Toyota Camry Solara

Price Paid:  $13000.00 from Mossy Toyota San Die

Year / Model Reviewed:
2001 Solara SE black 4cyl 5spM

Summary:
I traded in my 94 Tercel for the Solara in 2006. I got the 2001 Solara SE with 5 speed maual. My Tercel had almost 200K miles and was an excellent car.

3 days after I got the Solara I brought it in for a brake problem. Turned out to be the Master Cylinder. 8 months after that had a loud sound under the car--turned out to be the exhaust system. Then 4 months ago the car wouldn't start. Towed to dealer 3X--couldn't figure it out. After several weeks finally figured it out (A1C valve). All these covered under my extended warrantly.

Mileage when I bought the car was 44K. It had 57K when I totalled it last Monday in a very bad car accident.

I had both my kids in the back seat and we were T Boned at an intersection. Other car was going about 30MPH and I was going about 10MPH. Both air bags deployed, side impact door beam held, and my 2 kids and I walked away with only minor injuries (bruising, black eyes, airbag burn for me).

I am very happy with the safety of the Solara. It did what it was supposed to and what was promised.

As far as reliability--I'm actually looking at other cars than Toyota's for my next car. I was not overly impressed with the fact its been back to the Dealer at least 8X in 20 months. My Tercel had $4K of work over almost 200K miles--ALL routine. Best car I ever owned.

Overall though I can recommend the Solara. Its a dream to drive, very stable, solid. Interior is luxurious (back plastic cup holders were cheap as is the console box but everyhing else was awesome!). I had the premium sound, spoiler and the moonroof--all really gave that extra pizzaz to the car. Cloth seats stained easily---if I ever bought another one I'd buy the leather.

Trunk was very spacious---in fact I'm worried about fitting all the Solara trunk items into the Kia Sorrento that I rented until I buy a new car!

RIP to my baby.

Strengths:
Classy luxurious looking and feeling car
A/C was awesome
Safety was TOP NOTCH
Sound system JBL Premium was great--best I've ever had in any car
Lots of room in the back seat
All features were good quality except the console between the front 2 seats and the back cup holders
Holds it resale value

Weaknesses:
Reliability wasn't what I expected
Seats stained very easiy
5SpManual clutch good but after 45 minutes in traffic my leg was sore--I live in SOCal so LOTS of traffic

Similar Products Used:
None--always had trucks or compact cars

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.43 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $21444.00 from Mel Grata Toyota

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 solara

Summary:
What can I say? This car rocks. It's my first brand new car and I can honestly say that I have been very happy thus far. This is the kind of car that you look at and expect to pay a lot more for. There are very few on the road because the 4 door camry is apparently Toyota's "bread and butter." I have a silver sport coupe but it's cool in red. Just go get it.

Strengths:
Sporty styling Great gas mileage Roomy Interior Excellent acceleration for a 4 cylinder Very smooth transmition Cabin is quiet

Weaknesses:
Not sure why there are two different colors between the instrument panel and the radio/temp gauges differ. Can't figure that one out. Feels a little heavy in hard turns

Similar Products Used:
1996 Grand Am 1999 Cougar

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $9000.00 from queens,new york

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 toyota solara sle v6

Summary:
overall the car is geart, but there is a problem with the emissions(like every one else)paid $1800 to fix it. runs great.

Strengths:
interior, the look of the car, music system.

Similar Products Used:
camry, celica

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $9000.00 from queens,new york

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 toyota solara sle v6

Summary:
overall the car is geart, but there is a problem with the emissions(like every one else)paid $1800 to fix it. runs great.

Strengths:
interior, the look of the car, music system.

Similar Products Used:
camry, celica

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $25000.00 from bernardie

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 v6 sle

Summary:
Owned car for 5 yrs. 60k on it now. Great car but brakes aren't the best even when new. Just had to get new pads and rotors on front. Odd banging noise when raining under floor and belt squeeks when humid. these problems since the day I brought it home. Cheap paint chipped like crazy. Powerful and responsive. Tires it came with were lousy. Check engine light on at 40k. needed new sensor. Solara is way above the camry in ride and interior appointments. More like a lexus.

Strengths:
Ride, interior, stereo

Weaknesses:
poor paint, VERY diffucult to get into back seat.

Similar Products Used:
camry