by nsx1164 » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:08 pm
Free-breathing fun that's more reliable than the Grim Reaper.
0-60 : 7.0 seconds TOP SPEED: 143 mph
We say: More skilled at compromise than a pork-barrel politician, Toyota's new ragtop combines limousine luxury and muscle car power with one of the easiest-opening tops around -- all for thousands less than Audi's or BMW's cheapest convertible. The Solara is based on the best-selling Camry, so owners can expect the same bank-vault-on-wheels build quality and bulletproof reliability. Mated to a silky five-speed automatic, the torquey aluminum V-6 runs so silent and vibration-free, you'll need to check the tachometer to prove that the engine is running. Wind noise is absent -- even with the top down -- thanks to the Solara's slippery new shape. Despite oversize 17-inch mags, the plush suspension soaks up bumps like a German uber-sedan. Throw in comfy eight-way power seats with perforated leather upholstery, unusually legible gauges, a backseat suitable for adults, plus our of the few trunks whose cargo volume doesn't disappear with the top down. It all adds up to a reasonably priced ragtop that's as capable working as a daily driver as it is a boulevard cruiser.
Drawbacks: Styling suited more for balding insurance salesmen than hip young gunslingers and a smooth, luxury-car ride that foregoes any pretense of sporty handling and grip.
