Questions about the Solara

[sqweter]

I am going to be getting a new car soon and I have narrowed it down between the Acura TSX and the Solara.

So if some of you don't mind I have some questions about the Solara.

Anyone not happy with the car?

What are the known problems that seem to be happpening with most of the 2004 solaras?

How good is the engine?

Does the Navigation system take voice commands like the Honda?

Anyone know the Reso of the Toyota NAv screen?

Anywhere I can find very detailed info on the Nav for the Solara like a manual in PDF format?

Anyone Get H.I.Ds installed on their solara yet?

Anyone get a DVD player hooked up to their NAV yet?

ANyone get an aftermarket Gps NAV system and dvd system hooked up to their solara yet?

And I assume the Solara NAV is GPS?

These questions are all about the 2004 Solara.


Any help you guys can give me would be appreciated. I don't want to make the same mistake I made last time when I bought a car. God damn Intrepid

[bigpow]

You realize that you are comparing two totally different things?
I completely understand, since I did the same!
Same price range and year, right?
It just happened that I picked my Solara (DOH!)

Depends on your purpose - TSX is only four banger, while Solara has optional V6 (I bought the V6)

For city driving - TSX is plenty and maybe better since it's smaller
For long distance (I-5?), its could get tiring

For twisty roads - TSX > Solara

TSX = built in Japan
Solara = 'quality' Kentucky (no offense)

TSX > Solara on quality.
I'm also a member of acura-tsx.com forum, don't see too much complain about rattles or drifts there! Go check it out.

At this point, I'm not happy with the car. (I won't whine here, check my other posts)

Hope this helps.



PS:
I didn't buy the optional NAV - I've got a Delorme GPS along with my notebook.


*edit*

TSX > Solara for its got HID

TSX > Solara for its 360W stereo (Vs 270W of Solara's)


I can't tell you the resolution of Solara NAV, but I can tell you I'm running 1024x768 with my notebook, it's got interactive voice mode too.



I completely know your feeling - the reason I picked this Solara was because I'm very satisfied with my '98 Corolla (rock solid! though built in California!)


*2nd edit*

TSX > Solara because its got 4 doors


Now that I've mentioned all the advantages of the TSX, why the heck did I buy this Solara?

Doh! Doh! Doh!


*3rd edit*

Of course, if you decide to buy the TSX and your TSX has rattles/drifts/problems - I would not be responsible for this information



You SHOULD check with acura-tsx.com dudes too.

[onefiend]

I actually like the TSX, sux there's no optional V6.

As far as styling both are good looking cars. The TSX stocked looks good, but the new 04 Solara looks pretty plain without the sports package.

[TW85]

Considering the problems Honda has been having lately, regardless of where the cars are built, it is tough to say that a Honda will be higher quality. In fact, I think the statement is false in many cases.

[slingshot]

I'm very happy with my Solara SLE V6 and it so far has zero problems or defects. The TSX is very nice looking but a 4 cylinder just can't compare with power, smoothness, and quietness of a good V6. The NAV is great but doesn't respond to voice. Touch screen entry is quick and easy though. I've sat in both cars and like the Solara SLE interior better. I think the TSX is a bit overpriced and car magazines seem to say the same thing. It was supposed to be a BMW equivalent but they've said it comes no where close to their handling. The Solara is powerful, quiet, roomy, and handles just fine (haven't heard a squeal yet on tight turns).
I'd test drive both if you can.
Dave

[onefiend]

try posting this topic in a Acura/Honda forum and see what kind of feedback you get, we tend to be a little bias since we own Solara's

[MGLax13]

We tend to be biased, but it looks like there was alot of recomendations for the TSX over the Solara. Personally, I'd say take the TSX over the new Solara, I'm more of a gen 1 Solara fan though overall.

[slingshot]

We tend to be biased, but it looks like there was alot of recomendations for the TSX over the Solara. Personally, I'd say take the TSX over the new Solara, I'm more of a gen 1 Solara fan though overall.

Try test driving the GEN2. I think you'll be impressed. I've had a GEN1 and there is a big difference. So many improvements you just can't count them. Just found another one when pumping gas for the first time. The gas cap is on a tether and fits into the door much better. The door itself swings open almost all the way for better access while pumping. Just one little example of many tens of little new design touches that elevate this car to near luxury class and gets rid of many little flaws the GEN1 had and which made it look cheap.

Honda has had many transmission problems lately. In my company, one guy with a 2001 Acura CL type S is on his third transmission and two guys with 2000 Honda Accords are on their second. I wouldn't go near a Honda after hearing that and gave up on the idea of buying an Acura CL type S last year. The problems so far in this forum are minuscule compared to transmissions that die on you.
Dave

[cdssolara]

If you're not satisfied with the cylinders in the TSX, try out the new TL. The styling has changed, and it looks more like a bigger TSX than the old TL. Purely from a price standpoint, the TSX is probably the Solara's competition, however.

As for Gen 1 vs. Gen 2 Solaras, it does seem that the Gen 2 is a better car, overall. That's assuming that you like the exterior styling ( I don't, although it's slowly growing on me). I think a lot of us Gen 1 owners are partial to our cars because of the modifications that we've done, and feel that our cars are superior to the stock Gen 2. In my case, I wouldn't even consider a Gen 2 Solara since it's not offered with a manual transmission. I'm sure a lot of people don't consider that a fault, however.

