Toyota Solara

coolguyky7 · October 2001

if your Solara is having paint problems and is under warranty (which I assume it is) you should take it into the dealer. If you prove your point, they should be obligated to do whatever to make up for it. Toyota guarantees the quality of the paint, well at least that's what my mom says, and she works for TMM North America.

curlyq · October 2001

Solara's paint is cover for a mfg. defect. Surprisingly, the thin and soft quality paint used on our cars, never have these defects. I've had my car looked at by the regional Toyota guy and was told it must be the roads in the Chicago area, because nothing he saw indicated a defect. This is my fourth Toyota, the other three had paint jobs that survived those same Chicago roads. Other than the poor quality paint, my Red 2000 Solara has been trouble free.

evaddave · October 2001

I routinely get 23 mpg or so around town. I have a 12-mile commute (each way) that takes me 25-40 minutes, so it's a bit of stop-and-go. On the occasions I've taken long trips with the Solara, I've gotten 30-31 mpg on the highway, cruising at 70-75 mph. It is so cool to have a car with a range of 500+ miles on long trips.

I've got the V6 with 5-speed.

ojc · October 2001

Of course they will blame it on the road. So did the first few hundred dealers when their Explorers kept popping. But I feel that the paint thickness is unacceptable. Compared to our other Toy product (Lexus), the paint is very easily chipped and scratched. So one cannot argue that all paints are this thin, nor that Toyota paints are just "like that". One CAN argue that Solaras and Camrys are improperly painted. Problem is, not enough complain. Even you are "satisfied".

bezahar · October 2001

Well my 2000 V-6 has averaged 26.8 mpg over the past 27000 miles. Not too bad overall. Tend to take a few long trips every once in a while, in between short 5 mile commutes everyday to work Probably works out to about 50/50 hi way/city driving.

BTW evaddave are you driving a V4 or a V6? I've gotten close to 500 miles on a tank of gas once or twice but I was a little worried about making it to the station. I usually easily get 400 miles a tank, but not quite 500 even when only on the hi way (of course I always seem to hit construction these days which doesn't help.)

evaddave · October 2001

I've got the V6.
I've only gotten 500+ a couple of times, but that's been on long trips. My family and I travel nearly end-to-end on the PA turnpike a few times a year to see relatives. Usually we take our MPV, but once in a while, I can sneak in a trip with the Solara. When you're spending 4-5 hours on the same road, it's easier to set the cruise and get better mileage.

bwiebe · October 2001

I've had my 2000 Solara for about 10 months, 15,000mi and have found quite a few paint chips on the hood. I'm thinking about getting either the bra or the plastic deflector. Any thoughts on which would be more effective. I'm not sure I like the look of the plastic deflector and since my car is black I don't know how a black bra would look on the black car. I also seem to be getting lots of swirl marks in the paint despite following the tips on the Zaino site. I also think that the paint job is not up to the quality I would have expected in a Toyota

luthor1 · October 2001

Maybe consider the x-pel clear bra. I have it on my dwp solara on front of hood, headlights and bumper, installed for less than $250. I love it and it's virtually invisible.

curlyq · October 2001

I have the Scotchcal clear bra on the front end of my Red Solara. It has greatly reduced the paint chipping on the front end since it was installed. Had I know the paint was going to chip so easily, I would have installed it before I took the car home.

wree7777 · October 2001

Luthor1 and CurlyQ, where did you get the clear bras from? I've been thinking about putting one on before winter since they put very sharp gravel on our roads rather than salt. However, I had my bumpers and side trim repainted as part of the deal because they were very discolored (they are the DWP). Just found something in my files last night from a previous paint job on a previous car that recommends not using a bra for 6 months after a paint job, and it's only been ~ 3 weeks. It's in a list of half a dozen recommendations, but is the only recommendation in bold lettering. So, which is worse -- the bra or sharp gravel hitting my car all winter???? :-\

wree7777 · October 2001

I've heard on the Honda Accord boards that you can tell if an Accord was made in Japan vs the US because the first letter of the VIN will be a "J". Is there some way to tell where a Solara was built? I believe it's been said in this forum that most are made in Canada, but I'm wondering if some are made in Japan (and would therefore have better paint) and if so, how would you tell?

black00 · October 2001

I remember reading somewhere that the Solara was designed in the U.S. and only manufactured in Canada for the North American market.

