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Coupes & Convertibles Toyota Solara Toyota Solara
3934 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 10:27 AM
You are in the Toyota Solara Forum. Your Host is claires
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You really can't go wrong with either car. My opinion on both cars is that the Honda is more performance-oriented, whereas the Solara is luxury-oriented. Ask around here. Most people (including myself) say that it feels like a Lexus. It's been tested as having the same noise levels as the 1999 ES 300. I chose the Solara over the Accord because I liked the looks better of the Solara over the Accord, Toyota reliability, and quietness/smoothness of the car. Oh, and the AMAZING sound system! I'm not afraid of the sludge monster, and paint chips are unfortunately part of owning a car. Change the oil like you should, and get a bottle of paint for the chips. One thing I noticed: If you plan on getting the V-6, the Solara likes premium (it'll run fine on regular, but the owner's manual states using premium for "improved performance"), whereas the Honda V-6 actually hates premium. A recent Car and Driver article noted that there was a decrease in performance in the Honda engine after using premium vs. regular. I don't know why this happened (maybe some of you would care to explain), but it might cost you a few less pennies with the Honda. And yes, I have the "chugging" thing with my car, but overall I'd buy the Solara again. It's a minor problem but the dealership should have it fixed soon (I hope!) It's really a great car nonetheless. Tell us what you'll choose. |
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| Over the weekend, I had several combinations of driving conditions to create the 70mph chugging, and to no avail. I had the top up or down, AC on or off, cruise on or off, and even over a gas refill. I use the ol' "cheap" gas. No chugging, no clunking. I have quite a few paint chips and should get some touch-up. I change the oil myself every 3,000 so sludge-a-matic shouldn't be a problem. I have only had to take it to the dealer for the subwoofer to be replaced. With 13,500 miles on my 2000 red/camel convertible, I'm looking forward to many years of driving pleasure....if I could just get the "top down" weather to cooroperate. | |
| Have had '99 Solara 3 years end of August. Absolutely no problems (no sludge, no chugs, no more paint problems than any other car we've had). High quality, great-looking and super hiway cruiser. Would definitly buy again. We do run premium gas - seems to be a small price to pay. | |
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Chugging/sludge/spongy brakes - I haven't experienced these within my 40K/2 years of owning a V-6 SE. Chips - yes, most of which happened my first year of ownership. Recommendation: buy the touch-up paint. Other recommends: Mimi, WEbG, Canc, and CoolDude all have valid points about their cars. Realistically, have you test-driven everything in the same price class? You might want to also consider: Seabring, Stratus R/T, Altima, Infiniti G35, or even a used BMW - although I haven't researched reliability on the new R/T or new Altima. Versus the 2003 Honda Coupe... well, the Edmunds editors thought it was a good ride, but not sporty. Are you going with the auto tranny or stick? You should test-drive both, preferably back-to-back in order to compare the two... personally, I think the Honda coupe looks a little bleah/boring. Good luck! |
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| Thanks for conducting those tests. The wierd thing is that it always does it when I've driven my car for a while. Maybe I'm just going insane. You said though that you drove at 70 mph. Mine chugs at 70 KM/H. | |
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Yeah, I realized after I did the test that it was not at the same speed at which you have had the problem. I will keep that in mind though. You state that it does it after a while, I wonder if outside tempretures have any effect on this time. And to anyone....what's the highest speed (in MPH or KMH) that you've driven?? I've been up to 85mph, cruising, and it just sailed right along. 
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If you followed much of the threads, from Part 1-6, then you will have read in the beginning loving my car, to well, thinking of it as basic transportation. I have a 00 SE package 4E 38,000, miles, 2 years 6 months old, and everything that could break, did, except the coin box!?! Now, I may have got a lemon, and almost everything is replaced that was aggravating. It is an American car, designed in California, and built in Ontario!!! :^) Between the 2 cars, having owned a Solara, the only reason I would buy another Toyota is for the local dealers hours, and parts availability. They have everthing, until midnight. Otherwise I would not recommend the Solara, at least for anything near the sticker price. Take a $25,000 + MSRP, and get it for $15 to $18, then great! As far as the sludge problems, I believe most people were not fearfull or outraged as much, that they would get sludge, following the service manual, as should it happen, that Toyota would not back there warranty, even with proof, following their recommended oil change intervals, having left many, many people disgruntled. It is fast, and peppy, for a small car, and I like the curb appeal. But for the price, I don't believe it to be a good value, unless you get a GREAT deal. Paint chips, down to bare metal, do not make for a good quality vehicle, unless you trade every few years, and I am not aware, from my dealings with Toyota in Torrance CA, of any changes in paint production, outside of the engine changes, to make it less sludgeable. Window seals seem to be leaking air, and it is time to replace them or try silicon spray. Car was quiet as a tomb before, now just whistles on the highway. Factory 8 speaker JBL is good for a factory stereo! Advise about black cars in general, unless you baby your car, and it is garage kept, don't do it! IMO, it looks best in black and white, but black shows every flaw! Other colors are more forgiving. |
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My 1999 Solara SLE has a clunk in the rear end when I go over bumps at slow speeds and is especially pronounced when going around a right-hand-corner. I sounds like something is loose or the suspension is loose. I have checked the spare tire, the jack and the trunk lid and everything seems fine. Anyone have this problem? Is there a way to just search THIS message board for specific words? Thanks! Jim in Ohio |
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| Being that you are out of warranty, it may turn out to be ANYTHING! After trying to get feedback about issues with my Solara from THIS site, I suscribed to ALLDATA.com, when I had multiple problems with my Solara, and it proved helpful when explaining the problems to the service advisor...like saying, "I have a clunk when going around a corner, and I have the TSB for that problem, or similar problem. Would you please check that, without charging me the $75.00 inspection fee, Mr. Toyota service guy???" | |
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Does this apply to your car... Recall 00V154000: Rear Axle Hub Failure Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. Due to improper heat treatment, the rear axle may not have adequate strength in some areas. After extended use of the vehicle, the rear axle shafts could fail or break. Dealers will inspect and replace the rear axle hub assemblies. Owner notification is expected to begin late June or early July 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). |
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