When will the 2008 Solara arrive ?

[MCOjerry]

Oldkystude, I think it's great that you have stopped by our forum. I'm also glad to know that my convertible is built like a tank! Just curious about that though, what's different about the production of the convertible and the coupe that makes the covnertible more sturdy? Thanks!!

[linmk2]

Thanks for a look in the "inner circle". Glad to hear about the tank like build quailty of the convertibles. I have a 2006, and so far have found it to be rattle free, except for a rear license plate. It drove me nuts for awhile until I found out where the noise was coming from. I'm sad to see Toyota giving up on two door mid size cars. I've always thought that a two door of anything looks better than a four door. So, you are a Studebaker buff? Most of the youngens here may never heard of one. Actually, Studebaker was one of the oldest transportation companies in America. They operated from 1852 to 1966! The only wagon company to sucessfully make the transition to horseless carriages. For whatever reason, I've always found the history of the company rather interesting. Packard too has an interesting past. Anyway, thanks for the more modern up dates. Hope to see more posts from you soon. Welcome!

[ClassySolaraGuy]

Some great reading here. I see lara's everywhere around here in California. Don't see why its doing bad in sales at all.

[MCOjerry]

Some great reading here. I see lara's everywhere around here in California. Don't see why its doing bad in sales at all.

It's cuz they don't sell 500000...they don't even make anywhere near that many per year...very few compared to other models.

[oldkystude]

We only build 68 convertibles a day right now. Will ramp up to about 90 for a few summer months, then back down. Oblivion in September 2008. Don't look for any 2008 changes. Solara is a dead issue. Our plant management tried to keep the Convertible line going past the Sedan death date, but were shot down.

Quoting myself above. Have some new info, to me at least. My team Leader says the Solara Coupe production will end this year in August. The volume this past week was 40 coupes and 84 convertibles a day. Have not confirmed this with any management types but it seems to be common knowledge with all those I asked, and plannig is begining on the new so-called "Ace" as we are getting constant bits of info on how the lines will be set up.[/quote]

[MCOjerry]

so sad. seems that it's earlier than expected.

[PXLpainter]

Funny - I parked right next to a Black/Tan Gen 2 (04-06) Convert. at Wally-Mart today and then when I came out a brand-new Silver/Black Gen 2.5 (07) Convert. was parked on the other side of me! I never see another convertible in the same lot - let alone parked side-by-side.

The guy in the Black/Tan came out just as I was pulling out and said "hey - nice car!"

Wish I had my camera with me...

[MCOjerry]

LOL...I live in 216 unit condo community, and there are like 3 or 4 Solaras, just here Mix of 1/1.5/2, I'm the only convertible.

I saw a really smashed up gold Solara (1 or 1.5) in front of a Jiffy Lube today. Looked bad.

[Paladin06Greg]

My Toyota insider told me the Solara is done. No more..

[PXLpainter]

My Toyota insider told me the Solara is done. No more..

You mean as of '07 or '08 as we've already heard?

[Paladin06Greg]

I heard 2007 is the last year, Could be wrong.

My Toyota insider told me the Solara is done. No more..

You mean as of '07 or '08 as we've already heard?

[PXLpainter]

So which is it, "oldkystude"? Is '07 the last production year or will they still continue into next year for production?

[oldkystude]

So which is it, "oldkystude"? Is '07 the last production year or will they still continue into next year for production?

My "high level" Convertible info is about 5 weeks old. I asked a guy who absolutely would know. Trust me on this. He also had no reason to conceal the plans as the media's info is already well known.

Convertible will be produced till late 2008, probably September.

Coupe info is more of a "common floor rumor", and the word is it dies in August 2007.

Things could have changed in the last 5 weeks. I will not have any more contact with the Big Guy for a few more weeks, but promise I will ask him again. I will also ask if the info is confidential, and if not you guys will get it that evening.

I am not sure why the Coupe is going out other than to free up press lines for more Camry's and to help support SIA ramp up. Since we are only building 40 Coupes a day, that means we only need about 1 minute of press time to make a panel like a sidemember. It takes about 30 minutes to set those dies, and 7 to change them. By the time they have quality checked the first panel it is time to change the dies again, but the die setter has not had time to set the next set! This gets really wasteful so they make several days worth of panels while waiting for the next dies to be set. TPS says we should never make more than 2 shift's worth of production panels. This place is designed to make high volumes and we build 40 cars in less than 20 minutes. It still amazes me but it is a fact.

The Coupe volume does not justify it's existance just on the press shop problems alone. I don't think there are too many other areas where it would matter much. The subassembly areas will have to stay in-place to make hoods, doors, trunk lids for the Convertibles. The presses will have similar problems with the rear quarter panel volumes, but I guess they are going to live with that.

I dunno guys, it does not make much sense to kill the sedan by itself from a production standpoint as they gain little plant real estate, and hoods, doors and trunk lids, inner and outer panels, still need to be stamped, but maybe can move to smaller presses if they cut them now. There is only one press that can stamp out the entire sides of cars and it is under constant pressure because of that.

Possibly the dealers are telling them they do not want any more. We should ask some dealers we can trust to give an honest response. These reasons are pure speculation on my part.

[oldkystude]

Since we are only building 40 Coupes a day, that means we only need about 1 minute of press time to make a panel like a sidemember.

Sorry, my math was off. probably need close to 5 minutes to make 40 panels.

[PXLpainter]

Wow - amazing the demand for coupes is that much lower than the convertibles - yet there are so many ore coupes here on SG!

I guess since it's the last Convertible that Toyota will be offering for awhile, they're going to extend it's production time a bit... Maybe I'll return mine to stock in 2008 and pick up a new convertible so I've got the last production year.