Interested in buying an '04...but

[Brady12]

Hey, I am interested in buying an '04 Solara and plan to test drive one this weekend, but I have some questions that some of you may be able to answer.

1. When will the '05's be out? I have a first redesign year '01 Civic and I have always regretted my decision to purchase a first year redesign.

2. I plan on getting the SLE V6 w/Nav, is that the same NAV as my Dad's '03 Lexus ES 330?

3. I want Black ext w/ Black Interior... is black an interior option on any color? The website shows a black interior http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/camrysolara/interior.html

4. How accurate is the climate control? My Dad's Lexus is great, my friend's TL is so-so. Any thoughts?

5. Are there any rumors regarding what features the '05 will have like a 6-disc CD changer for the NAV?

6. Are these cars in high demand? Should I be able to negotiate with a dealer on these? I always do a ton of research before I buy and usually buy for 3% or less over invoice. Is this realistic with the Solara?

7. I see the dash lights are a green color, does this still look good (subjective I know) with the NAV?

8. When I go to the dealer, are there any problems I need to bring up besides the left-pull?

9. I have read that the engine in the SLE V6 is the same as the Lexus ES 300... is that true?

I am very excited about this car from my online research, but have yet to sit in one. It is coming down to this car or the Accord Coupe. I am really an interior guy and I just need to like not love the exterior. From the pics, the Solara kills the Accord as far as interior classiness.

Thanks guys!

[NOBOOST]

[quote="Brady12"]
1. When will the '05's be out? I have a first redesign year '01 Civic and I have always regretted my decision to purchase a first year redesign.

*********I had an 01 civic too....never had a problem but it was slow, there normally is an improvement from 1st to 2nd year but the new camry has been proven now for 2 years *********

2. I plan on getting the SLE V6 w/Nav, is that the same NAV as my Dad's '03 Lexus ES 330?

*********ALL toyota navi's are the same (unless this year is different from the past) and they are the best navi's out there...I know a guy who had a MB,BMW, and a lexus and he said hands down the lexus was king as far as navi was concerned*******

3. I want Black ext w/ Black Interior... is black an interior option on any color? The website shows a black interior [url]http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/camrysolara/interior.html[/url]

********** I dont know if black leather is available but I am sure you could get the dealer to put it in*************

4. How accurate is the climate control? My Dad's Lexus is great, my friend's TL is so-so. Any thoughts?


**********This is hit or miss with all cars.... my camry's climate control is erratic at best************


5. Are there any rumors regarding what features the '05 will have like a 6-disc CD changer for the NAV?


**********I think you can add a changer to any radio********


6. Are these cars in high demand? Should I be able to negotiate with a dealer on these? I always do a ton of research before I buy and usually buy for 3% or less over invoice. Is this realistic with the Solara?


***********You should pay invoice unless you REALLY want a certain combination and then maybe $500-$1000 over invoice at most*******


7. I see the dash lights are a green color, does this still look good (subjective I know) with the NAV?

***********I hate the fact that toyota has green dash lights...bothers the hell out of me on my camry w/navi...even my old celica had green lights and a red speedo/tach************

9. I have read that the engine in the SLE V6 is the same as the Lexus ES 300... is that true?

***********ES/RX/330 engine are VERY similar but the "claimed" hp is diff I think....I think they may have the same trans also...at least the es****************


I am very excited about this car from my online research, but have yet to sit in one. It is coming down to this car or the Accord Coupe. I am really an interior guy and I just need to like not love the exterior. From the pics, the Solara kills the Accord as far as interior classiness.


***********Totally better interior than the honda...Toyota put some nice materials in this car... my solara is bare bones and the inside is better...BUT I didnt like the silver dash that much...prob looks better with the navi though**********

[Shoe]

the black interior you saw was on an se sport its cloth material the sle leather seats come in grey or cream

as far as the interior comparison is concerned between the solara and the accord i personally found the center ( knobs n buttuns cluster on the accord confusing at 1st look) the solars is right on i like and always have liked the black on white for the spedometer and tach but the acords blue/white light up at night is also nice even though its white on black

the accords seats win hands down if u ask me the solaras seats anrt bad but i just liked the accords seats better

shoe

ps it came down to soalar vs accord coup with me i took solara and im happy i did.

oh ya and watch for the tire preasure light it seems to have come on for a few of us prematurly either on the 1st cold day or if someone hit a bump or something but that issue was resolved for me by the dealer when i did my last oil change has blinked on since.

[cosmicstarr]

1. When will the '05's be out? I have a first redesign year '01 Civic and I have always regretted my decision to purchase a first year redesign.

