Toyota Solara

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Comments

  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    I believe the new Solara is due for the 2004 model year, whereas the Accord coupe will be redesigned next year.
  • hambone32hambone32 Member Posts: 68
    That's great! A chain is mo' better.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Yeah, but you have a V6, and I'm possibly getting a V6 (yeah I know, after saying it isn't that great... ironic isn't it). I wonder if the Lexus V6 has a chain.
  • oilers1oilers1 Member Posts: 17
    I'm in Edmonton. I'm interested in selling it soon as I am looking for a 4 door, possibly an Altima or Maxima. 70k km (highway) on it. Ummmm no sludge as far as I know-have always run it on synthetic (Mobil1). Extra set of rims w/snow tires, tint, 3M protective film on hood...Where are you?
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Good to know that you haven't had any problems with your Solara. I went to a nearby dealership tonight and asked the service manager if he saw a lot of 3.0L V6s with a sludge problem. He said he once saw this kind of problem on a Sienna V6, but it was because the owners didn't change their oil at the recommended intervals.

    I understand about switching to a 4-door. I'm single, and I hardly ever have more than 1 passenger, so having a 4-door isn't a huge thing for me. Room is more important to me than having an extra set of doors.

    I'm in Ottawa, and we just got our first snow of the season yesterday, yet it's supposed to melt away tomorrow.
  • scsolarascsolara Member Posts: 47
    This is not you average Toyota!

    Go here to take a look:

    http://users.ev1.net/~gunpilot/misc/bigboost.jpg
  • AnakinAnakin Member Posts: 410
    Blowing up your engine has never been so easily monitored. ;^)
  • evaddaveevaddave Member Posts: 156
    Anyone else notice the speedo over 60 mph and the gas gauge on almost empty? What a time to snap a photo! :)
  • decondecon Member Posts: 56
    I finally got my driver's rocking seat fixed. I have a 2000 SLE. First, the dealership service center had to make sure there was a problem. The tech said "railings have excessive play". I had to come back 2 weeks later after the part was ordered and arrived. I had to go back a 3rd time because they put my seat belt release backwards.

    Before my seat would rock upon acceleration or deceleration or going up hills.

    If you are still under warranty, get it fixed!
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    I'��������m very proud to say that I'm the owner of a 2000 Toyota Solara SE V6! I went to the dealer yesterday, and I absolutely loved the car. There were no steering pulls and no carpet defects. All the scheduled maintenance on the car was done on time at the dealership where I bought the car, and the dealer gave me a very good price on both the car and my trade-in. I should be picking it up on Tuesday after work. I'm extremely happy with all of this. I couldn't believe how quiet and comfortable this car is! The V6 is really smooth, as it was mentioned here. Thanks to everyone here for giving me a list of things to check for.
  • scsolarascsolara Member Posts: 47
    Also notice the folks in the side mirror. I just left a light and was in the middle of 3rd gear. Not too smart to play over 70 or so on public roads in Houston. I'll wait for the track to get the good stuff.
  • jia1jia1 Member Posts: 7
    Finally got rid of my 99 SLE and bought a 92 Mercedes 400E, had considered some earlier model BMWs, but they just don't last as long as Mercs.

    For a significant less amount of money, considering handling, performance, build quality and comfort, this 10 year old Mercedes is still better than that 99 Solara, it's even quiter than Solara, and it offers much more convinient features as well.

    Though reliability may not be as good as Toyota, this is not a big problem since I am a DIY, I don't expect too much from a ten year old car on that. 400E is such a joy to drive, fast like jet plane, curves like it is on rail, stable like a rock even at speed above 180 km/hr, I dare not even try that in a Solara and afraid it gonna fly at any speed above 140 km/hr.

    Again I don't mean to offend Solara owners(some Solara owners seem very sensitive to negative comments), Solara is a reliable daily commuter just like Camry, to someone it even looks "sexy". But for those who requires much more from a car, it then becomes a very boring car. Solara was the only Japanese cars that I have owned, and probably was the last, because they all drives the same anyway.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    jia1-

    Most cars these days are boring unless you're loaded and can afford some exotic foreign job. I'd rather have boring and reliable anyday as opposed to great looking, but always in the shop especially if you're NOT a DIY!

    Compared to some other cars on the road, I think the Solara is very nice looking. Evidently it didn't suit you. Hope you have good luck with the 10 year old. It's probably good that you're a DIY.

    fastdriver
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    but I have no idea what a DIY is.

    I think the Solara is one of the best looking cars that are currently built. Mercedes is a nice car, but it's just not my type.
  • jia1jia1 Member Posts: 7
    I am in Ottawa, tried hard to sell my 99 SLE, eventually ended in travelling to Toronto and sold it to a dealer in Toronto as a trade in. It was loaded with everything, bought it for about 32K + tax, it had been barely driven, only 20k km on it, I got 21.5k for it. I probably could get 2k more if I sell it privately.

