Toyota Solara

1…4344464849…77

Comments

  • 99solara99solara Member Posts: 51
    This is the one down fall of my 99 Solara. Otherwise I love the car. Great V6 with good low end torque nice shifting 5 speed and I like the JBL sound system.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    And don't go out drinking!!!

    My advice!

    It will always pull, and Toyota doesn't care!
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    What good it the low-end torque, V-6, and great JBL, if your car pulls to th left, into oncoming traffic and kills you?
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    That's a little mellow dramatic isn't it?

    Jason, if you have never had problems with the car "pulling" and this is a recent issue, there is every likelihood that it if correctable by an alignment. Others here have complained to chronic "pulling" from the day they purchased the car or shortly thereafter. Some of this is real and some of it is imagined. Letting go of the steering wheel while driving to see if the car drifts is the wrong way to check for alignment issues as most roads have a crown which sends the car down the crown (to the left if you are in the left lane).

    Take your car to an alignment shop if your dealer is unable to correct the issue to your satisfaction. Most dealers don't have the equipment or experience to correct serious alignment issues.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Real or imagined alignment problems!?! A car pulling left into oncoming traffic, mellow dramatic. A better word is dangerous. By the time people have purchased a Solara, they have already probably driven a variety of cars, old and new. This is not an entry level car. One cannot "imagine" a car pulling. It simply does, or it does not. The crown of the road only exacerbates this condition, as the car will tend to drive the straightest on the right hand side of the expressway, not in the middle, which would be the most level, and the pull is very strong in the left hand lane. My dealer, and alignment shops have not been able to correct the issue. After the dealer replaced there "lift", or alignment equiptment, and bragged about how expensive to was, they showed me what was out of spec, but like you said could not fix it. Ironically, there is no apparent uneven tire wear. I frequently drive rental cars, and have yet to drive one that tends to pull, like the Solara.

    My advice, don't buy a car that pulls period, and insist that you drive it, as you would normally, before purchasing it, such as on expressways and at higher speeds, instead of the typical neighborhood test drives, directed by the salesman.
  • hud116222hud116222 Member Posts: 46
    Hello all: I have been gone for quite some time; interesting to note the pulling issue is still at hand. Anyway, traded my 01 Red 5 speed SE V-6 for an 03 Black SLE V-6. Got tired of shifting!! :) At any rate, the ONLY thing I don't like about the new one is the fake wood interior trim is UGLY!!!!!!! My wife says it looks like baby poop. I am sure some of you know where I can find aftermarket parts to replace it?????

    Thank you.
  • 99solara99solara Member Posts: 51
    OK here is some added unknown to the issue. I had the ties rotated and balanced yesterday and the left pull is GONE. Right now the car has Dunlop Sp Sport A2 tires. I had this identicle situation occur with the original Bridgestones. Every other tire rotation had the left pull. Is this a tire manufacturing issue? Do I have a bad alloy wheel? Neither set has displayed any unusual wear pattern.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    I agree with you, the new wood trim color isn't the greatest. I like the darker wood trim, but the yellow wood trim stands out too much. I'm sure you could have it replaced as an aftermarket.

    Congrats on the new Solara! Do you find that the newly styled headlamps are even brighter than what you had on your previous Solara?
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Did you have an alignmentas well? I have found, as well as someone way back in the begining of the threads, that the roatations, alignemnts, inverting the tires etc., seems to help, but not 100%, and the pull quickly returns. I also have found, with my last alignment, that when the vehicle is aligned after decribing the pull, the "SAI" is way out of spec, noted as dangerous on the print out from the alignment machine. But aligning the car way of of spec, it does go straighter, for a while, not straight, but more straight, but again, the pull quickly returns. For the tech to need to align the vehicle out of spec, to where it is even noted on the print out as dangerous, before, and even worse (more out of spec) is disturbing.

