Paint chips a problem on Gen 2 Solaras?

[maoz]

I'm considering trading my 01 Solara SE in for an 04 SE convertible but I am very concerned about paint chips. My 01's hood and bumper have a great deal of paint chips - an unacceptible amount. I want to hear 04 Solara's experiences with paint chips on their cars. Thanks

[Shoe]

I hate to share this with you but ive had a ruff winter with t he paint chip department more so id say the end of the winter. In my city toronto they pave with ashfaukt rather than concrete hwys the roads deteriorate after the winter every year and then the pot holes come out on a section of hwy that i must take daily there was a large amount of pot holes so the city scraped the ashfault off leavinng a very grainy road for a bout maybe 1/2 a mile having doing this all they did was replace pot holes that i could have dodged with a roadway with alot of gravel.

TH e gravel bits are like bullets when someone drives over these things at hwy speeds they propel back and bing ting clunk so my hood needs some work I have about 4- 5 chips I can see clearly by standing infront of the car DRIVES Me NUKING FUTS !!!!!

In 4 years when I start looking at another car and Im still here and your still here remind me to get an invisable bra on the car

shoe

[onefiend]

Maoz, there is no way of avoiding paint chips on the front end and hood, its a fact of life.

[fotodad]

I agree with the other posters who say paint chips are a fact of life regardless of the car you drive. BUT, I had a clear bra installed last fall just after taking delivery on the Solara. I live in Wisconsin where the road crews put what seems like a foot of salt and stones on the roads. I just gave the car a good waxing and was able to look closely at the paint finish, especially the front end where all the stone and salt damage occurs. And am overjoyed to report NO chips. The bumper and hood look brand new. I will say there is a stone chip on the hood where the clear bra did not cover.

[Jackass-Jeff]

My 02 has too many paint chips now =( (4x the amount from 5 months ago x_x)

You can always opt for the 3M Clear Bra

[Ikhandi]

Well I would have to agree with everyone else who has posted so far. I have owned my 04 SLE V6 for not even 24 hours and I have a paint chip down by the fog lights. Kinda pissed but it is a reality living in Massachuesetts where the roads are crappy. Invisible bra? Well I don't know if I actually want that. That looks so dated now. BTW I love the car. The ride is smooth and I barely hear the engine running.

[NJConvertible]

chips are a problem for any car with a sloping hood. I had about 80 on my SLK when i turned in the lease, so not just a Solara problem.

I just ordered a clear paint protector. Anybody have any experience with them? Will let you know how it goes.

http://www.invinca-shield.com/asp/genkit.asp?kit=4477

[mattyboyl]

Heh, try driving a 3000GT that is slammed to the ground. You wanna talk about rock chips? I also want to comment on the guy who said go with another car. For $30,000, what family car can you get that is stylish, has above average performance, seats 5 people and is a convertible, plus being one of the most reliable cars you'll own? The only other convertible in the family car category I can think of is the Sebring, but gimme a break, it's a Chrysler. Mustang is a far cry from a reliabale family car. Sure it performs better, but hell, it's a Mustang GT with a V8! What do you expect? As for reliablility, quality of the exterior /interior parts, ride quality and comfort, you don't get that with a Mustang. The Solara is a good choice. The market is weak at this point when it comes down to seating 5 people comfortably & reliably in a convertible.

[NOBOOST]

And you should really look into another car other than a Solara convertible, there are so many cars to choose from that are better looking and more powerful for that price.

Name one... I guess you could drive a sunfire...

under 30 g for a convertible and 225 hp??? Name 1 car that fits this bill... You may hate the Solara but at least come to terms with the reality of what is in the marketplace!!!

I guess the closest car to a solara conv would be like an a4 conv... with 180 hp and 44g's ...thats a big gap

[onefiend]

I also want to comment on the guy who said go with another car. For $30,000, what family car can you get that is stylish, has above average performance, seats 5 people and is a convertible, plus being one of the most reliable cars you'll own?

He doesnt have to buy a convertible and the solara doesnt have above average performance, it has the weakest engine in its class. with the money he wants to spend he should just get a maxima or g35 sedan.

