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Comments
I agree that the new Camry is a surprising car. I am a bit jaded about new cars (new trucks is another topic), but I really like the new Camry. If I didn't need a truck, I would probably be looking very closely at a new Camry myself.
Like the wheels- LOVE the shine!
fastdriver
-RAVvie4me
SCSOLARA - only one word -- AWSOME!
webguyster - Since it was brand new, nothing has touched my car except Zaino product (exterior). To eliminate swirl marks, I have 100% white cotton towels that I only use for Zaino application and removal. I even wash them seperate from other towels. I paid the extra money and bought the expensive ones from JC Pennys to ensure high quality cotton. I use a shammy to dry the car. Wal-Mart has this nice one that comes already moist. It has worked wonders, and is easy to carry around to car shows and stuff. A California car duster finishes the job and keeps dust and pollen off of the car. If you want to eliminate swirls that you have, follow the full Zaino set-up (clay bar, dawn wash, polish lock, then swirl remover). After a couple coats of swirl remover start using the regular polish and z-6 spray. The inital cost is high, but the results are worth it and the products last a long time. My inital order has lasted me over a year washing the car every weekend, and polishing every other. Good luck.
I have a 99 SLE and the lease is up in three weeks. I just have to say that this has been the best car I have ever had and cannot wait to get another. I visited my dealer today, inquiring about what he could do for my next lease.I told him what I was looking for, but since it was not on the lot he was going to do a search and get back to me. Before I left he wanted to let me know that the lease costs are much higher than they were three years ago, and didn't want me to be surprised when he got back to me with numbers. He explained that the finance companies have taken a beating on cars in the past because they were establishing residual values that were too high. He said that recently the residual values have dropped considerably and, in turn, lease rates have risen. My question to the forum is, how have others been making out with their leases? I am looking at a 36 month/12,000 mile lease on another SLE with all the bells and whistles. When I leased my current Solara, back in '99, the gross capitalized cost was $26456, I put $2000 down, and the residual value was calculated to be $17175. My lease payment was $343 a month. The current residual value (trade-in) at Kelly Blue Book for my car is about $17400, which is just about what they estimated three years ago, so I am confused. Is it that residual values have changed so much, or have the percentage rates charged by finance companies jumped. Since I haven't heard back from my dealer yet, I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I would like to hear about other lease experiences. If anybody has any input, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
The reason given was also honest. Toyota has taken a beating at auction over the last 2 years on "off lease" cars and have dramatically lowered residuals to prevent that in the future. I think they have gone too far, but that is the reality we are living with.
I am generally a fan of leasing and have leased my trucks since '94. Leasing is your best protection against overpaying depreciation and usually results in lower payments. It also allows for shorter trade cycles without the chance of negative equity. Low residuals make the lease less attractive now though.
What is happening is that the residual is going DOWN, not up. The amount that you must pay for, which is the balance, is going UP. In 1999. the Solara was brand new, there was no way to know what they would be worth in 3 years, so they guessed. Meanwhile, as much as 80% of new cars are now leased, providing a HUGE crop of off-lease used cars as the leases expire. SO - the auction prices drop, and the bank's estimate of the residual value of the car goes down. I am sure that this is true of almost ANY brand and make of car at this time. This will also drop the price of used cars at the dealer, so those that BUY new cars will also lose more, as the car will be worth less when they go to trade or sell it.
Also, leasing is still the best way to drive a new car. You must think of DRIVE vs. BUY. Buying is only worth it if you are going to keep the car a LONG time - 10+ years. You suggest that he buy the car for $14K. Well, if he finances it for 3 years he will pay $17K for the car, which will be only worth about 8-10K in 3 more years - a LOSS of $7-9K. You don't have something at the end of the purchase, you still have a loss.
there should be a very noticeable difference between the intensity of the DRL's vs. normal headlights.
Maybe the headlights on the Solara are simple better contained than your previous car, and more goes DOWN the road instead of ON the road? It would be the same for when you were looking at them. If you are not squatting down, on the same level as the lights, you will not get much light.
silversolara's suggestion is good - aim them at a wall from 30-40 feet away and compare with some other cars.
On another note, I was just over reading the Accord coupe board, and reading comments from an Accord owner about the Accord being such an excellent car but not being very inspiring. Too bad they didn't buy a Solara V6!!! My "new" car is very inspiring to me! I think they call it true love... :-) Love the smooth ride (everyone comments on it), sporty handling, the power, the leather, and the awesome stereo (everyone comments on that too), and it's just so darn smart -- auto on/off headlights, etc. Just can't drive it enough... If anyone reading this is still looking for a car, and you don't like the handling of a Solara, try another one... I drove half a dozen of them (4's and 6's) and found quite a bit of variation in them, e.g. a new 2002 V4 that I drove had terrible handling (very loose steering) and yet a 2002 V4 Camry (not Solara) had great handling.
For Leather, you cannot go wrong with Lexol - this is great stuff, been around for many many years. Put it on with your hands a rub it in! It is terriffic. Use twice a year. In between use Lemon Pledge on your plastic, chrome, wood, vinly and leather. It is also terriffic!
coolguyky7
For Polish, there is no choice if you really want the best appearance and protection - Zaino Show Car Polish. Go to www.zainobros.com for the full story, and please go to the very active Zaino forum here to see comments from hundreds of super satisfied users! It is also VERY easy to use. Your black Solara can look like this:
http://www.zainobros.com/files/photos/blackta.htm
Also - go to post 1206 above to see a gorgeoous black Solara with a Zaino shine!
As to whomever nominated Mackabee, I'll second it. I know him and have met him twice. He is much more prolific on the boards than he is in person. He is very quite and reserved in person. I enjoy his writing and story telling style. He is a car salesman down in Virginia Beach.
Click on my screename above and you'll see what a ZAINO shine can do to any color! ;-)) The darker, the better!
automophile-
THAT was the picture I was looking for a while ago! Do you think my car could ever look like that? Maybe if I retire and spend my days polishing! LOL.....
fastdriver
I do have one comment regarding a change in the new 2002. The auto on/off feature for the headlights has apparently been removed. This is a small thing, but I got used to it with the '99 SLE and it was really handy. Instead of providing that great feature, now the daytime running lights can be turned on or off. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong or the photocell in the dash must have been defective, so I stopped back to the dealer and inquired about it. My salesman told me the feature was deleted and that the photocell would allow the daytime running lights to become brighter as it got darker outside. This makes no sense to me. If the daytime running lights need to be brighter, chances are your headlights need to be on. Does anyone have any comments regarding this? All of the other changes seem to be for the better, but this one seems to be a step backwards.
Thanks.
How well do leather seats hold up over the long term compared to cloth seats assuming proper maintenance on both? The '89 Accord coupe that I just sold had cloth seats that still looked like new at 12 yrs of age!
Got 30 mpg on the first tank of gas; half of that was the hwy trip back home from getting the car followed by half a tank's worth of an equal mix of hwy/city driving. Got 28 mpg on the 2nd tank with about equally mixed hwy/city driving. I'm relieved since I was afraid a V6 would "tank" (hah!) my gas mileage especially since I like to punch the gas pedal a bit. It's a stick shift. What are others getting on the Solara V6, esp with manual trans?
I get 24 MPG with 70%HWY/30%City, in a V6 5 speed with 30,000 miles. Like clockwork. I drive it fairly fast. With A/C on it plummets...to 22.5 (great in my book for a hard driver)
Lexol rules for leather conditioning. Should last 5-10 years easily. Mine at 3 years is like new. Blue Magic as a cleaner is also great, and is a nice pre-Lexol app.