Comments on: Toyota Solara convertible saved in eleventh hour

By: jcordero

jcordero — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:02:24 +0000

Props to ktulu. If the Solara is not going to be redesigned, then why keep it? It’s like keeping the Buick Park Avenue because 10,000 retired (no disrespect) people said that they like the old Buick. NOT WORTH IT!

By: ktulu

ktulu — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:54:05 +0000

not wirth saving

By: nitinsharma1000

nitinsharma1000 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:08:50 +0000

Its funny how people who drive this think they are driving a ‘cool’ convertible. Some prob even think its a sports car.

By: inline6

inline6 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:01:08 +0000

The Solara makes the Monte Carlo look like an 8C Competizione.

It’s ugly, bloated, amorphous, and based on the 2002-06 Camry.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:21:39 +0000

They need a convertible Scion. Smaller, sportier, more affordable.

By: jonnycat

jonnycat — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:48:58 +0000

I guarantee, the G6 Convertible sells more than the Solara convertible.

By: rodeo40

rodeo40 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:18:41 +0000

Why…that is one ugly-ass car

By: Kaizen

Kaizen — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:38:54 +0000

Toyota would have been stupid to kill Solara, especially Solara convertible. There really is nothing in the competitive market that is better than the convertible. The Sebring is crap, and no one knows about the G6 conv because GM slacked on effective advertising. And convertible makes up a significant part of Solara sales for these reasons.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:45:46 +0000

It’s the perfect car for empty nesters because if any of their dumbass offspring come back to roost they’ll be too embarrassed to borrow it.

By: macabre

macabre — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:33:43 +0000

I dislike this car. I’ve always though of this one for women and old men who know nothing of automotive design.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:16:05 +0000

The Solara has neutral styling… it doesn’t turn any heads… but it’s not what I’d call ugly. Go look at the Sebring convertible… that’s ugly.
The lack of any performance goodies is certainly what killed a lot of this car’s desirability. You just can’t build a sporty coupe and leave the sportiness on the drawing board. Of course I haven’t seen the bunch of geriatrics over at Toyota turn out anything sporty since they killed the Celica GT-S… I don’t think they care at all about performance anymore. Funny though… b/c the V6 Camry is a really quick car. Upgraded suspension, body kit, rims, exhaust, & a 6-speed manual would make a sweet TRD Camry. That’ll never happen though. Even the Avalon is 300hp now… but you don’t see anyone under the age of 60 driving one of those.

By: Ryegor

Ryegor — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:14:06 +0000

I am not surprised when I see an ugly car at showrooms – I am surprised when I see that somebody drives one.

By: Mugen Power

Mugen Power — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:35:25 +0000

It’s funny that the convertible gets saved because of the few I’ve seen on the road, their tops were always up even when it’s beautiful outside.

By: Fletch

Fletch — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:12:30 +0000

Years back, I bought a used ‘99 Solara V6 5MT and put a TRD S/C with smaller pulley, high flow y-pipe and race clutch/lightweight flywheel. It was great for front drive 1 wheels peels, smoking riced Civics and surprising the hell out of Mustang GT’s.

No love for current body style though, looks like a turd.

By: krautninja

krautninja — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:47:32 +0000

they shoulda axed this car went back to the drawing board and came up with a coupe to better compete with the accord/altima/g6. those 3 looks sporty and are still refined enough to be an everyday driver. The solara (and most of toyota’s line up) looks like a bulky mutated camry minus 2 doors. The first generation solara had it right, the current one…not so much

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:42:25 +0000

Sorry to hear about the stay of execution.

By: brassmonkey

brassmonkey — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:41:37 +0000

Thank God. It’s Monday, and after reading this, I have a reason to LIVE!!

By: neptronix

neptronix — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:30:27 +0000

Whatever you say.. i happen to love the look of the solara, convertible included. I would own one right now if they offered a performance model. Lack of a manual transmission in the v6, and options for better handling would make this basically a sophisticated man’s tC and could have a lot of tuner appeal.. basically would make it a cheap FWD lexus.

IMHO toyota has a half and half mixture of good and bad ideas but at least they are trying to stand out somewhat.

By: SJMURRAY

SJMURRAY — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:15:46 +0000

Ditto what megeebee said. I cringe every time I am assigned this car at Hertz. I hate this thing.

By: megeebee

megeebee — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:13:37 +0000

Further proof of the failure of art education in our country. The Solara convertible is, almost without peer, the ugliest vehicle available for purchase in the US.

“….but it’s a Toyota, so it MSUT be good……right?”

By: jonnycat

jonnycat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:52:46 +0000

Wow, those are pretty ****ty numbers. If a third were, and I’m being generous, convertibles, it’s less than 10,000 units / year.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:49:51 +0000

A good move by Toyota. The Solara is a solid car… and ditching it would mean no convertible in the product line at all.