    Solara is reliable and it does look cool to someone, wife is one of them, but even she hates its awful handling. I once raced with my colleagues in a large empty parking lot, I got beaten by their stock BMW325 and a font wheel drive SABB 9-3, My solara drove like peanut butter, it couldn't even stay on the track.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Sounds like you upgraded your Solara... did you?

    I actually wasn't looking for a superb road racer. I just want a comfortable car that can soak up the bumps with a sporty and even a bit elegant look. The Solara meets all these requirements.

    Where did you buy your Solara? I bought it at Bel-Air. They really treated me well.
  • graham8graham8 Member Posts: 4
    Still can only find 1 4 cyl. with ABS which is 800 miles from here. That is the only advantage of the Accord over Solara that I can find. Anyone else think holding out for ABS is worth it? Thanks.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    is definitely worth it if you drive in slippery/icy conditions. If at all possible, I wouldn't have a car without ABS.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    Canc-

    LOL.... It took me a few minutes to figure it out too. DIY= Do It Yourself!!!

    fastdriver
  • jia1jia1 Member Posts: 7
    I didn't upgrade it, when I bought it, it was the first model year, so the price was a little bit higher at that time.

    I bought the car in Toronto then moved to Ottawa, Toyota dealer(Tony Graham)wanted to give me 20K for my Solara, hehe, 20K, you probably don't want to hear that.

    See you on the road.
  • scsolarascsolara Member Posts: 47
    I have had Corvette, Lexus, Ferrari, and Porsche owners all get in my car and give great reviews. From the outside, the car is deceiving. They have all been in the back seat and had plenty of leg room. Of course the supercharger with 7psi boost made them gasp at the power of this Toyota V-6. For the money I believe the comfort, reliability, and performance can not be beat.
  • evaddaveevaddave Member Posts: 156
    What is the other gauge in your picture? I can't make out any of the text on it. Is it even a real gauge, or is it just a placeholder?

    Thanks.
  • scsolarascsolara Member Posts: 47
    The lower one is an air/fuel ratio meter. It lets me know if the car is running lean, stochiometric (perfect), or rich. You can see a little green bar about 90 degrees to the right on the guage. This is indicating a rich mixture while I am at WOT. It is reading off of the o2 sensor. Since the Solara has 2 sensors, I am reading off of the rear bank because it tends to run leaner than the front bank. With the info I get from this and a dyno, I use my APEXi super air flow converter (mounted by my ashtray) to richen or lean the mixture as needed at certain RPMs and throttle positions.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Hey, after all that tech talk, I guess we should've been looking for the "Batmobile thruster" button somewhere... ;)
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    LOL! Thanks for clearing that up... I was wondering what the heck that was.

    Jia: 20K for your Solara isn't bad, but you were right when thinking you could get more by selling it privately. Tony Graham was probably asking you 20K so that they could sell it for 22K or similar for profit. It's a 1999 right? How many kms. do (or did) you have? Tony Graham is a nice dealership, but it's way in the west end, and I hardly ever go there. That's one of the reasons why I dealt with Bel-Air.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    IT has arrived! The Zaino ZFX is here! Already placed my order. http://www.zainobros.com

    fastdriver
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    IT has arrived! The Zaino ZFX is here! Already placed my order. http://www.zainobros.com

    fastdriver
  • qibbleqibble Member Posts: 26
    Hello all,

    I busted my right turn signal recently and I'm trying to find a replacement. I want to buy one for cheap and install it myself. Can one of you point me in the right direction?

    Thanks.

    99SE
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    I finally got my Solara yesterday... it's so smooth and is a great pleasure to drive. I can't wait to get back in this baby again tonight!
  • stevenhbstevenhb Member Posts: 4
    I have to say that to use a 0/100 grading scheme on a survey where there are five options is absurd.

    In general, when I answer a survey, the top score is used only when the service or product is/was way better than I had any right to expect. Usually, the service provider doesn't have the opportunity to demonstrate this level of service (e.g. going in and getting an oil change where the process occurs exactly as I expected will generally get 4 out of 5).

    We got questions from the dealership where we bought my wife's Caravan. We were happy with the competent service, had no specific complaints and filled out the survey as I described above. I did notice that the dealership had a sample completed survey with perfect scores (which always pisses me off).

    Someone needs to tell the people who grade the surveys and reward the dealerships and their staff that they are using a ridiculous algorithm for grading.

    When the dealerships feel compelled to tell you how to complete the survey because they have so much riding on it, or when they treat you like [non-permissible content removed] for filling it out wrong, the survey is being administered incorrectly.
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    Let me share with you the sad truth about the survey grades. Some of this depends on the region so let me explain both systems. In most of the country, there are actual grades ranging from 100% to 0%. An answer of "satisfied" is graded as 80%, "completely satisfied" is 100%. The trick is, the salesman is expected to maintain an overall grade of 94%.