[mattyboyl]

First, my point was about the convertible form which by your comment, you seem to agree. Secondly, you say the Solara is the weakest of its class? Man, you have high expectations. A family sedan that can run flat 15's in the quarter and 6.7 0-60 times and is faster than the top of the line sports car Toyota produces currently, the GTS Celica. Plus, we share the same motor as the Lexus RX 330 compact SUV. Name the cars in the class you are describing. The Infinity G35, Maxima, Altima, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Galant? I'll give you the G35, hands down. Rated at 280 hp and $30+, it better outperform a 225 hp motor at $22,000. But when you match up auto vs. auto, the Solara comes out on top only because it is rated the lowest hp in its class and yet is comparible in performance numbers. Look at the Altima and Maxima who is running high 14's -low 15's in auto form. Look at the Accord, same thing. These cars are rated at 240+ hp! The Galant is rated at 230 hp and is almost as torquey, yet is comparible to a Solara performing a tad better in auto from. You line up any of the cars in this class you are describing at the track against me in my Solara Sport, it would be a great race with each of these cars. I'd lose some and win some. No doubt. Let's not rag on the performance of the new Solara, since it is more than enough and is finally competive in a market where Toyota usually fell way short in years past.

[NOBOOST]

it has the weakest engine in its class. with the money he wants to spend he should just get a maxima or g35 sedan.

uuuh what class would that be??? hmmm the under 23g class?

MAYBE you have no clue what you are saying??? The G35 has half the room of the solara in coupe form... and the Maxima is a sedan??? both have inflated HP #'s though.

The solara is a large coupe... maybe the largest on the market right now. To say the 3.3 V6 is the weakest in its class is nuts... just because the HP #'s are not into the 300+ range doesnt make an engine weak... the engine is smooth , responsive, and hella tourqey...and it is mated to the best tranny of all the cars you say!!!

I guess next I will hear you compare the solara to a tiburon ... which is also half its size... at least the tibby would probably hold its value better than a 30g++ nissan ( you can get a 1 yr used maxima for under 50% sticker )

Not long ago most cars were struggling to make 225 GOOD HP ...look at the early 90's muscle cars.... my solara would smoke a old 5.0 mustang ( stock to stock ) ...

Also to be fair ...compare the gas milage of the nissan G35 ( around 18mpg ) to the solara ( around 24mpg )

[onefiend]

LOL you people are just biased to Toyota, I give up. For the price of a SLE Solara convertable you can get a better car. SO live with it!

infiniti g35 MSRP Price Range:
$31,550
(280hp w/ 270 lbs torque)

solara sle conv. MSRP Price Range:
$29,450
(220hp w/ 240 lbs torque)

And the g35 looks better!

[onefiend]

Name one... I guess you could drive a sunfire...

under 30 g for a convertible and 225 hp??? Name 1 car that fits this bill... You may hate the Solara but at least come to terms with the reality of what is in the marketplace!!!

I guess the closest car to a solara conv would be like an a4 conv... with 180 hp and 44g's ...thats a big gap

I was NOT telling him to buy another convertible, I was tellign him to buy another car LMAO!!

[onefiend]

First, my point was about the convertible form which by your comment, you seem to agree. Secondly, you say the Solara is the weakest of its class? Man, you have high expectations. A family sedan that can run flat 15's in the quarter and 6.7 0-60 times and is faster than the top of the line sports car Toyota produces currently, the GTS Celica. Plus, we share the same motor as the Lexus RX 330 compact SUV. Name the cars in the class you are describing. The Infinity G35, Maxima, Altima, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Galant? I'll give you the G35, hands down. Rated at 280 hp and $30+, it better outperform a 225 hp motor at $22,000. But when you match up auto vs. auto, the Solara comes out on top only because it is rated the lowest hp in its class and yet is comparible in performance numbers. Look at the Altima and Maxima who is running high 14's -low 15's in auto form. Look at the Accord, same thing. These cars are rated at 240+ hp! The Galant is rated at 230 hp and is almost as torquey, yet is comparible to a Solara performing a tad better in auto from. You line up any of the cars in this class you are describing at the track against me in my Solara Sport, it would be a great race with each of these cars. I'd lose some and win some. No doubt. Let's not rag on the performance of the new Solara, since it is more than enough and is finally competive in a market where Toyota usually fell way short in years past.

Man if I have high expectations then you must have low expecatations from Toyota and seem to be happy with it. While other companies are pushing performance Toyota seems to be at a stand still. The gen 2 solara is pushing 3400 lbs. and all they did was add 25 extra horses. Nissan alone adds 20hp every 2-3 years to their engines. its also funny you kept mentioning auto tranny Toyota's, why is that? Is it becuz Toyota went soft with NOT offering manuals on their cars??I dunno, i aint hating on Toyota, I love Toyota, but seriously thinks they are falling behind the competition.