Why did you buy Gen2 Solara?

[pandazenator]

sup guys, I just want to find out what are the reasons for you guys to buy a Gen 2 Solara?

For me, I like the comfort interior the most and the front of the exterior second.

[cRaCkeD oUt]

Its a Lexus without the price.

[Willy7o2]

its the most luxurious toyota car I found a the time... given if I knew the Avalon would be much better the following year, I would have chose differently.

[x0swtextacy0x]

b/c i didnt want to go car shopping alone and my mother said she'd come ONLY if chose a toyota. ..... .....


but hey, no remorse here...

[zoomzoomthis05]

after four months of car shopping it had all the features I wanted.. I love how it handled.. love how it looks.. it fits my personality to a "T" so I got it....

My Lara was the last car I test drove... drove it off the lot the next day...

[dvdchris45]

i loved the looks, not too many people owned them, and also parents wouldnt let me get stick...so the v-6 was a must for some decent power.

[theprodigy79]

I chose it after finally narrowing my selection down to the G35 Coupe vs the Solara SE Sport V6 due to:

#1 It's more comfortable for me, the G35 Coupe felt a bit claustriphobic (I'm 6'2")

#2 I'm able to sit comfortably in the back seat, which means it's better suited for road trips (I love driving)

#3 Larger trunk space, meaning I can have my audio and still have some space for goodies

#4 The G35 Coupe I was looking at would have run just over $40K (incl. tax, tags, warranty, etc..) off the lot... I drove my Solara off the lot for just over $30K... and that included the drop, rims / tires, muffler, air filter, rear sway bar, front strut tower brace, auto-dimming rear-view, alarm, all installation, warranty, tax, tags, and several other goodies... This left me with a good $10K to play around with for Audio/Video

#5 Around my area I can't spit on the road without hitting a G35 Coupe... When I bought the Solara I had only seen one other on the road (Gen 2 of course)... So it was nice to have something a bit different (I still see G35 Coupes at a rate of about 5 to every 1 Solara Gen2 around here...)

#6 I trust Toyota for reliability / dependability more than Nissan (although I do like Nissan a lot)

#7 Solara gets better gas economy (this was hardly a deciding factor.. just a perk)

#8 I liked the styling... unique...

[raytheater]

I first saw the car and remembering it looking like a Lexus. After test driving it, I love how the suspension is stiff but not overly stiff. The interior is just right, nothing too flashy but still have a nice clean style. I absolutely love the exterior, if you go to the caranddriver.com forum, people there hate the rear.
The one car that got everything the way I like it.

[chuchurocket]

1) rarity: i don't see 50 solara in a day, and i never have trouble finding my own car in a parking lot even if i forgot where i parked

2) other car that comes close to solara's standard cost at least a couple grands more and are being driven everywhere and anywhere

3) it's a two door that has the room of a four door, yet still looks nice on the outside

[gone]

def. agree it does look like a lexus, and i love the white color alott. Its luxery/sporty. And the nicest high class toyota for a good price.I now love this car and was very picky with it. I would not take this car if it wasnt the SE SPORT or in white. No other color would do. And its comfy

[stockae92]

why buy:

1. comfort
2. quiet on the freeway
3. plenty of backseat space
4. looks [better than the accord coupe that i was cross shopping with, IMO]
5. close-to-lexus package closer-to-toyota price

why NOT to buy:

1. steering (light numb steering feel)
2. 5-sp auto transmission (manual shift mode makes it a 4, 3, 2 speed auto, not really what i have in mind with a + / - auto, slow shift response)
3. throttle (lag? slow response? combine with a slow shifting transmission = even slower response)
4. handling (i could never to get it to settle in a turn, it could be a combination of numb steering, lack of steering feedback, the comfy SLE suspension, speed sensing steering?!, etc)

things to live with:

1. the color of the dial of SLE trim
2. can't choose SE interior trim for SLE
3. lack of rear view
4. mpg (for some reason i am getting better mpg with a '01 accord V6 sedan with more *foot-to-the-floor* driving style)
5. navi's DVD disc is from '03/'04 (already giving me false direction in socal more than a couple of times)
6. can't shake the 2-dr camry image (which it is after all, not that there's anything wrong with it )

if you like the SE sports' body kit, get the SE sport cause its impossible for get the body kit separately.

i end up with a V6 SLE, i must be getting old :p

my $0.02

[slingshot]

I have a 2004 with Navi and my initial Navi dvd was probably from 2003 but Toyota gave me a free new one early this year (because they discovered inaccuracies with my original version) and it has proven to be way more accurate with the new road constructions. What version number is on your DVD? Mine has to be from at most only a year old.

For a bit better handling in tight turns, try getting the TRD rear sway bar. The only rear view problems I see (with coupe) are when parallel parking but I figured out a way to get it perfect and that is backing up until you only see the base of the car in back's windshield (none of the hood visible). That works for most hood lengths.

[DaOnoKine]

The looks basically.

[stockae92]

one more thing to live with for getting a solara:

- non-foldable side mirrors

[NABBUN SECHKIE]

I should've gotten the se sport sigh.........