto ones look the same but the SE models don't have any ability to have a sensor manipulating the temperature???

This car looks great inside and out. There is no excuse for it fail. I'd say it's another homerun for Toyota following the Camry and Corolla.'

Perhaps this car will allow Camry to inch past Accord is sales?

mackabee

What do you mean allow Camry to inch past Accord in sales? Camry has been outselling Accord all year long. The official launch is August 15th. The car should be at dealers tomorrow. We are getting our first one in tomorrow. V6 SLE in Black with Navigation, Traction control and stability control, side curtain airbags, rear spoiler, MSRP $29,492.00 including destination.
            : )
            Mackabee

coolguyky7

Well the Camry only had a 7,000 unit lead at the end of May and the Accord beat Camry in July by about 2000 units I think. They are neck and neck and hopefully the new Solara will boost Camry's thin margin over Accord.

I wish all these new Solara pictures would be posted on wieck.com or Toyota's press website. I can't find any of them. The only ones coming up are of the red one from the initial launch back in April.

This car is absolutely stunning. The rear spoiler seems to be a mandatory option as the car is awkward without it. I think the side skirts of SE Sport don't damage the styling like on the Matrix.

mackabee

The brochures are out. The car actually looks stunning without the rear spoiler also. There's a picture of the SE in Oceanus blue on page three which is the color we've been discussing lately. Looks like a gun metal blue. One thing that baffles me about Edmund's TMV is they are showing the 04 Solara at about $600.00 below MSRP and the car isn't for sale yet. Hmm,..
                     : )
                     Mackabee

coolguyky7

Could you please clear a few things up for me? Do the non-V6 models with automatic transmission have the typical shifter or is it the sporty-like one in the pictures without the sportmatic function? On the SE models...what kind of climate controls are they? Dials or are they the automatic/button ones which are shown in the SE Sport pictures?

Also, what's up with the similar mileages for the 4 cylinder and the V6? I would think there would be a much more significant advantage to the 4 cylinder's fuel consumption.

How does the Oceanus Blue compare to the Cosmic Blue? Darker? other colors/shades involved?

cliffy1

Just dropping by to say hello. Nice to see all the usual names here.

ezshift5

...Toyota's market research shows only about two per cent of the Solara's potential buyers would opt for a manual. Do that sound correct?

And now that you're back (Cliffy1) what say you?

..eZ

billmahan

I know you guys have probably answered this a thousand times, but I have 40,000 miles on my '00 SLE V6 Solara tires. They are the original Michelin tires and I was wondering what is the best recommendation for a replacement set?

Thanks.

decon

Billmahan,

I decided to go with the same Michelin tires, bought them at Costco.

The only drawback of Michelin is their cost and wet traction. Check out tirerack.com for user feedback.

bartalk2

With the 5-speed automatic in the '04 Solara, what do they mean by "sequential automatic"? Is that a manual shift mode?

cliffy1

If Toyota is using the same verbage as its other products, sequential automatic means a genuine manual shift mode. We've got it in the Celica GTS but that is only a 4 speed.

BTW, there is VERY little demand for actual manual transmissions. The people who want it REALLY want it but there are not many of those folks around.

i_luv_toyota

"Well the Camry only had a 7,000 unit lead at the end of May and the Accord beat Camry in July by about 2000 units I think. They are neck and neck and hopefully the new Solara will boost Camry's thin margin over Accord."

It's amazing how many people grew accustomed to the new Accord's butt-ugly styling, isn't it?

Honda thought they could beat the Camry out sales-wise with that beast. Well think again Honda! Toyota will come out on top no problem, and the new Solara should solidify the sales victory!

Go Toyota!!!

billmahan

I like the Michelins, except for the French part! I can do without the French fries and ice cream, but the tires I may have to go with.

Cliffy: I see that the 04 Solara has steering wheel controls (radio and display), but I don't see that on the Toyota website for the 04 Avalon. Can you tell me if the Camry XLE and Avalon will have those controls, or are they waiting until 05?

billmahan

Can anyone tell me the differences between the DVD Navigation systems in the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES? Are they exactly the same, or are their some differences. I'm pretty sure the GS and LS models have a different system, but I am not sure about the Camry and or Avalon.

Cliffy: Any significant changes to the Camry XLE and Avalon XLS this coming year?

As always, Thanks!

steveb84

No changes on either Camry XLE or Avalon XLS

billmahan

Will the Avalon get the 3.3 engine in 04? And when is the next refresh and new model cycles due for both the Camry and Avalon? (I think the next Camry will be '07, but I'm not sure.)