    My 2 cents about the wood, use the dealer if you can for the replacment wood trim, if they can swap it with older, darker wood, as the aftermarket form Exoticwoods.com (I believe) did not fit properly. Also, I would not use the pre-application wipes, as it wil make it almost impossible to remove the fake wood later, should you decide it it too gaudy.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    cliffy1-

    " Letting go of the steering wheel while driving to see if the car drifts is the wrong way to check for alignment issues as most roads have a crown which sends the car down the crown (to the left if you are in the left lane)."

    Well, I hate to disagree with you, but while it may not be an "exact" science, it sure is a good indicator. When I had trouble with my good old Christine(99 300M) for 10 1/2 months, I could do the above with NO drift after I solved the problem with Goodyear! NEVER drifted again, left or right, on the same roads where it wanted to go left right into oncoming traffic or the Jersey barrier. ALWAYS had to concentrate or Christine would have been smashed- and that that's no exaggeration.

    fastdriver
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    The same goes for Christine-Solara-San. Let go of the steering-wheel, on the highway in Chicago, and end up smashed into a concrete barrier or on the EL tracks! Tires, however are not the case here!

    Next step, swap Michelins for Goodyears!?! :^)~
  • candyman85233candyman85233 Member Posts: 43
    I am looking for a convertible with a nice ride and decent power. I am 6'2" and 200 lbs and most seats feel too small to me in these convertibles. This is what I feel a luxury auto would have, is nice plush seats.

    I am currently considering the Volvo C70 HT, Saab 9-3, Chrysler Sebring Limited and Toyota Solara. I cannot afford new, so I am looking at probly a one year old car. The BMW 3 series is not a possibility as it is a rear wheel drive car (which doesn't mix with snow and ice well).

    I am subscribed to Edmunds town hall rooms in all 4 cars, but as I have read in this chat, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and choosing between these cars is very very difficult.

    I have test drove a C70 and was not impressed with the ride (seemed to feel every bump in the road). Test drove the 9-3 today and rode better than the C70 but with the wheels lawsuit and auto. tranny issues, am unsure about the value of this car. For the money, it seems like a used Sebring Limited is a great deal, but I haven't driven it yet. The Toyota has the reputation for quality, but it seems to be slacking lately with the convertible.

    Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
  • hud116222hud116222 Member Posts: 46
    I totally agree about the wood assessment. I have the general manager at my Toyota dealer searching for me to replace the wood. I don't think Toyota has come out with replacements for the '03 yet.

    The headlights DO seem brighter. It took me a couple of times at night to realize I needed to turn on the lights myself!!
  • silversolarasilversolara Member Posts: 113
    there is a separate forum for the Solara convertibles. having never driven either convertible, i would say test drive it back to back against the Seabring. my own feelings: i would lean towards the Seabring.

    if you are already trying the Volvo, but avoiding the BMW, is the Audi convertible exempt? or is it too small? i sat in one, and found myself driving with my knees...
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    You might do well with the Sebring. I expect the price could be right, if depreciation is Chrysler-esque. My sister is very happy with her 1.5 year-old Sebring ragtop, bought new.
    Don't know about your eventual resale value, though.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    I tested one when they came out. Lacks the quality brand identification, but drocv better than the Solara. The interior, was however, mucho cheapo, compared to the Solara. My opinion, wait for the new Solara!
  • candyman85233candyman85233 Member Posts: 43
    I saw the Solara Convertibles talk group, but it is a READ ONLY site. So am I missing something somewhere? Please send the link to the convertible Solara town hall group.
    Thanks
  • candyman85233candyman85233 Member Posts: 43
    Webguy-Did you test drive the NEW sebrings (from 2001-2003)? These are totally different than the originals.

    Is the Solara going to be re-done for 2004? Do you have any info on it, or links to that info?

    Thanks
  • candyman85233candyman85233 Member Posts: 43
    The Saga continues...

