Need advice on what year convertible Solara to buy

[Down2TheC]

^^^^Nice pic! And nice "Solara stable".


That's what I'm saying Vector. If you get a Sport trim and expect to put in leather inside, you'll pay through the nose for substandard results.

If you get an SLE and then try to get the suspension and trim to SE Sport configuration, you'll drop well over $2k maybe $3k.

So choose your priority and plan/price your changes up front. There are lots of guys (me included) on here that wish they had the lip kit put in at purchase. Since you're buying used, you have even less alternatives.

Getting SE loses you the least. No 8-way power leather seat and maybe no auto HVAC. (I'd rather have the manual one anyway.)

[Vector]

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

Thanks for the contrasting pictures. Is your sport the way it comes from the factory or have you added anything? The reason I ask is because I looked at an SE Sport(or at least I think I did) and I do not remember the front air dam looking as aggressive as yours.

Now as to the differences, I assume the sport has a flare and/or body kit that the SLE does not. Having said that, I think the SLE has more bells and whistles in the feature/electronics department, correct? If not set me straight as I am trying to find the right one to buy.

[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

Thanks for the contrasting pictures. Is your sport the way it comes from the factory or have you added anything? The reason I ask is because I looked at an SE Sport(or at least I think I did) and I do not remember the front air dam looking as aggressive as yours.

Now as to the differences, I assume the sport has a flare and/or body kit that the SLE does not. Having said that, I think the SLE has more bells and whistles in the feature/electronics department, correct? If not set me straight as I am trying to find the right one to buy.

the only thing that could possibly be different with my air dam is that i have added 6 horns in there. but for exterior mods, all i have done is the BBS rims, most of my mods are listed in my sig.

And the SLE model does not have the option of getting the lip kit. The only positives to the SLE model (at least mine) is: heated seats, leather seats (debated whether or not thats better), power seats, and the automatic climate control. I also have the JBL system in the white SLE Solara, but the JBL is considerably worse quality than the standard one, I have heard that it is because JBL tunes down the amp on the Toyota models, and it really limits the sound system. My standard system in the Solara is almost as nice as the BOSE in my 08 Yukon and probably better than the BOSE in my 08 CTS (ya my driveway looks like a car dealership haha). The JBL in the 06 Solara is definitely the WORST sound system out of all 7 of our cars.

Just get the standard sound system, and put in a subwoofer or two in it, and it blows BOSE out of the water.

[JimGo]

Where do you live? If you are in/near Philly, I'd be happy to let you test drive my '06 SLE. It is completely stock. You can then see whether it would meet your needs/ desires. I have 2 kids, so leather was a must (cleans MUCH easier than fabric), and, after driving BMW's for the last decade, I have also become very partial to heated seats, so SLE was my trim of choice. In the '07 and up, if you get the nav package you also get integrated BlueTooth. Integrated isn'e even an option on the older models. However, the older ones DO permit EASY installation of a backup camera, which can be a bit of a necessity.

[JimGo]

Where do you live? If you are in/near Philly, I'd be happy to let you test drive my '06 SLE. It is completely stock. You can then see whether it would meet your needs/ desires. I have 2 kids, so leather was a must (cleans MUCH easier than fabric), and, after driving BMW's for the last decade, I have also become very partial to heated seats, so SLE was my trim of choice. In the '07 and up, if you get the nav package you also get integrated BlueTooth. Integrated isn'e even an option on the older models. However, the older ones DO permit EASY installation of a backup camera, which can be a bit of a necessity.

[kingkakyle]

well my sport has leather interior
its just difficult to find a sport with a v6 and leather interior

also the 04-06 does NOT have sport and convertible models combined
its either an SE, sport, or sle coupe
or an sle convertible

07+ u can get any trim in a convertible model

[DriDed]

07+ u can get any trim in a convertible model

Oh man I didn't even know that!!

So there is a 07+ convertible model that comes with sport struts stock? that is sweet.

[kingkakyle]

07+ u can get any trim in a convertible model

Oh man I didn't even know that!!

So there is a 07+ convertible model that comes with sport struts stock? that is sweet.

yes sir
u also get the sport spoiler and the sport kit

[yaddadaimsayin]

I like the SLE. The leather, power, heated seats, moon roof, and premium sound will now be a must on all my future vehicles. it's pampered me.

[kingkakyle]

I like the SLE. The leather, power, heated seats, moon roof, and premium sound will now be a must on all my future vehicles. it's pampered me.

u can get all that in the SE sport minus the heated seats and maybe the premium sound? but not sure about the sound

[Black Bob]

07+ u can get any trim in a convertible model

True but finding a Sport Vert is gonna be a byotch!!

[Black Bob]

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

Uhhhhhhhh, Joe.....didn't you just get the car delivered like 2 days ago and now you're willing to sell it for $13,000 less?

[Vector]

These are really some informative posts, the type that I was looking for.

Now the guy with the higher mileage 06 said his is a SE Sport, but the outside does not look like the picture in this thread. Can one tell if it is a Sport model based on the interior? I ask because the interior has a carbon fiber look to the trim instead of the wood trim. The seats are cloth with a checkerboard pattern in the seat and back area.
Is there any way to tell based on the VIN number?

[Black Bob]

The SE Sports are the only model with the checkboard looking seats and carbon fiber interior--not the SE's and not the SLE's. (Note: as an option you CAN get leather seats in an SE Sport like kyle's.) So if you're seeing the carbon fiber dash and checkerboard seats of that '06 and not the front "fangs" of the sport kit then I'd have to wonder if the car was in an accident previously.