I don't think Toyota manufactures Solaras in Japan, unless that changed.

cooldude1755 · October 2001

The following is part of a message on the Solara Convertible Board (Msg # 497)

You can decipher your VIN reading at http://www.misterfixit.com/vin.htm

If /When Toyota switches from Canada to Kentucky it will be reveled in the VIN

ezshift5 · October 2001

On a recent trip to San Diego, the '00 V-6 5-speed turned in 29.9 south and 30.5 north. 70 mph average speed for the voyage........I alternate tankfuls between 87 and 89 octane...........

curlyq · October 2001

Several companies make precut kits for the Solara. X-pel.com is one. I used invinca-shield.com. If you want a professional to install it, they will refer you to their authorized installers in your area. You can also find more info at 3M.com by searching for Scotchcal, which is the clear fim used in these kits.

pbc · October 2001

What do you mean when you say 'self made'? How did you make them, they look great!

pbc · October 2001

Has anyone installed the "True Blue" Xenon headlights they carry at Toyota dealerships? They're quite pricey and I was wondering how long they'd last, how good they are, etc?

detrick · October 2001

HI GUYS
2000 SOLARA SE V6, SILVER, 5 SPEED, 22K MI, SUNROOF, FACTORY SECURITY
SYSTEM, GARAGED, NO WINTERS, WELL MAINTAINED $18,500 OBO
REPLY IF INTERESTED LOCATED IN MANCHESTER N.H.

canc · October 2001

Xenon headlights at Toyota dealerships? I didn't even know they carried them! How pricey are they?

pbc · October 2001

Not sure where in Canada you live but I saw them at the Richmond Hill Toyota dealership (just outside of Toronto) and I believe they were $40 each.

I think I'm just getting bored with the look of my car and want to see if there is anything I can do for a few bucks (read under $500!).

gpolt · October 2001

I could be interested in your Solara. How can I contact you?

evaddave · October 2001

ral2167:
When you sold your solara, you said that you would have taken a beating on trade-in because it was a 5-speed. I've experienced that first-hand now, and am getting ready to sell my 2000 SE V6 5-speed ($14,000? I couldn't walk out of the dealer fast enough). I was curious to know if you took any kind of beating with the private sale, or if you sold it pretty close to book value. Also, did it take you long to sell it because it had the manual tranny?

Thanks in advance.

ral2167 · October 2001

well i "privately" sold my 99 v6 5 speed for $15900-- i think that was around trade in value--not resale..-- what was nice was i was still able to deduct that from the cost of the new car i bought, as the honda dealer agreed to do an "IN and OUT"-- i brought the private buyer of my car to the dealer we all sat down and honda basically did the paperwork and the private buyer actually bought the solara from them, not me....so i saved on tax as instead of paying 6% on a $20500 accord, i paid tax on $20500 less 15900 "trade" + 2800 I still owed.... i placed ad in one of those supermarket auto magazines-- $40 until it gets sold....only took a month. the 5 speed wasn't the problem as to why i sold, i just found i hated leather seats... like i say, 5 speeds are fun to drive, but unless you find a private buyer, you'll take a real beating trade in time. best thing to do is sell privately, but have a dealer do the paperwork so you can still save on tax.

detrick · October 2001

YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT DETRICM@CHESTERTON.COM AND
WE WILL GO FROM THERE. THANKS

canc · October 2001

I live in Ottawa and I haven't seen those around here yet. Are they genuine Toyota bulbs, or aftermarket? You can get aftermarket bulbs at Canadian Tire, but I bet they're illegal.

hud116222 · October 2001

I love my Solara, but have been a bit irritated when I drive it at night. When I start the car, the headlights come on ok, but my dash lights sometimes take up to 20 seconds to come on. Does anyone else experience this kind of delay?

2001 SE-V6 5 speed

webguyster · October 2001

I believe most people in this forum have had problems with the soft paint, and it is something we all need to live with, unless we re-paint the hoods, or put the ugly coatings on the hoods. The Solara is made in Ontario, and sold in North America. Most Japanese, or other countries would not purchase such an impractical 2 door car for $25g's, and up. I believe they will continue to be built in Ontario to keep costs LOW!?! Imagine if Toyota factored in the transportation costs from Japan.

ejy · October 2001

Handling: If you don't like the way your Solara handles, replace the tires. Michelin makes very good tires, BridgeStone does not. I only got 22k miles on the BS tires - I now have 10k on the Michelins (XGT H4's) and still have over 90% of the original tread depth left - without changing my driving habits. The car sticks to the road like glue - it was a skateboard before the Michelins...

