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2004 Toyota Solara
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We paid $500 over invoice and were very happy with the deal.
~alpha
What really justifies the 6-8 thousand dollar difference in these two cars? I realize the Lexus nameplate adds some value, but there must be a lot more. In some minor ways, the Solara outshines even the ES -- audio steering wheel controls, dash-mounted 6 CD changer, rear heat ducts, better fuel economy, telescopic steering wheel, etc. Better half thinks it's mostly the Lexus name, but there has to be more than that? Any thoughts?
I think the 3.3 engine is the same in the Solara, Sienna, and the RX. In the ES, you do get some features like auto up/down on all windows and illuminated power lock and window buttons. But a lot of the parts are the same. After all, a Lexus it's just another Toyota. The ES is being sold as a Toyota Windham (I think) in Japan. Look at the windows, I think it said Toyota motor corp. The same with Honda/Acura.
You can get a 6Disc in Dash in the ES, fwiw, and I believe rear ducts are standard as well. The wood in the ES is phenomenal (its real, not the Solaras actually convincing applique), and there are other subtle upgrades such as higher quality leather (the same used in the 55K LS, for example). Still, this new Solara reps. a great value. I'm not sure many cross shop a two door coupe and a 4 door near lux, though.
Finally, the ES's resale, according to Kiplingers magazine, is better than all other vehicles in its class, and no doubt, better than the Solara. (Someone already mentioned the Lex service).
~alpha
We have a LS430 and on occassion when we bring it in for service we have ES300 (not ES330) for loaner. You need to drive the ES to get a feel for the car. It is very luxury and quiet. It is more expensive than a camry but you get what you pay for. With limited option, you can get a ES for about 33K vs a 27k for fully loaded cmary XLE. You get some of the 6k difference when you sell the car (may be only 2k to 3k more expensive if you sell the car 3-4 year). In the mean time, you have better service, the service loaner car, longer warrenty and a more luxury interior. Also if you lease your lexus,you can put in multiple deposit and lower your lease rate (we did 9 deposit for our ls430 and lower the lease money factor by 0.0009 or about 2.0% in interst rate term) and toyota won't do it (so far as I know).
Several magazine road tests have referred to the Solara as the Lexus of coupes.
We are delighed with our new SLE after the fitst 3,000 miles.
Not a big fan of radio so I can't help you with prices but it does sound steep to me...
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
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.
The NAV system, in French, probably only allows you to drive in reverse. At full speed.
Does anyone know if the Solara Nav system has the same feature? The poster didn't appear to be from Canada, so I don't know why Toyota would put the French choice in there. SABOTAGE: Isn't that a French word?
But while I was happy that I figured out the "recirculate" thing, damn, another thing came out and the air control system really has a mind of its own. What happened was after driving for 40 minutes and in front of a stop light, I manually increased the temp and after certain temp, like 74 or something, the mode automatically switched to front/floor. Then when I continued increasing the temp., it automatically switched to floor. When I lowered the temp., it automatically switched from floor to front/floor, then front. At first I thought it's cool. But after pulling into the garage, I tried to do the same thing and this time it didn't switch the mode at all!!!!! It stayed at front even I increased and decrease the temp!!!! What the heck is going on with this system?? I think I need to do some experiments with it tomorrow.
When getting into a hot car (I lived in Florida after all), my accord automatically starts it in max, re-circulating the hot air. After the interior cools off a little bit, the Honda automatically starts letting in fresh air . . with no need to touch the controls.
It sounds like Toyota makes you constantly fiddle with the re circulate and fresh air settings. Honda Accord does it for you automatically, and is thus far superior.
Am I right that you constantly have to adjust the Solara automatic a/c when you get into a very hot car?
Just curious . . .
Wow. I didnt realize that the only virtues vehicles had were their A/C systems. Mitchflorida, please pity the poor souls like myself who have manually controlled climate systems. Can you imagine how inferior our cars are...
Seriously though, THIS would stop you from buying a car that you may otherwise LOVE?
~alpha
For the CD changer, mine is working all right and smooth. If I remember right, you need to select the empty slot before insert the CD. If not, the system will assume the slot it is on. I will double check and confirm that. The one in Solara is much better than the Escape I rent for a week. Escape need to shuffle one by one instead of press the slot number for this. And it takes some time before accepting CD. I don't have problem on switching between CD and radio so I guess is bad luck? Have you read the user manual of operation or you just figure it out by yourself? More than often the problem can be resolved by reading the manual. Just my suggestion since it works well 90% of the time!
Accord: Peak HP by 15 horses
Solara: Peak torque by 28 foot pounds
Just something to think about
~alpha
2k1trd -- you're 50% correct. But your response inspired me. Here's what I found.
If you use Auto, and manually increase or decrease the temp., the mode (front, front/floor, floor) will automatically switch according to the temp. When the temp goes up, it'll switch from front, to front/floor, to floor. It will also automatically switch back (from floor to front) if you lower the temp.
Now if you turn off the system, and turn it back on by pressing the Fan speed, this "automatic mode switch" function will still be there even Auto is off. Increasing or decreasing the temp will automatically switch the Mode.
Now if at this point, you manually hit the Mode button to switch the mode because you don't want to heat up your foot, this "automatic mode switch" function will be disabled, until you hit Auto again.
Whew. 2k1trd and cooldad can you try that on yours and see if it's the same?? I don't mean to be so anal about this air control thing. But I just want to make sure I'm in control and know how it operates.
