When buying your Solara, what other cars did you consider?
by mattyboyl » Thu May 27, 2004 8:38 am
This post is to get your impressions on other cars you seriously considered and test drove. Why did you buy the Solara over the others your were considering? What was the overall selling point on the Solara? Basically, what won you over?
When I bought my Solara, I was also looking at the V-6 Accord. I test drove the Solara first and let me tell you, I was more than impressed. I just saw maybe one Solara driving when I was looking in Nov. of '03. When I stepped into the garage where they had a Solara SE Sport and opened the doors, I was taken back. This car had as much as a beautiful interior as it did outside. I loved the seats and the dash layout and the brushed aluminum look. The chrome accents were just enough along with the carbon fiber-like accent pieces to give the interior some class. The sportronic shifter was something I never had the oppurtunity to use before. Nice add-on feature for those who like gadgets. It's almost like driving two cars having two modes of transmissions. The test drive went much better than expected. I was figuring on a usual Camry type ride, but instead had the ride like my dad's $30,000 Grand Marquis. The ride was very cushy, yet tight enough for the driver to know the car is planted on the road. The sound deadening in the interior was like nothing else. You couldn't hear any road noise or the engine for that matter.
Then I visited a Honda dealership where they had a 2003 leftover with 4000 miles trying to sell it as a new car for $26,000 and no less! We are talking no leather and navagation here. So I test drove the car and I must say, there was no competition. The ride was bumpy and choppy. The interior was very plain and did the job without trying to impress. The exterior was not impressive either. It seemed almost as big as a Civic from the outside. The interior space or comfort didn't compete with the Solara. The exterior and interior quality between the two cars just didn't compare in my book.
The Solara has a nice aggressive, sexy look that is distinct from other autos except it's cousins the Lexus ES300 and SC430. The ride was sporty when you pushed it, yet cushy and quiet when cruising. The same with the engine. The whole car in general is sporty when pushed, but luxurious when driven conservatively. Basically a wolf in sheeps clothing.
When I bought my Solara, I was also looking at the V-6 Accord. I test drove the Solara first and let me tell you, I was more than impressed. I just saw maybe one Solara driving when I was looking in Nov. of '03. When I stepped into the garage where they had a Solara SE Sport and opened the doors, I was taken back. This car had as much as a beautiful interior as it did outside. I loved the seats and the dash layout and the brushed aluminum look. The chrome accents were just enough along with the carbon fiber-like accent pieces to give the interior some class. The sportronic shifter was something I never had the oppurtunity to use before. Nice add-on feature for those who like gadgets. It's almost like driving two cars having two modes of transmissions. The test drive went much better than expected. I was figuring on a usual Camry type ride, but instead had the ride like my dad's $30,000 Grand Marquis. The ride was very cushy, yet tight enough for the driver to know the car is planted on the road. The sound deadening in the interior was like nothing else. You couldn't hear any road noise or the engine for that matter.
Then I visited a Honda dealership where they had a 2003 leftover with 4000 miles trying to sell it as a new car for $26,000 and no less! We are talking no leather and navagation here. So I test drove the car and I must say, there was no competition. The ride was bumpy and choppy. The interior was very plain and did the job without trying to impress. The exterior was not impressive either. It seemed almost as big as a Civic from the outside. The interior space or comfort didn't compete with the Solara. The exterior and interior quality between the two cars just didn't compare in my book.
The Solara has a nice aggressive, sexy look that is distinct from other autos except it's cousins the Lexus ES300 and SC430. The ride was sporty when you pushed it, yet cushy and quiet when cruising. The same with the engine. The whole car in general is sporty when pushed, but luxurious when driven conservatively. Basically a wolf in sheeps clothing.
- mattyboyl
- SolaraGuy Driver
- Posts: 452
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 7:51 am
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Solara > CL