I need your opinions!!! SE SPORT or LEATHER??? Pick one!!!

[l337hxr]

Sup guys, its been decided! Officially 1 week left. My dad told me we're going to go next saturday, August 27th. Reason is because we're gonna try to hustle and get a deal for the car we want... and if it comes down to it, we want to give the dealers some time to find the car that we want... such as a base model SE SPORT with NO options. We don't want sunroof or additional stuff that will jack up the price.

So that is why we are gonna go early and hustle them

i've prepared a lot of papers for battle. I've printed out the Toyota pdf file on the Solara which tells you everything about the car and the features it comes with... i've printed out Edmunds.com true market value and kbb.com price papers. I've also prepared some papers from other dealers and their price.

so i know the SE SPORT 4 cyl auto costs EXACTLY $19,668 invoice + $540 destination.

My goal is try try to get them to give us the car out the damn door for a flat $21,000.

i will be hitting up Buena Park Toyota, Penske Toyota, Wondries Toyota, and Longo Toyota.

wish me luck guys, i wanna be a "solaraguy"

[Turbosolara]

try cerritos, riverside, san bernadeno toyota as well. tax is 7.25% at riverside

[2AZ-FE]

Around here, you can't find an '05 on the lot anywhere, whatever the engine configuration. It's also very hard to find a perfectly bone standard SE Sport on the dealer's lot without even a sunroof. But then again, I'm not in SoCal...

If you've test-driven the I4 and know what you want, then I'd say go for it for the $21K budget. You could do a lot less car for that kind of price. I submit that there's ALWAYS something nicer for a few thousand more, no matter what you drive. It just never ends...

You're gonna like the 5-speed auto paired with the four (if you like automatics at all). It's still a slushbox, sequential-shift or not, but it's one slick piece and a great drivetrain combo for the everyday drive.

I do agree with another poster, tho, that when you open up the hood, it's just screaming for headers: the 2.4's got the biggest a$$, in-your-face stock exhaust heatshield I've ever seen. It might as well have "Replace Me" stamped across it from the factory.

Here's hoping you'll find the beauty you want waiting for you on the lot like mine was, complete with a willing, slightly-clueless salesperson.

[l337hxr]

try cerritos, riverside, san bernadeno toyota as well. tax is 7.25% at riverside

yea i tried Cerritos...they are super expensive... Cerritos Auto Square is like one of the richest auto square in SoCal.

Around here, you can't find an '05 on the lot anywhere, whatever the engine configuration. It's also very hard to find a perfectly bone standard SE Sport on the dealer's lot without even a sunroof. But then again, I'm not in SoCal...

If you've test-driven the I4 and know what you want, then I'd say go for it for the $21K budget. You could do a lot less car for that kind of price. I submit that there's ALWAYS something nicer for a few thousand more, no matter what you drive. It just never ends...

You're gonna like the 5-speed auto paired with the four (if you like automatics at all). It's still a slushbox, sequential-shift or not, but it's one slick piece and a great drivetrain combo for the everyday drive.

I do agree with another poster, tho, that when you open up the hood, it's just screaming for headers: the 2.4's got the biggest a$$, in-your-face stock exhaust heatshield I've ever seen. It might as well have "Replace Me" stamped across it from the factory.

Here's hoping you'll find the beauty you want waiting for you on the lot like mine was, complete with a willing, slightly-clueless salesperson.

very true. I had a hard time finding a "no moonroof" SE SPORT at the dealers. Practically all of the sports had a sunroof. I have a sunroof on my Civic right now and its useless to me. I never use it. So I don't see a point of paying $900 for something i ain't gonna be using.

we'll see though...

[Lone Solara]

so i know the SE SPORT 4 cyl auto costs EXACTLY $19,668 invoice + $540 destination.

My goal is try try to get them to give us the car out the damn door for a flat $21,000.

When you say "out the door", that usually means taxes included in the price. If you expect to get a 2006 SE Sport Auto for $21,000 out the door - meaning with taxes included, you'll be in for a litte bit of a shocker, since that price is below the dealer's cost, even after you deduct the 2% off base holdback and the 1% financing holdback (yep, there is such a thing).I'm assuming an 8.25% tax rate here:

19,668 + 540 + 1800(tax, title & fees) - 570 (3% total holdback) - 400 (graduating discount if you can get it) = $21,038

I hate dealers, but at the end of the day they need to make SOME money (say $400 - $500 for this model). On the other hand, if you didn't include the tax in 21,000, then you should be able to get it for quite a bit lower than 21,000.

I must say that next weekend is actually a much better time to shop. Dealerships are going to try to make you a better deal in order to hit their monthly targets, so they're going to be more willing to negotiate. Good luck !

[l337hxr]

so i know the SE SPORT 4 cyl auto costs EXACTLY $19,668 invoice + $540 destination.

