Toyota Solara 2nd Gen | The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly…
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- čas přidán 23. 02. 2024
- Hey guys welcome back to the channel and in todays video we will be talking about an underrated Jdm luxury sports car that’s both a coupe and convertible, the Toyota Solara and giving it sort of a review or buyers guide to this reliable tuner coupe! I hope you enjoy and if you do, please be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more!!
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I am original owner(actually wife’s car). 2006(purchased in 2005)Solara SLE Coupe, 97K miles. 3.3L. Lexus like. Great car. No mods. Getting 27.5 mpg on Hwy. 18 mpg in town. 1timing belt change. No oil burn. No issues. Just maintenance.
Lucky man.
Thank you so much Mark. Great video. A few interesting additional facts of note: the convertible top was one of the big selling points of the car, so much so that I see more convertibles than coupes. The convertible also only came with a V6, so most Solara's on the market are V6's. The gas mileage is unfortunately not as good as you may find initially. The 4 cylinder does get 20/30, but the V6 gets 18/24. Finally, most Solara's that I've seen are automatics, mainly because the convertibles only came with them, and the automatic had a manual shift s-mode where you move the shifter forward and back to change gears anyway. The reasons I prefer this over an accord are more luxurious, a little more spacious, a convertible option, and a much better shifting automatic. I mean, the Accord had a 0-60 time of 7.3 sec with more hp, while the Solara had a 0-60 time of 6.9 sec with a convertible top. Ouch. With all that said, after researching it is this a car you are interested in including in your upcoming ranking videos? I just wanted to see if you would like it, to see from an unbiased source how it mentally compares to the competition. If not, I tip my non-existent hat to your covering of underrated vehicles.
It most likely will show up in some videos for sure, and I can kinda see why the vert option got more love, it does seem nice to drive
Always makes my day when these vids come out
Love your videos man, got me motivated to get an sc ❤
I love my solara 2004 SE v6, nice video
OMG yas. This car is just for me. Wanted a very girly but fun car w/ a convertibility option for the summer for my first college car :3. Also love how it is reported to be super reliable, & easy to work on! So excited to get my first car so I can start taking automotive tech classes at my college & learn how to work on it ^_^.
Im thinking of getting one and just putting some new wrap on it, its a niche car but would be perfect for me!
Sigh...I'm happy for you but also a little insulted. There is no greater insult to a car guy than to say that his car is girly. Typically though that just means it attracts women, which is kind'of a good thing.
LOL
@@ethangrimborne8427 skill issue
Just got a 04 Toyota solara SE 4 cyl auto. Only 98k miles. Great on gas, basic very reliable car. Has everything u need and nothing u don't. The suspension is pretty stiff so its a bit bumpy ride in the city but it corners extremely well.
At least I'm not the only one that thinks the suspension is brutal on rough roads.
I just got a 2001 Solara, one owner under 90k miles. By far the best built car I have ever owned. Truly from another time. First gen convertible with a roll cage
how much did you pay? I'm looking at a 2006 solara convertible 210k for $2200
@@carlbernnglI am looking at a coupe 2007 solara, 170k for 3500$.
@@lagmastermvp3328 thanks
Roll cage in convertible very important
skyrim music was to perfect and ik this fool aint lying
great video fam. you said it shared parts with a camry right?
I hereby pledge 100 personal views to this video.
Lmaooo thanks bro
easy to work on until you gotta change the back 3 plugs. ...a bit time consuming
What in the heck is an alternator tensioner bolt that is ridiculous
It's just a bolt to manually tension the belt. Just torque it till it stops squeaking.
@@ethangrimborne8427 yeah I had to look it up, it's the first and only real repair I've had to make on the vehicle in the year that I've owned it, I've never seen anything like it, it works but its silly
Mark pls 🙏🏾 make a video about the mid 197s Mazda MX 6 pls mark your the best ✌🏽
Hey Mark! Hope you're having a good week so far.
I've recently moved into the United States for my further studies (Rochester, NY) and needed some advice on buying a used car.
Unfortunately, I don't have a choice from refraining to buy one because the layout for roadways is almost anti-walking here. Anyway, plenty of time to vent on that later and I'll first ask about what I should be doing.
1) How do I know that I'll regret after buying a car? As an Indian who has experienced bulky, roaring V-6 engines only behind screens and through joysticks, I have the possibility to own one now.