30k service: The spark plugs are good for 60k miles, minimum. Do not repalce them at 30k. I did the tranny fluid flush & coolant flush, plus the other normal stuff for $260 a couple months ago. I am unsure if I really needed the coolant flush - but the car shifts smoother again with the tranny fluid flush (it is a 5 speed).

Fake Xenon Headlight users should get the death penalty if caught with them.

ejy · October 2001

I have a '99 SE V6 5 speed with 32k miles on it now with no repairs needed - ever... (not even a rocking chair)

shellbelle · October 2001

I am currently Solara shopping and am having a much easier time finding 4 cylinder Solaras than a V-6 in the 2001 inventories. My preference has been V-6 but was wondering how the Toyota 4-cyl compared. Any pros/cons would be greatly appreciated!

Shell

coolguyky7 · October 2001

The 2002 Solara looks better in my opinion and its 4 cylinder has more horsepower than the 2001 4 cylinder. You might want to think about that unless you are bargain hunting with 2001s.

ejy · October 2001

1. Don't switch grades of gasoline all the time - it makes your gas mileage go down and your engine run less efficiently (your engine is constantly tuning its timing for the different grade of gas).

2. The back of the '02 Solaras are fugly.

pbc · October 2001

If you keep your headlights in the off position as I do, then at night when you turn the car on the day time lights come on right away but the headlights and dash lights come on when the system notices it's dark (usually 15-20 seconds or so). I don't think they'll turn on until you release your parking brake as well.

Xenon Headlights
EJY, I don't think they'd sell "fake" lights at the dealership.

luvintel · October 2001

try keeping the lights in the on position. This will light up the dash when you start car.

oilers1 · October 2001

"Xenon" headlights are not just the bulbs, but a completely different lighting system known as high intensity discharge (HID). The xenon lights you saw are just blue coloured bulbs, which depending upon where you live are probably illegal.

pbc · October 2001

Thanks, had no idea.

kamau · October 2001

there were some earlier postings on upgrading solara wheels and i hope you don't mind a tardy question...

how can you be sure that what you buy will not rub against the strut or fender? i live in hawaii and will probably need to order wheels from the mainland. i'd hate to order, wait, install and then be disappointed. i am leaning towards buying the trd set, just to have peace of mind. any info will be greatly appreciated.

thanks, kamau
'99 Twilight Blue Pearl LE 5sp V6 46k mis and counting...

ejy · October 2001

Unfortunately, unless you know someone who tried a particular size on an identical car, it is very hard to change wheel & tire size. Some tire shops have a great deal of experience and know what will work - others will pull out a sizing guide from either the tire or wheel manufacturer. In my experience, your results may very with these - especially if you start playing with your suspension (TRD package...) because the books only have 'stock' recommendations. Ex: I put 215/60/16s in place of the OEM 205/60/16s because Michelin doesn't make the tire I wanted in the OEM size. The overall diameter is 26.1579" vs. 25.685" (OEM) and they fit fine - but the books say they won't fit the car. Instead they recommend 205/55s which have a diameter of 24.877" and look tiny on the car. The other problem, which you won't have if you switch wheels, is the 16x6 stock wheels won't take a tire much wider than a 215 (maybe 225, but I doubt it to still be safe) and you would need to go to a 16x7 wheel. Now you have to worry about the tire scraping the inside of the fender well because of the overall width. In my opinion ( & some experience ) the max the car will support in overall size is a 225/60/16 on a 16x7 wheel, slightly smaller being better.

Check out this site for a better comparison

nori10 · October 2001

I have ~30000 miles on my solara, and I did a automatic transmission oil change a year or so ago. Is it nessacary I change my it at 30000?
Thanks

SEV6

gdanczyk · October 2001

I guess the first question would be, why did you change your transmission oil last year with less than 30K miles on your car? I don't have the Owners Manual with me right now, but I'm pretty sure that the Automatic Transmission Oil Change is recommended at 60K miles. Can anyone check their Owners Manual?

ejy · October 2001

You can't go wrong if you follow the manual and don't let the dealer push you into extra's. However, if you want to be super safe - new fluids more often can never hurt - if you can afford it. Its like using $5/qt oil and changing it every 3k miles. Expensive, unnecessary, but safe. Personally, I change my $5/qt oil every 4-5k miles - to be safe - yet others wait 10k miles using the same oil...

