Solara Newbie Guy in Chicago

[Frico]

I just became a member last night.
Before I bought my 2007 Black Solara SLE Conv I used to drive an Impala and a Monte Carlo. Both cars I love and I still have the Monte. But when I came around for getting a conv, I researched for close to a year. I came real close to buying a Saturn Sky Red Line. Then one day I came across the Toyota website. OMG!! I fell in love with the Solara. When I researched the Solara I knew that was the car for me. I will be using the Solara as an everyday car. So I knew I wanted front wheel drive(winter), V6, Power Top, and it can use reg gas. The Saturn Sky didnt have any of that. Plus with the Sky it was lower to the ground and with the Chicago potholes I would have fallen through to China. I had heard from the dealership that the 2007 will be the last year for Solara? Any truth to that?
I have added a few shots of my car. The one shot with the Chrome Billet Grille is one Im thinking about getting. Its just photoshopped. Let me know what you think of it. Thanks and Im Glad I found this place.

[Somedude]

I like the rear end of the car. it looks better than the Gen 2 rear end, not that the Gen 2 rear end is bad looking.

Welcome to the club.

[Biggi_e]

welcome to SG, nice photoshop of the grill.

[trdboy15]

lol Maybe chicago should start a "gen 2 solara vert club",

Welcome to the site there are two gen2 vert owners in chicagoland that are members here as well and they should pop up soon

[PhreakdOut]

Welcome.

You are one of the few Generation 2.5 owners we have here.

The grill looks good but not my tastes. I personally like a beautiful black ride like that to go all black. If this nice ride were mine to work with, id do the following.
- Black grill. (Possibly black out the grill you photoshopped)
- Black the chrome strip on the hood using vinyl decal. I did this on my Gen2 and it came out great. Very durable.
- Go for 19-20" black wheels with a polished lip
- 15% tint in rear and sides and 35% on the fronts.
- Black the tail lights
- Remove the TOYOTA, SLE and S O L A R A from the trunk. (Verify there are no holes under the Solara. The Gen 2 trunk lid with the Solara in cursive font had holes under the logo.) You're out of luck on the Toyota symbol on the trunk. That has holes for sure.)

Don't forget to check out the thread on the Elmhurst Car Show. Each year, we've had more and more SolaraGuys show up.

[QuickSEV6]

Welcome to SG!

Chicago is my hometown. I hope to make it back there sometime this summer.

I also had a Monte Carlo. Chevy did real good with that car, but I wanted a manual transmission and Chevy didn't offer one in the Monte and I can't afford a Corvette. So now I have a 2001 Solara SE V6 with a manual trans.

[Somedude]

you don't need to debadge the car. it looks nice already. I like the lettering " Solara" in the back.

If you want, maybe a nice set of shiny black wheels to improve the looks.

[SolaraBlue]

good choice!
welcome aboard

[anttarz]

Welcome!

[Solarafreek]

Welcome to SG! Its funny that most Solara owners say " I saw the Solara, and knew it was for me" lol.

[Paladin06Greg]

Welcome and Very nice.

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

Welcome to SolaraGuy! Nice Photoshop.

[PXLpainter]

Welcome! Always good to see another Convertible in here!

[Down2TheC]

Maybe I won't be the only ragtop at Elmhurst this year! Good choice! You'll love that ride Summer and Winter. (Though she'll be RoadSalt-White in the winter)

But I can vouch for her handling in the worst Chicago snows.

btw, there will be a scaled down '08 production but then that's it for Solara. So you got in just in time. Only SLE's next year.

[kwyse]

Nice looking '07! Welcome!!

Have fun with the mods. PhreakdOut's got some good suggestions.