My goal is try try to get them to give us the car out the damn door for a flat $21,000.

When you say "out the door", that usually means taxes included in the price. If you expect to get a 2006 SE Sport Auto for $21,000 out the door - meaning with taxes included, you'll be in for a litte bit of a shocker, since that price is below the dealer's cost, even after you deduct the 2% off base holdback and the 1% financing holdback (yep, there is such a thing).I'm assuming an 8.25% tax rate here:

19,668 + 540 + 1800(tax, title & fees) - 570 (3% total holdback) - 400 (graduating discount if you can get it) = $21,038

I hate dealers, but at the end of the day they need to make SOME money (say $400 - $500 for this model). On the other hand, if you didn't include the tax in 21,000, then you should be able to get it for quite a bit lower than 21,000.

I must say that next weekend is actually a much better time to shop. Dealerships are going to try to make you a better deal in order to hit their monthly targets, so they're going to be more willing to negotiate. Good luck !

thank you very much... yeah i'm gonna hit the dealers next saturday August 27th. Either way, i'm coming home with a Solara. Jackass-Jeff also told me he might help me out a little too and gave me some pointers about shopping towards the end of the month...

[anovice]

Although tough, I think you can do it with your price... I had a SE Sport with sunroof and some other minor options offered to me for 21,300 out the door(ie the check amount) last week. This was in the DC metro area so obviously that'll make a difference but whatever. I ended up getting a SE base with sunroof/floormats for about 19K out the door...

[SPF 0]

In fact, FWIW, I didn't want the leather package but was forced to get it in order to the stability control. IMHO, leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter (seat heaters aside). My personal vote is for the cloth seats and the sport package.

[mmcdonald]

1. Get the V6, like we say, no matter what else you have to give up to get it. You can always beef up the suspension after.

2. The leather power seats weigh a ton and just slow you down. Not good for a true sport model. They were not offered on the SE Sport in 2004, but I would not have gotten them anyway (I could have gotten the SLE, but wanted the sport and leather was out.)

3. Get the V6.

4. Don't get the I4.

5. Make sure there are 6 cylinders, and not merely 4.

HTH

[l337hxr]

1. Get the V6, like we say, no matter what else you have to give up to get it. You can always beef up the suspension after.

2. The leather power seats weigh a ton and just slow you down. Not good for a true sport model. They were not offered on the SE Sport in 2004, but I would not have gotten them anyway (I could have gotten the SLE, but wanted the sport and leather was out.)

3. Get the V6.

4. Don't get the I4.

5. Make sure there are 6 cylinders, and not merely 4.

HTH

LOL... now i'm contemplating. Go for a bone stock '06 SE V6 at 21K msrp or go for a '06 SE sport i4 with leather and try to hustle it out for 21K.

but i really, really, really like the flares on the body kit. Thats why i really got to have a sport.

I mean i drove the i4 couple times and it had enuff kick for me... but its also the 2AZ-FE motor.. which is the tC motor...which means there will be forced induction mods for it coming out soon right?

[Turbosolara]

my gf got her v6 SE sport out of door for $22500 from cerritos toyota. i guess you just have to deal with them right. tried riverside or san bernadino? lower tax

[l337hxr]

my gf got her v6 SE sport out of door for $22500 from cerritos toyota. i guess you just have to deal with them right. tried riverside or san bernadino? lower tax

whoa!??! was sport v6 for 22500 OTD? was that 2005 or 2006?

[dvdchris45]

Leather or not just get a the V-6. You as well I are fortunate enough our parents have helped a great deal in buying a NEW car (i put down payment as well). I got mine as a high school graduation gift and was grateful as is. Just get the cloth and do aftermarket leather seats.

[mmcdonald]

Well if you just want looks, then get the Sport model. I go for Go every time.

I got mine for 22.2 at CarMax new car dealership in Laurel. 800 below Invoice. V6 Sport. Look at CarMax.com. Do they have one out there?

[silversurfer220]

ookie dokes . You got a good point there PhreakdOUt about the end of month sale. Very true.

but yea, i mean, i can get a super good deal on the 2005..but i really want the 2006 because its a 5 speed tranny! instead of the 2005's 4 speed...

also, like i said, i CAN"T get a V6. I mean i'd love to, but after hearing the gas mileages... it is very depressing. 19MPG hardcore driving and 24mpg casual.... i dunt think i can live with that.

i commute everyday over 60 miles to and from school...... gas prices in CA have sky rocketed to nearly $3.00 / gallon this past weekend.

nonetheless, i did test drive the 2006 solara se sport i4 twice at two different dealers. its got enough kick for me...

i'm still a college student...

My 04 SLE v6 is getting 32mpgs on average with bout 50% in town and 50% highway. Lets just say that I sometimes I do hammer down on the gas. I do put premium in it though, not sure if that makes any difference.