    Today, a buddy of mine has a BMW 330 coupe that he let me test drive. I like the way the key has the alarm and door control buttons, nice touch. I took it out on the highway and before I knew it, I looked at the speedo and I was doing 85! No way! But, it was rough ride, like a sports car.

    Then I went a test drove a Solara Convertible loaded. It was a nicer ride, smoother, however, even with the top up there was a noticable shake in the ride. Also, I could hear the wind hitting the top by the windshield (hard to describe). It has a great stereo system and the leather is nice. Then I put the top down and felt like my head was sticking above the windshield. It just feels like a 'small' car.

    I guess I am too picky, or there is something wrong with me. I can't believe I am the only one in the world that wants a nice convertible with plush leather seats and a nice ride. Although, I haven't test driven the Sebring yet. That will be on Friday.

    So until then...
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Hud: How come you have to turn the headlamps on yourself? Isn't there a sensor on top of the dash for that, or did they take this away on the remodeled Solara?

    Candyman: I have a friend that has recently bought a nice silver Chrysler Sebring. It looks great, although the interior plastics could be of a greater quality, considering how expensive this car can be. In comparison tests, the Sebring comes out the winner over the Solara, since the Sebring was built exclusively to be a convertible. With the Solara, Toyota just chopped off the roof. This obviously compromises structural rigidity.
  • jason4424jason4424 Member Posts: 3
    I like my new 2001 Solara SLE Convertible with only 4,688 miles! I bought it on Halloween. I didn't like the way the Sebring drove. I felt like I was driving a boring run of the mill, American car which I didn't trust. No "feel" to it relative to the Solara. The Solara is comfortable, drives nicely, and is roomy. The leather is also a lot better than in the Sebring.

    As you may have read, this is basically a Lexus ES 300 Convertible.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Glad you like your Solara, and hope it keeps making you feel good about your purchase! I side with Canc, about the Sebring, and Solara..."considering how expensive this car can be. In comparison tests, the Sebring comes out the winner over the Solara, since the Sebring was built exclusively to be a convertible. With the Solara, Toyota just chopped off the roof. This obviously compromises structural rigidity."

    From the closed Solara convertible posts, seems too many people had cowl shake, and wind problems. The place the fixed my hoods paint, had a Solara convertible sitting in there paint drying bay, cuz something happened to the convertible top, it got stuck, and needed to sit in there for a while to unstick it!?! I can only imagine what would have gone wrong had I purchased the Solara with the roof cut off!!!!

    ;^~
  • silversolarasilversolara Member Posts: 113
    i had hair past my shoulders when i bought my SE V-6, so the convertible wasn't really an option. boy, imagine the fun i could have in a Solara convertible now!

    ahhh... a drive to the beach with the top down...

    which color didja get, by the way, Jason?
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Anybody have ANY idea what the next generation Solara will look like? I have yet to see even 1 image, or a sneak peak.
  • hambone32hambone32 Member Posts: 68
    I also share the interest, with webguyster, in finding out more about the 2004 Solara. With its debut only months away, we should be able to find some pictures of it, along with other information. I think the members of Town Hall need to get to work on this. I am scouring the web for information. I like my current Solara, but I want some more power and a flashier design. Who wants a new one?
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    It's probably pretty terriffic, if Totota is keeping it under wraps. Toyota must have started manufacturing them, so we should see them soon.

    Has anyone seen this topic...

    A Tiny Design Flaw That Drives You Crazy

    on Edmunds. It is a small thread that seems to be all about Toyota!
  • hud116222hud116222 Member Posts: 46
    The 03 has a light switch which allows you to turn off the DRL's, OR run them. However, if you're using the DRL's the regular lights no longer come on when it gets dark as they did in earlier models. Personally, can't figure out why they did that. I KNOW there were lots of complaints about not being able to turn off the DRL's, but why eliminate the automatic lights?
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    The '02 Solaras have that same DRL switch set-up as the one you described for the '03.
    I like having the manual choice of no lights, DRL, or headlights.