    In other regions, only "completely satisfied" scores are looked at. Anything less than that is considered failure. They have a lower threshold (I think about 85%) of what they are expected to maintain. I know the Southeast Region uses this but I don't know about other areas.

    The surveys are VERY important to your salesman. There are all kinds of awards, bonuses and trips that are tied to his CSI score. For a good salesman (over 175 cars a year), this can mean a difference of over $10,000 a year on average. There is extreme pressure to keep the scores high.

    It isn't fair. Your survey should be accurate, but the salesman has reason to ask you to have compassion for him. If you want to help him out, give him the scores he needs. If you were less than completely satisfied, there is a method to bring it to the dealer's attention without hurting him on the survey. Call 800-GO-TOYOTA and express your concerns after you get the CSI call.
  • stevenhbstevenhb Member Posts: 4
    I hear everthing that you are saying. I repeat my suggested fix: get Toyota USA or whoever administers these surveys to be more realistic. It the survey becomes such an issue that there is real incentive for me to be less than candid in responding to it, then the survey is not doing what it should be doing (which is telling Toyota USA what kind of job is being done by the dealerships and the sales people).

    Of course, if the purpose of the survey is to allow Toyota's national advertising to boast high customer satisfaction numbers, then the current system is probably appropriate.

    This is not the first nor do I suspect it's the last survey that is used inappropriately. I'm familiar with internal employee satisfaction surveys at some US companies whose results are similarly important. And the result is the same: management puts a lot of pressure on the staff to answer the survey "correctly."
  • curlyqcurlyq Member Posts: 54
    I completely understand cliffy1 comments. I would like to add that if Toyota's National Customer Service 800# actually solved customer complaints, cliffy's suggestion regarding the surveys would make sense. However, my experience with them over the past 8 years is that they are useless and a waste of time. Toyota still has a long way to go in providing "completely satisfactory" customer service.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Does anyone here use a kind of ethanol-blended gasoline in their Solara V6? Ethanol-blended gasolines here have an octane rating of 89, but I was wondering if some here had experiences with it before I put it in my car.

    Thanks!
  • stevenhbstevenhb Member Posts: 4
    The gas stations in my area say that their gas contains ethanol. I've not noticed any effect whatsoever.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    cliffy1-

    LOL... As I was reading stevenhb's comments about those infamous surveys, I thought of you immediately and was wondering if you were still around. As I got to the end of his message, my question was answered.

    I know this came up a long time ago. I understand everything you said at the time about these surveys, when I expressed my opinion. You have to understand, that my point of view was coming from dealing with Chrysler's "award-winning 5 STAR" dealers- three of them! Two of them weren't even worth -5 STARS! AWFUL! I filled out the surveys for exactly the way I was treated and dealt with. It's obvious that their lack of following the "5-STAR" guidelines and my not so glowing comments, did NOT affect them at all. They still tout those 5 stars in their ads. I'm SURE I wasn't their ONLY dissatisfied customer. I understand that there are a lot of nuts out there who expect Rolls Royce perfection on a Corolla like car, but I'm not one of those people!

    Speaking of Corollas- I also have a 1994 Corolla, 38,000 miles with the small engine. ONLY thing ever done to that car since 94, except regular oil changes/radiator flushing/transmission fluid/filter, was last year- a new battery and 4 new tires and 2 MINOR recall notices! That's it. Everything else is original equipment. Plus, it sits outside 24/7 because the Acura CL-S has to go in the garage at night! ;-)) This car certainly has Rolls Royce reliability!

    I probably should replace the spark plugs and wires. ;-))

    fastdriver
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    Well, quite honestly, the survey has about as much impact as the 800 contacts as far as the dealer goes. The only difference is that the 800 contacts don't hurt the salesman, while the survey does.

    Mind you, if your salesman is a jerk, torpedo him. I am NOT in favor of giving a "completely satisfied" score is the salesman doesn't do his job. What I am in favor of is granting him a favor if something happens in the deal that is not his fault. For instance, if the finance guy is a jerk and you answer honestly, the salesman gets knocked for something that is not his fault. This isn't fair to you or the salesman, but this would be an example of telling a white lie on the survey but still using the 800 service to voice a concern.

    The same holds true for the "condition at delivery" question. You are asked if there were any problems at time of delivery. The following question asks if the problem was corrected to your satisfaction. Only the first question reflects on the salesman's score. So, if you purchased the car after normal hours and you didn't get a full tank but returned the next day and go the gas, a normal person would say that everything was NOT right at time of delivery. Since this is a yes or no question, the salesman's score automatically drops to 83% even if the rest of the survey is perfect.