Thanks.

pbc

Back to the tire questions!

Has anyone tried the Yokohoma AVID H4's on their Solara vs. the Mich Energy's? The dealer I went to who sells both (the Mich are CDN$40 more per tire) insists the Yokohoma's are a better tire for performance and for winter traction.

Also looking at Toyo TPT's.

Thanks,

PBC

coolguyky7

Camry gets the refresh in 2005 and a redesign in 2007. Avalon gets a redesign in 2005 with the refresh just occuring in 2003.

mackabee

The Se and Se Sport use dial a/c controls versus the auto climate on the Sle. The gas mileage between the 4 and the 6 has been pretty close to what they show on the 04's. 03's were also rated at 23/32 V6 20/29 MPG. The Oceanus blue is more of a gun metal blue (dark blue) but not as dark as the Stratosphere blue.
                           : )
                           Mackabee

coolguyky7

pbc

Here are the choices that I've come up with from various websites and speaking to tire dealers:

Toyo TPTs 205-60-16
Dunlop SP Sport A2
All in (taxes incld) CDN$700

Kumho HP4 ($600 all in).

Yoko AVID H4 ($620 all in).

Bridgestone RE90 (can't remember the price)

Has anyone had any experience with these compared to the Michelin's?

Thanks,

PBC

99solara

I have the Dunlop SP Sport A2. They are better than the original Bridgestone RE92s I had. The Dunlops require more attention than the michelins. Loose air more often. Do not stay balanced easily. Seem to settle down after they warm up. I will most likely get the Michelin MXV4 S8 next time.

webguyster

The suspension is so sloppy on the Solara that tires probably dont make too much difference. Michelins come out of the mold almost perfect, are hand inspected and require less frequent balancing. They also have not been part of the largest lawsuit against a tire company in history! They do however cost 2 times as much as Dunlops and the others. But remember, don't let cheapness be your weakness, and you have a lot riding on your tires.

coolguyky7

TOYOTA UPDATED THE SOLARA PAGE FOR 2004

cliffy1

OK, so you didn't see Steve Martin in "The Jerk" did you. Nevermind.

Dumb joke aside, the new Solaras are here. A delivery truck just pulled up with 4 of them. I don't even know how many are our yet and I don't know what models, but they are here. Most dealerships should be getting them today or tomorrow.

coolguyky7

There was a black Solara with gold trim at our dealer today.

ezshift5

.....Solara suspension sloppy (Webguy has a real point)....tires probably don't make too much difference. Again, Webguy has a point: BUT FWIW - - - - 215/55's cut the wheel squeal waaaaaaay down on my SE-V6 5-speed. Tires can't replace permissive shocks/springs. But they can help....ez

cindayb

We just bought a brand new 2003 Solara..had for 2 weeks and now it's been in the shop for almost a week due to a horrible noise coming from underneath the front end. We know it has something to do with the suspension, but the techs have tried several things, but no luck yet. After reading some of the postings, I've noticed that others are having this problem too. My problem is that this is my first brand new car and it's in the shop. I haven't even made my first payment yet. Any suggestions on what I can do?? Thanks!

webguyster

Sorry to hear about your new car. Since you drove off the lot, maybe you might want to start arbitration, if the problem cannot be resolved. 2 weeks is a long time to wait on a car repair! If your cars payed for like mine, do what I do, and turn up the radio! Is your horrible noise when you travel over small grooves, or minor cracks, that creates a jarring sense that the car has just smashed into or driven over something much larger than what you may have driven over, like the washboard surface of a road divider? Does the ride go from real comfortable, and calm, to a loud metal on metal noise, as if the car has no shocks or struts, although the struts check out as okay? If so, that seems to be a characteristic of the 99-03 model.

mackabee

Please elaborate on the noise. When does it happen? What road surface, etc, etc.. all the time, some of the time, etc. Most Camrys and Solaras tend to make a noise that is hard to put in words, but only happens on sections of highway or freeways that have "ridges" on the road itself. Kink of like the potato chips (the shape I mean) Back in 1992 our new Camry made that noise when I drove over a section of road as described above. One of the auto magazines called it the "Camry Rumble" It was nothing to worry about as long as you weren't driving on a road like that.
             : )
             Mackabee

ral2167

as prior owner of 1999 solara and now driving a 2001 accord coupe, dropped by local toyota dealer to look at new solara... intended only to take a look since i'm not in the market yet, but saleslady was quite nice and suggested i take a test drive... am very impressed-- it was $27000+ SLE ... very nice color-- a gold deal.... didn't quite know how to use the sport shift or whatever, so kept it in D for Drive.... car looks MUCH better in person than in photos i had seen previously....