    My guess: The auto feature was probably cut for cost reasons, possibly after figuring it was not a big selling point.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Make it difficult to park after a date on a cooool night too! Shut the car off, pull the brake, turn back on. Dumb!
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    Finally, we agree on something.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    webguyster & cliffy 1-

    LOL.... There is HOPE yet!!! ;-))

    fastdriver
  • hud116222hud116222 Member Posts: 46
    OK: I can live with the light situation. :) I inquired with my dealer about the UGLY fake wood trim in the 03's. They said they would change it out, but would take no responsibility for damage because of the strength of the glue used. Any ideas out there? Has anyone replaced their wood trim?
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    How horrible is the new fake wood? The 00 fake wood, was just gaudy enough, and fake enough to be acceptable, and almost funny, like drivin in grampas car. I did make the mistake of buying the aftermarket wood kit from exoticwoods.com, I believe, and this was horrible. I could have planned it a bit better, and shoud NEVER have used the wet wipes prior to installing the trim, as recomended. That glue stuck real hard and fast! I found out how easy it was to remove the clock, and the entire center black panel!?! I like it on the ashtray, however.

    The auto lights do make it difficult to do any illegal covert activities!!! Good car to let the stoner-teenage boy drive. LOL!!!
  • hud116222hud116222 Member Posts: 46
    From the description of your experiences, I think I will leave the ugly stuff in the car! How bad is it? I say it looks the color of mustard, and my wife says, as I previously posted, it IS baby poop. The car is so great I just can't see myself doing anything to mess it up, however. I think I will just tell people it is an exotic wood compound imported from Thailand. :)
  • jason4424jason4424 Member Posts: 3
    Silversolara: my convertible is gold with a black top.

    I was wondering if anyone else seemed to think the front seats of the Solara aren't very supportive. I'm only 28 and my back aches a little bit ever since I bought my car last month and I've NEVER had back problems. If anyone else has had similar experiences, what sort of things did you do about it? Also, check out Solaraguy.com if you haven't already for other people posting on Solara experiences.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    The little annoyances are starting. Just wait until something falls off the car!

    The seast are the same as the Camry, I believe. Not the greatest, but not bad. Only complaint about the seat, was the rockin' motion, that exacerbated pain I had from a fractured rib, a couple years ago, but otherwise comfortable. The "Ivory" upholstry is already looking worn.
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    You seem to be expressing glee that the guy has a potential problem with his car, imply there will be a lot more, but then you go on to say that the seats are decent???

    What's that they say, "Misery loves company"?
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Who are "THEY"??? Spacemen? the government??? the Girl Scouts??? ;^)

    No glee in anyones problems. Just making an observation, and using my experience to comment. First the car is a "Feel good" car. Then, it is like that movie with Tom Hanks, and Shelly Long, The Money Pit! A story of a young couple that finds a pretty home, and everything, EVERYTHING, in the house has a problem, and needs to be replaced or fixed!!! Good thing for the warranty on the car!

    I think the seats are comfy! The lumbar thingy is almost useless, but it's there.

    But if your not happy sittin' in the seats in your new car, how happy are you going to be with the rest of the car??? It's a Toyota, not something from Ikea one can just use a few times and toss away!!! ;)~
  • automophileautomophile Member Posts: 780
    The great seats in the Solara are the reason that I traded in my Lexus. They are definitely NOT the same as in the Camry, or in any other Toyota or Lexus car. The seats in my '99 Solara are about 3-4 inches longer than almost any other car seat, and have better thigh support than other seats. I found that the lumbar support needed to be at full, though. Perhaps only some Volvo seats and Audis with the Recaro sport seats are more comfortable to me.

    Maybe it is a matter of finding the right seating position with the new seats?

