I GOT A GEN 2.5 NOW!!!!
by NeFaRiOuS_SLE » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:23 pm
Yes, yes, the guy who originally didn't have a dime to even get anything tricked out on his 99 SLE finally got a new ride as part of an impulse decision! I even did the honors of doing a review!
The blue SLE kinda catched my eyes, simply because blue is my favorite color.
This one, as most of us know, still has the same engine and same specifications, but obviously, the cross-woven front grille amongst other changes, but the inside had a few nice touches as well.
Some are obviously there, but some are kinda subtle. The one I test drove, for example, doesn't even need the nav option to pair your Bluetooth phone, and the SLE I got has the interior gauges glowing white instead of blue (maybe the Sport has blue?). Also, instead of normal backlit gauges, everything is pretty much by cathode, which the "opening ceremony" turns the needles on first, then followed by the rest of the gauges, even if the lights aren't on (and blacked out when not in use).
Another feature we have learned of in SG posts is the Aux input feature, but some of us probably didn't know even the stereo has the modern "S O L A R A" imprint.
In Motion
When I got to drive this badboy, although the issue of drive-by wire doesn't give you that nice sporty jerk that I was used to in the Gen1, but keep in mind that most F1 race cars also have drive-by-wire, but this was when I was actually driving it on the streets instead of the freeway... With a few cops nearby. But do you noticed that this only had 4 miles on it when I took the pic?
The convertible handles and rides surprisingly smooth, which is still better than my Gen1 hardtop, and I even picked up on the subtle difference of the blinker's clicking being very silent either while my car used to have it echoing when the radio was off.
Speaking of radio, the sound was very good for a stock system, except it still isn't as refined as my Pioneer setup, but no worries, I decided to even keep the Gen1 simply because I still can't get past such a good car (a few of you even remember me joking of keeping the 'Lara even if I were rich enough for a Lambo).
On the freeway, despite it being a convertible, it is still a very solid car with a smooth, buttery ride quality compared to my Gen1. Also, it is pretty silent for a drop top, especially considering that there was a lot of tire roar in the Gen1 with stock rims. Besides, don't I just look SEXAY in this car?
Here's a pic of it with the HID lights on (as verified by the manual leveling switch), although it's a bit washed out by the fact it's dusk and it's taken from a RAZR's camera, it's still about 4500K-5000K (estimated):
Here's the LED lights in action:
With the brakes on:
I hope I helped some way, but this is from a standpoint of a guy who loves Solaras (so all info provided may be biased towards good), and I am also proudly the first person to test drive the '07 at Claremont Toyota!!
*****EDIT TO MAKE IT MORE OBVIOUS*****
Besides, sorry to disappoint but I WAS just fooling everybody... I just only test drove it MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Wish I bought it, though.
The blue SLE kinda catched my eyes, simply because blue is my favorite color.
This one, as most of us know, still has the same engine and same specifications, but obviously, the cross-woven front grille amongst other changes, but the inside had a few nice touches as well.
Some are obviously there, but some are kinda subtle. The one I test drove, for example, doesn't even need the nav option to pair your Bluetooth phone, and the SLE I got has the interior gauges glowing white instead of blue (maybe the Sport has blue?). Also, instead of normal backlit gauges, everything is pretty much by cathode, which the "opening ceremony" turns the needles on first, then followed by the rest of the gauges, even if the lights aren't on (and blacked out when not in use).
Another feature we have learned of in SG posts is the Aux input feature, but some of us probably didn't know even the stereo has the modern "S O L A R A" imprint.
In Motion
When I got to drive this badboy, although the issue of drive-by wire doesn't give you that nice sporty jerk that I was used to in the Gen1, but keep in mind that most F1 race cars also have drive-by-wire, but this was when I was actually driving it on the streets instead of the freeway... With a few cops nearby. But do you noticed that this only had 4 miles on it when I took the pic?
The convertible handles and rides surprisingly smooth, which is still better than my Gen1 hardtop, and I even picked up on the subtle difference of the blinker's clicking being very silent either while my car used to have it echoing when the radio was off.
Speaking of radio, the sound was very good for a stock system, except it still isn't as refined as my Pioneer setup, but no worries, I decided to even keep the Gen1 simply because I still can't get past such a good car (a few of you even remember me joking of keeping the 'Lara even if I were rich enough for a Lambo).
On the freeway, despite it being a convertible, it is still a very solid car with a smooth, buttery ride quality compared to my Gen1. Also, it is pretty silent for a drop top, especially considering that there was a lot of tire roar in the Gen1 with stock rims. Besides, don't I just look SEXAY in this car?
Here's a pic of it with the HID lights on (as verified by the manual leveling switch), although it's a bit washed out by the fact it's dusk and it's taken from a RAZR's camera, it's still about 4500K-5000K (estimated):
Here's the LED lights in action:
With the brakes on:
I hope I helped some way, but this is from a standpoint of a guy who loves Solaras (so all info provided may be biased towards good), and I am also proudly the first person to test drive the '07 at Claremont Toyota!!
*****EDIT TO MAKE IT MORE OBVIOUS*****
Besides, sorry to disappoint but I WAS just fooling everybody... I just only test drove it MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Wish I bought it, though.
Last edited by NeFaRiOuS_SLE on Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:07 am, edited 3 times in total.
- NeFaRiOuS_SLE
- SolaraGuy Semi-Pro Racer
- Posts: 3502
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:59 am
- Location: Diamond Bar, CA