Like I said in my earlier posts, I am unsure if I needed new tranny oil and new coolant (per the manual - as I still haven't looked), but the dealer made what I consider a reasonable arguement and I had enough cash in my pocket to cover it. Bottom line: use the manual and know your personal budget for 'extras'.

bubblegirlx · October 2001

I just bought a 2001 Solara SLE V6, the manual sez not to go over 55mph for the first 1000 miles! I get varying the speed and not peeling rubber (rpms) but I am crawling down the road being passed by grandmas in Hyundais! Is the reason for the recommendation fuel economy? Can I go 60 without destroying my car's future (I am planning on keeping the car forever)? Any information that you all might provide will be most appreciated. Thanks!

webguyster · October 2001

Does anyone agree or disagree about changing the red coolant at 30,000 service. It should be long life, right? I know this has been rehashed, but I just did 30,000 mile service, and declined the collant change. I did do the tranny service, although it was under extreme driving conditions. What do you guys(gals) think???

radracer · October 2001

you don't need to do a yearly flush, but a fluid change is good to extend your tranny's life. auto trannies will fail on you much sooner than your engine will.

automophile · October 2001

bubblegirlx -
Although many will tell you otherwise, breaking in your new car for 1000-1500 miles is REALLY IMPORTANT!

Your new car has zillions of moving parts that need to "get to know each other" to break in and wear in slowly. If you go fast when they are new and not perfectly fitted to each other, they get HOT and the surface hardens. Then, they will NEVER wear in perfectly. The result is poor gas mileage, lousy performance and increased oil usage for the life of the car.

Again, there are those that say it is not necessary, that their car runs fine without breaking it in, but how do they know how good it COULD be running? I have tried it both ways, and paid with horrible gas mileage until my lease was up. My '97 ES300 was broken in VERY carefully, and not only ran perfectly and silently, it gave me 30 mpg on the highway! This is amazing for this car. I did the same for my Solara, and it also runs great and efficiently.

It is cheap insurance with no downside, unless you have a shallow ego and can't stand being passed by the grannies. Keep the foot light for 1500 miles, and you will be glad you did later.

irontiger · October 2001

Hi. I plan on buying a Solara SLE and have a couple of questions. How is the gas milage with this car? How many miles do you drive before you have to gas up again? How many days go buy before you gas up (assuming that you are using it daily)? Thank you

norcalmike2 · October 2001

Hi folks,

I was reading some prior posts and I saw a reference to a "rocking" seat problem. My electric driver seat tends to rock. I took my car to the local dealer and the service guy just stood there and scratched his head. Anybody out there know what the fix may be for this problem so I may enlighten the Toyota service people?

Thanks very much for any input.

radracer · October 2001

I average 20mpg of mixed driving. my best highway was 30mpg, and my worst city of 15mpg. there's a big gas tank (18.5g), so you can go 350-400 miles before the light turns on.

decon · October 2001

I hear a rattling noise when I am moving at 30mph+. It sounds like leaves are caught in my dashboard. The sound is gone when I am moving slow or at a stop light.

Any ideas what could cause this?

hambone32 · October 2001

When I have the volume turned all the way down on my JBL stereo there is a noticeable hiss. It does it whether the tuner or CD is selected. It's like the amplifier is really noisy. Because the Solara is really quiet inside, it gets on my nerves. Has anyone else noticed this problem? I was considering having the head unit replaced while it's under warranty. Other than that, I really like the car. I just got it. When I was car shopping I test drove the Solara and liked it, but was a little undecided. The salesman told me to head down the block to the Honda dealer right away and drive the Accord coupe, its only real competition. I really have to say that the Solara was substantially more comfortable than the Honda. There really is no contest between the two. You would have to really enjoy a bumpy ride to like the Accord. Also, the new 4 cylinder motor is now adequately powered, and should be suitable for all but those who demand the exceptionally smooth and powerful V6. After months of shopping, I am confident that the Solara was not only the best choice, but also the most comfortable car for it's price.

Toyota Solara

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