will need to wash my honda and clean the interior to get back to thinking i don't need a new car just yet....ever have that feeling?

webguyster

Dropped by the dealer for my most recent O2 sensor to go out, Extra Care covered it without BBB intervention, and they had a 2004 Solara, blue, but nobody knew where it was!?! Im gonna have to wait 'till my next vist. They did have a bunch of Scions...EECH! There not available for sale yet, but they are a unique looking car. They had a wierd Scion van box like thing, that is probably the ugliest Toyota to date. The little Scions kinda look like a Mini Cooper, sticker at $14,000, all tricked out for $25,000ish, or the price of the SLE Solara!

curlyq

For what its worth, I bought the Dunlaps and they are 1000% better than the OEM Bridgestones. BTW, I saw the 04 today. See my post on the 04 board.

Curly

webguyster

RE:#172 of 173 2004 Solara Recall by curlyq Aug 16, 2003 (6:21 pm)
Finally saw the 04 today. Surprisingly, there were no 04 brochures. I asked at the info desk and they were behind the counter. The girl told me they just found out the 04's are being recalled due to a gas tank problem. I have not researched this, I'm just repeating what I was told today at a dealership.

That's probably where the missing Solara at my dealer was, in back getting a new gas tank, or waiting for a new part!?! I found it strange that nobody at the dealer knew where it was, but the service guy knew they had one!

coolguyky7

Are you sure that 2004 recall isn't the Sienna? The Sienna just had a recall for the gas tank.

ral2167

i too heard the 2004 SIENNA had a recall..not the solara.

Kdonkor

I have a 2000 Solara 5 sp se v6 with sunroof. Somehow, the floor of both the driver side and the left rear passenger side ONLY manages to get flooded whenever it rains although I make it a point not to forget to shut all the windows and the sunroof. This has been happening for the last month or so...I live in the northeast and it had been raining pretty much non-stop so I have had to steam dry my car more than once. Any ideas why this could be happening? I thought I'd ask this question here before I went to the body shop to see if you guys have had similar experiences. Thanks....

mackabee

Your a/c is leaking into the car instead of draining onto to the pavement. Check the a/c drain under the car, or better yet have your dealer check it. It's probably plugged up.
                  : )
                  Mackabee

hambone32

All sunroofs leak, so they have drainage tubes down all four roof pillars. If one of these tubes gets blocked it can back up during a hard rain and flood a section of your car. It happened to me, and they just unclogged the tube. This could be a possibility.

cliffy1

I know this is going to sound stupid, but are you sure your roof is closed all the way? Here is why I ask. When I was a salesman, I was astounded by how many folks stopped the roof from closing all the way. The Solara has an auto-stop feature, but from the inside, it looks like the roof has just tilted up. Many people would try to hit the button to stop it just at the moment it looked flush on the inside. This left about 1/4" opening in the top when viewed from the outside. It was one of the most common complaints I ever heard from customers who didn't buy from me. Not to toot my own horn, but a detailed explanation of how this works was included with every delivery.

This opening caused all kinds of complaints from wind noise to leaks. You should have seen the customer's faces when I showed them what was happening.

webguyster

Anyone know how to get rid of the musty a/c smell. I know there is a TSB but, Im not about to go to the dealer saying my car stinks. I remember people had issues with this years ago, and now I am a victem of the odor!

mikecai

I have 64k miles on my 2000 solara SE 4-cyl. When should I start worry about replacing timing belt on it?

webguyster

4,000 miles ago!?! Funny I got a reminder from Toyota to change my timing belt at 30,000 miles!?!Being that I was already over 30,000 miles, and most car companies say to change at 60,000, I tossed the reminder in the trash. I brought it up at the dealer on one of my service visits, and the advisor said on the V6, 90,000 miles. The book says 60,000, and years ago, when I kept cars with higher milage the belt always went at 60,000 like clock work, along with the water pump. Any suggestions???

ka9zyw

I have a 2000 solara with the chugging problem. I took the dealer today and he said that they would have to re-program the ECM . Has anyone had this done and did it improve the problem? The dealer mentioned that it would help but not eliminate the entire problem.
I will let you know the results when I have it taken care of.