    Again, don't reward the guy if he doesn't deserve it. If he does, I just want you to understand what he is going through.
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    I've recently had a request to create a Toyota Camry Owners Club. Would you be interested in being included, or would a Camry Solara Owners be more to your liking?

    Please send me an email with your thoughts/comments.

    Thanks!

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Clubs
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    I think they should be separte. People who driver 4 door, and 2 door cars are not the same breed. 4 doors, are generally for breeders, or family people, loving kind, and used to being used, and walked all over. The 2 door cars, ie. Solara, are more for the self induldgent type. I think they should be separate forums.
  • mikey700mikey700 Member Posts: 2
    '99-01 Solaras... thought SOME of you might be interested! Have any ideas? www.teamsc3.com Happy hoolidays!


    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=598962843

  • stageman1stageman1 Member Posts: 4
    I love my 2000 Solara.

    I hate the wipers. Specifically, the blades/inserts. I've already had them replaced once under warranty because the original set fell apart after about 8 months. I think the current set is on its way--they leave streaks on every pass.

    I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions about decent blades I can replace the current ones with that will work better. I'm also open to treatments for the windows themselves....

    Thanks,
    Brad
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    The blades are somewhat an unspoken problem. We have all discussed our likes, and dislikes, but no one has addressed the wiper blade inserts. They stink. I have replaced mine, too. I have 31,000 and replaced mine last winter. I have never replaced blades on a car b4, as I usually replace the car before the little things wear out. A different, or better quality blade would be nice. As foe now, they are only a couple of bucks, for the inserts, but, TOYOTA, Wazzup???
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Please, there's no real reason in blaming Toyota for cheap wiper blades. You can buy them at a PepBoys for $5, so what's the big deal? I'd rather have Toyota skimp on wiper blades than on the exhaust system or likewise.

    I love my Solara too... it's the smoothest and quietest car I've ever driven. For those who remember, I got it last week and drove over 500 kms. with it since then. I washed it for the first time last night, and I really like the Diamond White Pearl paint. The dirt doesn't really show up on it as quickly as a darker color, plus the paint has a shimmering effect. I also put "Turtle Wax Emerald Series Professional Tire Dressing" on the tires, and it does a superb job. I hadn't tried it before, but it gives the tires a slick effect. It's a gel I put on the tires, which is nice because there isn't I don't get overspray on my wheels.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    I know this may sound like a strange question, but the Toyota V6 is so smooth that I can't even feel it (or hardly at times) upshift! When coming slowly to a stop, however, I do feel it downshift a bit (it does downshift smoothly though). Is this normal? I know the transmission does have to go back to 1st, but everything else about the car is so smooth that maybe I'm just paying too much attention to this.

    Other than that, I can't get enough of driving my Solara. Wow, it's so smooth and quiet, but has plenty of power. A superb car.
  • hambone32hambone32 Member Posts: 68
    Oh, how jaded we are now that we have a Solara. You do know that if you got the Honda Accord, you would be feeling every shift and wouldn't be worrying about this.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    LOL you're probably right.

    Hambone, do you put premium or regular in your V6 Solara?
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    Take a look here-

    http://www.auto.com/industry/iwirv17_20011117.htm

    Watch out where you put those keys or it could cost you a small fortune.

    fastdriver
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    I know this discussion has died, but last week, the hot topic here was dealership and salesman handling of the Toyota surveys. They can really hurt the salesman under the current system, but that system is about to change.

    Starting May 1, 2002, salesmen will not be held accountable for the surveys. The store will, but they will be blind surveys, meaning neither the name of the customer, nor the name of the salesman will be included in the reports. The survey questions will also change to reflect customers satisfaction with the process, rather than the individuals.

    This may start sooner in other regions, but here in the Mid Atlantic, May 1 is the start date. No further details are currently available. I just thought you all might like to know.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    cliffy1-

    You only get that initial survey about delivery/dealership buying experience once. If the OTHER salesman would just realize that we ALL talk in boards like this and that we are all BETTER armed with prices/statistics/financing/rebates etc. all they have to do is be honest and their CSI will be fine. It's all the "tactics" they use that drives people crazy i.e. are you buying today- this offer is only good now- let me ask the manager- I'll be right back etc.

    I'm MORE concerned with their SERVICE than if the car had spots on the windows when it was delivered. Those are the surveys that should have the most clout.

    fastdriver
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    I wish what you said were really the case. Under the current system, it isn't. The salesman can be as honest as the day is long, but if the finance guy makes one mis-statement, or there is one scratch on the bumper, or if the customer slips on the floor and wont reccomend the dealership because of it, the salesman is punished.... severely. I've given several examples of how in previous posts. I'll be glad to see this new system that rates the processes. I think customers will be more willing to be honest when they know it will not hurt the salesman in the wallet.

    Salesmen will be more honest as well. No longer will they have to coach the customer into giving "completely satisfied" scores.
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