"toyota a/c is crap compared to honda." ????? Is that an opinion or fact? What kind of testing have you done to both systems to come out with such conclusion? Please share with us here. BTW, the new Solara came out in Fall/Winter and there's no exteme hot weather to test the A/C system yet.
alpha -- you forgot to mention both HP and Torque come out at higher rpm too.
This second generation of the Solara coupe is cuter than the first ... and the first was pretty cute. ''Ruggedly handsome'' just does not work with this car, especially when the tested model is coated in paint called ''Absolutely Red.''
''Redder-Than-Red'' or ''Blindingly Red'' would have worked, too. The tester all but screamed for attention, accentuated by a saucy new design with a V-shaped grille and an aerodynamic, bumper-to-bumper arc.
Style is important for Solara. Since 1999, the car has been entrenched among Top 10 lists of passenger models preferred by female buyers. The sleeker look for 2004 should do nothing to drop Solara off those lists.
The arc shape raised Solara's roofline by nearly 2 inches compared with the first generation, and Toyota's engineers stretched the new Solara's wheelbase by nearly the same amount. The realignment translates to improved room, which was much needed in the rear seats. Adult legs no longer press up against the front seats.
The power plant also has been upgraded. The tested SLE, the top Solara model among three trim levels offered, came with a 3.3-liter V-6 with variable valve timing technology and 225 horsepower. That's a big step up from the 3-liter, 198-horsepower V-6 in the previous SLE.
The Solara's new engine provided brisk acceleration, with the electronically controlled, five-speed automatic transmission working the shifts smoothly. The gearbox also allows for clutchless manual shifting.
Four-cylinder Solaras can be had with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic, and the base Solara SE with a manual is a genuine bargain with a starting price of $19,120.
In truth, the Solara SLE's performance was most impressive once the engine revs were up. The SLE whipped around traffic on surface streets and area freeways like a champ. It sawed off sharp surface-street corners with sports car-like crispness; kudos to Toyota engineers who designed the car's sport-tuned suspension (independent front and rear).
The Solara's redesigned interior likewise radiated sportiness. A center-mounted gauge display is sharp-looking and easy to read -- especially with illuminated pointers on the gauges. Chrome and woodgrain accents were attractively sprinkled and not overdone.
The impressive list of standard features included a power moonroof and a sweet-sounding JBL premium audio system with a six-disc CD changer and eight speakers.
With a new generation come new challenges. Primary among them was an automatic climate-control system on the tested SLE that was consistently about five degrees off in both warming and cooling modes. And recurring warnings from the tire-pressure monitoring system were exceedingly annoying because that jarring exclamation point in the message center always makes the heart skip a couple of beats.
Trips to nearby gas stations showed that the tires were up to Toyota specifications. Cold weather start-ups were the likely cause of the tire-pressure warnings -- one reason that I have serious reservations about good-intentioned, but sometimes-deceiving, tire-pressure monitoring systems.
One other gripe: A large adult needs to do some serious bending and grunting to semi-gracefully slip into or out of the back seat area. In fairness, that's a universal problem native to most midsize coupes. And making the car bigger only makes it more expensive.
Overall, the latest Solara is a positive step in the evolutionary process. Probably the most important thing Toyota could do with the car was make it distinct ... that is something more than a two-door version of a Camry sedan.
Along that line, the automaker did a good job, producing a stylish, agile, two-door passenger model that makes Solara resemble more of a high-spirited, chance-taking cousin than a bland Camry knockoff.
Some reviews have reported the NAV saying is quite good considering its lower price and performance. If I remember right, they claim the NAV system is not as good as those in Lexus and Acura, but better than those in european brands. You can get some idea when test drive. Ask your dealer to find one with NAV for test drive. Then you can play with it to see how easy to use and the precision compared side by side with your portable one.
In the last year, hand held units have improved. They do not have all the shortcomings you listed, but still are not as nice as a DVD based system.
I can load the maps of CA, Nevada and Oregon on a 256MB SD card on a PDA and have room to spare with some PDA based systems. I can load the entire US on the hard drive of a laptop based system using Routis 2004. If I want to go "cross country" I will fly, not drive, so the PDA system works fine for me.
The GPS software and hardware cost about $200, so it is super cheap if you already own a laptop or newer PDA. If you have to buy a PDA or laptop for the sole purpose of using it for nav and have no need for the portability, then just get the built-in system.
Another reason why those PDA platform unit performace poorly is power. PDA need to save power to keed the battery last longer. The power it emits is about 10% of those car based or after market. The difference is how many satelite you can link. The more linked, the higher precision. This is particular critical in metro without lots of high building or hilly area with many big tree. Along the hwy, the PDA should work fine though.
Try to find a Solara SE or SLE with nav and no other options.
Many Lexus models are completely impossible to find with nav unless they also have the Mark Levinson stereo, rear DVD video entertainment system etc..
The GPS unit I use does not only work out on the highway. I have used it in the city with tall buildings and trees around and had no problems, you can even add an external antenna for better reception. I have heard about ones with severe problems, but better navigation software and GPS hardware have come out in the last few months. Power is not a problem, the GPS I plugged into my PDA normally tracks 8 or more satellites and the PDA simply plugs into the cigarette lighter power port in the car.
I still like the in car systems since they are easier to use than dealing with a laptop or PDA and the new Honda and Acura systems let you input commands with your voice (which is very cool), but they are all very expensive and don't add all that much to the resale value.
BTW, I think the Solara's Nav is pretty cheap given it's quality.
Toyota Solara--Part 6
Toyota Camry Solara: Prices Paid & Buying Experience
Thanks!
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Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
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