The '05 will probably be out this fall. I know what you mean about first year designs. I had an '01 Acura CL and it had a lot of problems with the transmission (4 replacements). This years Solara seems to have a lot of problems with left drifting. Maybe that was an early build problem because mine doesn't have that problem.
2. I plan on getting the SLE V6 w/Nav, is that the same NAV as my Dad's '03 Lexus ES 330?

The Solara navigation is the same as the ES330 with the exception that the Lexus incorporates a 6-CD changer in the center console. I have contacted Toyota about adding a changer to my Nav system and was told it was not available. I am sure there should be an aux input for the changer, but I don't know how it would incorporate into the Nav unit since the CD controls are touchscreen.

3. I want Black ext w/ Black Interior... is black an interior option on any color? The website shows a black interior http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/camrysolara/interior.html

That picture has a really dark exposure because the leather does look charcoal/black. However, the stone color is really a medium gray tone. It looks really good in person and I prefer it to black.

4. How accurate is the climate control? My Dad's Lexus is great, my friend's TL is so-so. Any thoughts?

I can't comment on the climate control because I haven't used it much. As the weather gets hotter, I will be able to tell. It seems to work just the same as in my old Acura.

5. Are there any rumors regarding what features the '05 will have like a 6-disc CD changer for the NAV?

I'm hoping Toyota releases a 6-disc changer for the Nav.

6. Are these cars in high demand? Should I be able to negotiate with a dealer on these? I always do a ton of research before I buy and usually buy for 3% or less over invoice. Is this realistic with the Solara?

I don't know if the demand is very high. I rarely see these cars on the road. I've read people paying invoice. You should be able to buy for less than 3% over invoice. I paid a little more because of the color combination/configuration, which was hard to find in Southern California. I got a Cosmic Blue Metallic, Stone Interior, SLE V6 w/ Navi and all the options.
7. I see the dash lights are a green color, does this still look good (subjective I know) with the NAV?

I really wish Toyota would have made the center control lights (radio, ac controls) the blue/indiglo color of the speedometer. It would have looked really cool. The navi actually helps break up all the green in the center part of the dash and makes it look a lot better IMO. That's probably the main reason why I got it with navigation because it "looks better"

8. When I go to the dealer, are there any problems I need to bring up besides the left-pull?

Listen for rattles.

9. I have read that the engine in the SLE V6 is the same as the Lexus ES 300... is that true?

The SLE V6 has the same engine as the ES330. The ride is very similar. If you ride in an ES330 with the Adaptive Variable Suspension, set it to "sport" mode and the ride is very similar to the SLE V6. I've read that the Solara is very quiet, but I do get some wind noise over 65 mph. I haven't driven the Lexus above that speed but I would think it would be quieter since more sound insulating materials are used.
I am very excited about this car from my online research, but have yet to sit in one. It is coming down to this car or the Accord Coupe. I am really an interior guy and I just need to like not love the exterior. From the pics, the Solara kills the Accord as far as interior classiness.

I think the Solara interior is a lot more classy than the Accord Coupe. I do like electroluminescent gauges, but the indiglo ones on the SLEV6 are alos very cool.

[Brady12]

Thanks for all the replies, and please keep them coming.

Cosmicstarr, I am in SoCal too, any good recomendations as to where to purchase?

It seems that either Solara has something I want or the Accord does. Though they do share many things, each has something the other doesn't. In the end, I am leaning towards the Solara (though I have yet to test drive.)

I really wanted the in dash 6 disc cd changer. Too bad the NAV SLE's don't have that. For me, NAV takes priority.

I see what you mean by the grey stone leather. From some pics I have seen on here it looks good. If I want a black exterior, do I have a choice of interior colors, or is only 1 offered?

Thanks and I look forward to reading any more replies to my original post.

[cosmicstarr]

Brady12,

The black comes with Ivory or Dark Stone leather for the SLEV6 models.

The Ivory color is very nice and makes the interior look luxurious, like a Lexus. I didn't get that interior color though because it looked like it would show dirt really easily.

What color, trim, options are you looking at?

You should test drive it and see if it's something you really want. Also, test drive the ES330 to compare.

PM me and I'll give you the information on what I got and where I bought it.

[HKSV6SLE]

so many questions. the solara first off is not in that high demnad...a prius yes solara no..i would say pay 100 over invoice. secondly the es300 avalon,solara,rx, and sienna, all share the same basic 3.0 liter well now 3.3 liter v-6. the solara probably wont change much for a few years and when it does it mihgt be limited to revised tailights colors, small stuff like that....i'd say get the nav, you can always get a mps one or a HD to store music.