    By the way, My Solara is now 4 years old, with ZERO problems, no squeaks, no rattles, no repairs and even the original wiper blades. It is going to be hard to give it up when the lease expires.
  • rblelandrbleland Member Posts: 312
    ..with his Solara and loves to let everyone know about it. We have been hearing about his problems for months now. Most of us (1999 Solara SLEV6 coupe) have had zero or very few problems with the car. We just don't talk about it as much as those that have had problems.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    My wonderful Solara turned 50,000 kms. today. The chugging issue has been completely fixed, and the car is really a blast to drive. I filled up my car the other day (I'm getting 32 MPG so far) and when I turned it back on, I honestly thought it had stalled because it was so quiet. I put it in drive, thinking it wouldn't move if it had stalled, but sure enough, I started driving away. Dash lights would've lit up now that I think about it, but it's amazing how quiet this car really is. I look forward to driving this car many more miles.

    On a similar note, I also tried finding pictures of the new Solara but I couldn't find anything. I'll keep trying!
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    It's nice to occasionally hear that people are happy with their Solaras.
  • hud116222hud116222 Member Posts: 46
    I can't say enough about the 01 I had or now the 03. With both I constantly look for excuses to go to the store or ANYWHERE. It is the smoothest, most quiet car I have ever driven. I have not had a single problem, including NO PULL. JBL sound is awesome, seats are comfortable for me, etc. I am looking forward to many miles of driving pleasure.
  • stoosh95stoosh95 Member Posts: 14
    imagine a 2 door ES300 with funky organic tail-lights.
  • rubicon52rubicon52 Member Posts: 191
    Before I bought my Solara, I assumed that the seats were the same as the Camry seats. However, I noticed that Consumer Reports rated the Solara seats a grade higher than the Camry seats. Now that I have both a Solara and a Camry, I can definitely say that FOR ME the Solara seats are superior. I am much more fatigued after a trip in the Camry than I am in the Solara. However, I think the comfort of seats in general is an individual thing. Some people are comfortable in seats that produce back aches in others.
  • webguysterwebguyster Member Posts: 434
    Consumer Reports rated the Sienna one of the Best vans, too! They were the Toyotas with all the sludge problems. Seats are the same as Camry, different fabric.
  • cooldude1755cooldude1755 Member Posts: 22
    I enjoy driving my 2000SLE especially with the top down. The seats are just fine for me. This is a great car and I continue to get complements from total strangers. The only minor issue is that the black stoppers for the cup holder covers are transfering their color onto the cream colored covers.

    Hey Canc, you mentioned that you get 32MPG. Is this a typo? I get about 23MPG average for city and some highway.
  • silversolarasilversolara Member Posts: 113
    I've found that with the lumbar support set to full, i get a great, comfortable ride. i've done 8 hours (Pittsburgh & back) a couple of times, and outside of a need for a radar detector, have no comfort problems.

    yo dude selling your car - go to Camryman.org or Auto trader. your posts'll get deleted.

    closing in on 46K wonderful miles in my '00 SE V-6.
  • rubicon52rubicon52 Member Posts: 191
    You said:

    "Consumer Reports rated the Sienna one of the Best vans, too! They were the Toyotas with all the sludge problems. Seats are the same as Camry, different fabric."

    If you look at the Toyota sludge forums on Edmunds you will find that the Siennas were not the Toyotas with ALL the sludge problems. There were sludge problems on the ES300, Camry, RX300 and possibly others (all Toyota Motors products).
    The sludge problem, while a serious problem, never affected a large percentage of Toyotas. The Lexus LS400 has had well documented problems with leaking steering racks and expensive displays failing. Does that mean it is a bad car? No. Is it still one of the most reliable cars in the world? Yes.
  • canccanc Member Posts: 715
    Cooldude, in response to your recent post, it isn't a typo, but a lot of that mileage is highway (I'd say about 75-80%), and I use premium fuel (91 octane). 29-32 MPG is my average, and last time I fueled it was 32! It probably will go down a bit with winter though...
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.