[sqweter]

Yah I have lurked over at acura-tsx.com for a couple months. The main issue seems to be with tons of rattles. I'm just afraid that the 4 banger is not gonna be enough for me. Im coming from a 6 cylinder Intrepid that is quite good when it comes to power (only thing its good for).

I do like the styling of the solara better. But the Nav unit in the toyota seems inferior compared to the Honda based one.

Also the majority of my driving is at night so im a little dissapointed that the solara doesn't have Hids as an option. Especially considering that the PRIUS does have this as an option.

But thanks everyone for your time, I don't wanna make the same mistake that I made with my Intrepid.

[kubi]

Also the majority of my driving is at night so im a little dissapointed that the solara doesn't have Hids as an option. Especially considering that the PRIUS does have this as an option.

400 in the for sale section

[fotodad]

Okay, here's my two cents.

First, this is purely a subjective post on my part, and I am absolutely no expert when it comes to side by side comparisons of features and specifications...but!

Yea, all that horsepower, number of cylinders, and 0-60 stuff is important to me, but the most important issues for me when buying a car are quality, style, and value.

Regarding quality: I've owned two Hondas. One had absolutely no problems, no rattles. The other was problem after problem, new rattle after new rattle. Hondas/Acuras are extremely high in quality of build, probably one of the top three auto makers quality wise. I own a 2004 Solara and I have experienced the left drift and an extremely intermittant rattle. Do these problems make me think less of Toyota's build quality? No!

So, between the Acura and the Toyota I think the quality issue is a wash.

Regarding style: The TSX=Buick look-alike. Solara=unique, sophisticated, fresh, and sporty styling.

Regarding value: Here's where I should keep my mouth shut because I no very little regarding the TSX in this category. But I will say I feel the Solara is an incredible value. I'm not going to list all the standard features, but I feel I bought a Lexus for $5,000.00 less than what a Lexus would cost.

Even with the drift issue I am extremely pleased with my 04 Solara as I was also pleased with my 2000 Solara. I love the luxurious interior, the sporty styling, and the performance. It may not be a BMW but its far from a Buick.

I think the honest information and advise you've gotten from this forum will be quite valuable to you. I hope if you visit the TSX forum they are as honest as us. Putting aside subjective issues of style, I don't think you can go wrong with either car.

Best of luck! I'm assuming you've driven both. Part of making a decision like this is what you feel in your gut is the right car for you. When I was car shopping my decision was between the Lexus ES300 and the Solara.

Enjoy the car shopping journey. It is truly a fun experience to research, test drive, and discuss possible car choices.

Let us know what you decide and why!

[kubi]

Hondas/Acuras are extremely high in quality of build, probably one of the top three auto makers quality wise.

That assumes you don't count any "quality" cars

[Buckeyegirl]

That's funny I had it narrowed down to the same two cars, I ended up with a SE Sport because I couldn't afford the TSX. By time you added the factory ground effects to the TSX it was out of my price reach. I loved the test drive I took in the TSX w/6-speed and leather, sooo quiet too. I don't think the Acura is in the same playing field with BMW etc., but I do believe you get a lot of standard equipment for the money. As far as my Solara the only problem so far is the drift to the left, which I have to take in now that the parts are in. I just hope I don't have the rattles I had with my '02 RAV4 (Rattletrap4) or I'm going back to Honda/Acura. If I was in the market for an Accord EX 4-door I would choose the TSX for sure.

[stockae92]

let me bring this old thread back to life (came across by search :p )

this is something that i went through with my purchase as well. TSX vs Gen 2 Solara. (this is one of my comparison, many other that i had to do :p )

i drove both the TSX 6sp and auto. The 6sp has nice pick up (only 2 people during the test drive, A/C was off) and i like to rev high. throttle has very slight lag, and for some reason it seems to have more [road] noise on the free than i've expected. but the gears are oh-so-smooth. decent handling for a [sporty] sedan. too bad my current situation bias to an auto transmission (not by choice). if the 6sp got a LSD, better brakes and a more aggressive suspension setting, then that's another story.

i test drove the auto with 4 adults and A/C on in a hot summer day. the short coming of the 4 banger becomes very apparent. it lacks power everywhere except for in the higher rev range and the noise level rises with the revs. and that's only allow you to get up to speed with others. and the rest of it is just stand TSX matters. other than those, i love everything else about the TSX. IMO, its a little over priced, but i don't see acura has any other choice for the price segment. i wished Honda brought the TSX (Accord in Japan and Europe) as a Honda, make it lighter (less sound deadening and luxury, and add "sportiness") and cheaper. If they brought over the Euro R, then now you are talk. lol

The reason why i picked Solara SLE V6 over TSX is the power, quietness and smoothness of the V6 [when curising] (even with passenagers), have plenty of rooms in the front and back (even though it lacks 2 doors. and arguably more comfortable backseat. i tried it myself and i am more than 6 feet tall), and Solara cost less when simularly equipped.

And apparently, the name of "Acura" cost more than the name "Toyota". (luxury brand name will cost you, and thats not something that i want to pay for since that's not something that i can quantify. you might argue luxury brand name will hold their value better, has better service and has more blings, but that will cost you more on everything else.)

TSX has better styling, better Navi (with voice control over a lot of the car's function as well), dual zone climate control and 2 more doors, standard HID (i will be trying HID on my Gen 2 Solara, but i do believe standard OEM HID will gives you a better package), i'll give you that.

at the end of day, only how you want to spend your money matters.