Bye bye Solara... Hello Camry!

[chrono807]

Ok, so to make a long story short, I sold the Solara because with skyrocketing gas prices, we'd decided it was time to get a Prius. Only thing is that once we'd placed our order, they raised the price - TWICE. After the first increase, we decided that another increase, no matter how minor, would signal the beginning of our search for other options. That's when Toyota added the $500 "Just because we can" price increase from the factory for the '09 models and, of course, just our luck - our car was going to be the FIRST '09 delivered to that dealer (their allotment of the remaining '08's took them up to #17 on their list... we were #18).

So explore other options we did, and we found... a silver 2007 Camry SE 4-cylinder. Dealer was asking $21k certified - pointed out how disappointed we were about the TWO price increases, and since I've bought a car from that salesman before he talked his manager down to $19k, STILL certified, with the Certified Gold. Only 32,000 miles.

So, at the end of the day, it works out great for everyone. Someone else gets a Prius, someone who isn't as anal about price increases as we are.... and we save $6k on the car, while still moving up to a newer car with a LOWER monthly payment than my Solara. Lower insurance too - the Solara's 2-doors make insurance companies see it as a sports car. Even the air benefits - the Camry has a 2AZ from the HXA test batch, which are PZEV!

As much as I would have loved 49mpg (which is what I got on a weekend rental from the Prius), I've always loved Camrys. This is #3 - first a 1997, then the '03 Solara, and now the '07 SE.

Current mods - iPod hooked up to factory aux jack. Future mods - 16" Camry CE steelies for winter, with a set of Nokians. Of course, the TPMS will be yelling at me all winter, but I'll deal.

[QuickSEV6]

Too many doors for my tastes.

Good luck with the new car though.

[chrono807]

Too many doors for my tastes.

Good luck with the new car though.

You know, I definitely miss the Solara. It was such a great car (and of course, selling it to get a Prius and then not being able to GET a Prius makes me wish I hadn't sold it!).

It all worked out though. With the minor styling tweaks, the Camry SE looks like a pretty tough car (and, to be honest, the responsible adult in me has to admit that the 2AZ has all the power I'll ever need... even though the kid in me would have loved to have the 2GR ).

I was never a coupe fan, mostly because the little one always has to be able to get in the back. She was 5 when I bought the Solara, and I was skeptical at first but discovered that the Solaras have FAR better accessibility than any other coupe I've ever driven. Now, at 6 years old, she's shot up like a weed, and it's nice to have 4 doors again.

So a Solara owner turned Camry owner can still call SG home right?

[Jakecallun20]

nice choice, I like the camry SE's. I plan on a new vehicle at somepoint myself, not for a while though. I'm considering the opposite of you, a Nissan Titan 4x4.

[CASTRO]

ive got a camry and been here since the beginning of time. Haha, Camry=orig Solara! Just ask Milt

[Down2TheC]

You might not get the mileage, but I gotta think I'd be embarassed to be seen in one of those goofy lookin' cars. So I personally think you're better off.

[PXLpainter]

LOL Mike - funny how I see the same white haired people driving the Priuses around here that I see driving the Solaras!

Chrono - I think you made the right choice. If you factor in all the increases and markups the dealers put on the hybrids these days, it will take you several years to balance out the same $ in gas savings.

[aleki2424]

i wonder if you can still write off taxes like they used to let people buying hybrids do
good fro you.

[5sfe]

i see hybrid a joke they are more likely to go bad then a normal car...the car will only last for a certain time before the batteries go bad then you have to buy a new set which is going to cost more money.. matter in fact the prius isn't economical then a bmw M3...in reality you can make any car economical, its just how you drive what really matters ...to back up my facts heres a small clip on top gear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o63BOVlzhc ..i'm not and dont want people too be mad at me for no reason..i just dont see the big deal of a hybrid if it isn't friendly to the environment or a gas saver ...spend money the way it should be with pride, fun, and smart...

[lilm]

IF YOU DROVE AT THE OPTIMAL RPM RANGE FOR GAS MILEAGE IN THE PRIUS AND OPTIMAL RPM RANGE IN THE BMW THE PRIUS WOULD BLOW IT OUT OF THE WATER

holy crap sorry bout caps lol

[Black Bob]

I think the fact that Chrono has at least one kid no matter what age warrants looking for something with four doors. If one of my baby-mama's finally located me and forced me to act responsible I wouldn't feel right putting an infant seat in the back of the 'Lara even though it's acceptable. I still like the look of the new Camrys and have to agree with Mike that he didn't lose his street cred to the Pious....er, Prius.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

IMO: people who switch cars to save on gas are loosing out if you didn't buy the car you were intenting to buy (thats why I guess I still have my 'lara). Don't get me wrong, I have a camry and a 'lara, but are equally good (and same)..but what did you really gain other than cheaper insurance and some smaller payments (when you have had lower number of payments left on your lara).

[5sfe]

IF YOU DROVE AT THE OPTIMAL RPM RANGE FOR GAS MILEAGE IN THE PRIUS AND OPTIMAL RPM RANGE IN THE BMW THE PRIUS WOULD BLOW IT OUT OF THE WATER

holy crap sorry bout caps lol

but aint the prius suppose to be economical and friendly to the environment no matter

[Somedude]

IF YOU DROVE AT THE OPTIMAL RPM RANGE FOR GAS MILEAGE IN THE PRIUS AND OPTIMAL RPM RANGE IN THE BMW THE PRIUS WOULD BLOW IT OUT OF THE WATER

holy crap sorry bout caps lol

but aint the prius suppose to be economical and friendly to the environment no matter

If we truly cared about the environment then we would all be driving electric cars or cars that don't use gasoline.

People drive economical cars for the sole reason of saving MONEY, those who say otherwise are just being contradictory.

[5sfe]

saving money.... how? if in 100,000 or lower miles the batteries give out.. then its going to cost alot more then the car.. as top gear said you are not saving money by buying a hybrid you are just going to have more problems... hybrid cars are more likely to go more wrong then a normal camry or any other car...people dont look at the long trem they just see the short trem.... o wow it makes 40 mpg to 45... great now how about the batteries how about the car how about the electrical problems.... the best thing to do is get a disel car if you want mpg's... people are blind.. people think weed is bad for you.. well guess what it helps you..it takes away depression and more and it doesnt kill people..cigerates do.. people are blind and just need to open their eyes..so open your eyes and see that you are wasting more on a hybrid.. i'm proud of my solara i sometimes make 24 - 20 on city with my 2.2 solara and thats driving under 2,000 rpms and on highway 28- 34 on highway driving in speed limit and no a/c with window rolled up...people dont be fooled by the government all they want is money and more money just drive safely and if you want to achieve more mpg's just change your driving style and be safe..