Need advice on what year convertible Solara to buy

[Vector]

I want to spend around $16k for a daily driver. I am coming out of a lease of an 07 Acura TL, so needless to say I've gotten use to luxury. I was thinking of getting a BWM 325ci, but they are of course more money. I just missed a cream puff 06 with 10,000 miles for $17k, but that is a rare price for that model and year Beamer.

Anyway, I know the body changed for 2005, but what features/upgrades are must haves in future year models? I suspect that I will wind up in a 2006 for the price range I am looking in, but if the 07 is a must have, let me know why.
Also, how good is the stock stereo & navigation in the SLE model?
Would I be better off getting one without nav and adding it myself with an aftermarket system like the Pioneer?
For the price is the SLE a better value, or should I get an SE and do a few upgrades like XM and/or navigation?

Needless to say any and all opinions regarding which year, trim packages and features will be appreciated.

[Black Bob]

Vector--

Try this link: http://www.toyotacertified.com/camrysolara.html Click on the bottom right hand corner that says "Download an eBrochure" and past Solara brochures will pop up on the bottom left. Click the years you're interested in and compare.

[Vector]

I am looking at several private sales at the moment. One is a 2006 SE Sport with 68,000 miles that I can pick up for about $11,000. It needs a repaint from all the road rash/scratches on it, but the body is fine. The interior also needs some major cleaning as the seats are loaded with sweat and dirt stains. The other one I'm looking at is a 2007 SE with 30,000 miles that I can pick up for $14,000. It has some minor exterior issues, but does not need a new paint job.
The nice thing about my search is I am in no rush to buy, but have the money if the right one comes along. I'd just like some advice from those of you who own the cars as to whether I should go with a Solara or get another type of vert?
Furthermore, any info on trim packages would be nice. Another words is the stock nav and XM stereo good and highly interactive, or should I look to go aftermarket like an all in one Pioneer?
Is it better to get an SE and upgrade, or get the SLE from the start?
`

[Joe Cat]

Ill sell you a magnetic grey 08 sle convertible for $21- Paid $34.0000
no nav but everything else- Perfect Original owner !

Metalic grey outside, grey (darker)leather inside- Black top-

Joe located in lancaster, pa 17601

[DriDed]

^^WTH??

[Taido]

Wow Joe. Disappointed easily?

[GzNutz]

Must have realized the aftermarket sucks.

[Joe Cat]

I would sell it - just to have something else to buy

I saw a buyer- just figured I would post it- I am a memeber on many car car clubs and NEVER sold a car to a member. But if he or anyone is interested, they should email me- joe@fcgerlach.com

[Vector]

Maybe most Solara's are the same after the body restyle between 05-08, but with many models, changes/upgrades are made from year to year. As an example maybe the brakes were upgraded from the 05 to the 06 model year. Maybe the navigation stunk until the 07 model.

Hopefully someone here is enough of a fan of the model to know the details and differences between years to help me decide if I want to buy an 07 rather than an 06 for example?

[kingkakyle]

as much as i can recall there are no changed other than aestetics
all components are the same
even though they say they fixed the transmission lag in the 06+ models its still there

[Down2TheC]

After the 07 shuffle, they included some of the options as standard in 08. But that was it.

Best advice is to find what you like and don't think you can make an SLE into a sport. If you like the kit, get it up front because there's no good option after the fact.

[Vector]

as much as i can recall there are no changed other than aestetics
all components are the same
even though they say they fixed the transmission lag in the 06+ models its still there

Thanks for the info.
If you don't mind explaining, is the lag significant, and what if anything can be done to correct it? That sounds a little worrisome because the TL shifts like a hot knife through butter.

After the 07 shuffle, they included some of the options as standard in 08. But that was it.

Best advice is to find what you like and don't think you can make an SLE into a sport. If you like the kit, get it up front because there's no good option after the fact.

It is funny you should put it that way because I thought it would be the other way around. The SLE came with more bells and whistles, so wouldn't it be an upgrade from a SE Sport to an SLE vs. making a SLE into a SE Sport?
`

[DriDed]

The SLE is the luxury trim, the SE sport is the sport trim, two different themes. I don't consider either to be an upgrade over the other.

[wkbrdr91]

The SLE is the luxury trim, the SE sport is the sport trim, two different themes. I don't consider either to be an upgrade over the other.

I have one of each, and honestly like the sport one 100 times better!!

Here they are posing in my driveway

[DriDed]

^^^

That Convertible looks like an SUV compared to that coupe.

I am not a fan of leather, my dad's Accord (formerly my brother's) have leather seats and they smell funky as heck. Plus when I move around in the Accord, the leather makes like a sound, its like in them leather fetish movies (no, I don't watch those kinds of movies).

I am performance biased, so all the sound system, leather seats, cupholders, don't really matter to me. It is kinda funny to say it now since the car that I drive is not performance oriented.
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For the convertibles, I actually like the Gen 1 & Gen 1.5 models better, but the Gen 2 Convertibles are faster of course with the bigger motor. The last models have HIDs standard I think.