Like, there are Mustangs and Chargers/Challengers from the mid-to-late 2000s being sold for US$ 7K or less. We also have BMWs, Mercs, Imprezas, Miatas, Audis, and other units from big shot brands being sold at a similar price range. Now the thing is, I'm not sure about the potential recurring costs (maintenance, ownership, insurance, spare parts, mileage etc), so what would be your advice on that? My primary reason to buy a car is for commute, and some irregular long trips. I wouldn't mind getting a beat-up station wagon either, as long as it offers me enough power (I'm guessing 100+ HP is adequate here), heating, and air-conditioning. However, I don't want to rob myself from the fun I might miss by making a pass on a vehicle of higher caliber and power. I don't need it, but I want it.
2) Keeping all of this in mind, what kind of car do you think I should go for? To give you some context, I used to drive a manual 2017 Tata Tigor (about 90 HP) when I lived in Bangalore. It would be great if you can think of used cars that can offer a balance of both performance and comfort in the price range mentioned above. However, if you think that the idea is unrealistic, please offer me some good options for a daily-driver.
3) It's kind of difficult to find a mechanic here to take with me to the seller. How do I get someone to accompany me for checking the vehicle? I've been networking a bit, so hopefully it'll come of use. Besides that, do let me know of some important hygiene checks to conduct before I choose to take a vehicle home (eg clean title, registration authenticity, emission checks etc).
4) It gets pretty chilly in upstate NY due to lake effects and snowstorms. How do I know that the car I take will be prepared for this? Should I look into any specific safety features or ratings that must be prioritized in a car, especially considering the weather conditions here?
5) Other than Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Ebay Motors, are there any other dependable/known platforms to check for used cars here?
6) What are some unknown concerns that I should be prepared for, as an international resident here? I heard that there are thefts of car parts, and altered odometers. Are there more of such overlooked threats that you can think of?
I would more than appreciate it if you can help me with these.
Well, I'm not Mark Roden, but I'll do my best: to start off, if your previous car made 90 hp, the Toyota Solara V6 will be a rocketship in comparison, and even the inline 4 would be an upgrade. In terms of what the best options are for a cheap daily driver, it depends on your budget but generally my top car guy daily's are Honda Civic's, Honda Accord's, Toyota Solara's, Lexus IS 250's, Lexus ES 350's, Mazda 6's, Infiniti G35/G37's, Acura TL's, Acura TSX's, Ford Mustang's, Ford Fusion's, Ford Ranger's, Lexus IS/LS/GS 300/400's, Scion TC's, Mitsubishi Lancer's, and Subaru Impreza's. If I had to pick one it would be a Honda Accord coupe. More space than a Civic, better engines than a Solara. It also is pretty good on gas. I would recommend my Solara second if you want more luxury, a convertible, and a better automatic transmission, while still not taking premium fuel. It also only comes as a two door but with more space. In terms of winter driving, the Infiniti G35/G37, Subaru Impreza, Lexus IS 250, Acura TL, Ford Fusion, and Ford Ranger came with awd options, which is good for snow. But as long as you drive slow and carefully, you should be fine in a fwd car. Mark Roden has a recent car buying tips video on his channel, but to add to that almost always negotiate at least a $1000 off the sticker price, or walk away. CarFax or Autotrader are great websites for finding used cars sold at dealers that will handle the title passage process and not kill you, with a rougb estimate of how "good" a deal the car is. Finally, avoid European cars like the plague, particularly Jaguars, Land Rovers, Porsches, Alfa Romeos, Fiats, and Minis. BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes, and even Volkswagens are also terrible to work on and unnecessarily complicatedly engineered, making them prone to problems, particularly when they are poorly maintained. Hope this helps.
@@ethangrimborne8427 Thank you soooo much. I really appreciate it! 🍻
I gotta ask, what are all the mods in the thumbnail. Looks flawless. Rims, body kit, lowered, etc
Recently got a 2004 3.3L V6 SLE and I love her. She picks up speed very fast and is very fun to drive since I rarely see Solaras in my area. Also added a Bluetooth/aux kit which was super easy to install. Plus mine came with JBL speakers so she’s loud lol. Her name is Solei🫶🏽
Very nice. Personally, I want a bit more response and power to fit modern standards, but it's certainly respectable, particularly for the time.
Wow...I love this car.
It’s amazing owned 1 and loved it
Underrated for sure
Do something about that grill !!
My car has a check engine light for a knock sensor, it's the first gen so thankfully it doesn't put it into limp mode. The sensor is the problem not the engine knocking do you have to take the whole air intake off
lets gooo
Yessuhh
That exhaust is a 4 cylinder Solara. Sounds cute but the v6 i want to do exhaust mod to make it louder not obnoxious though. But it sounds eargasmic imo with a good exhaust
gonna need to do a 1st gen video now, ill help you make it if u decide to make it
Yeah, I kinda like the first gen too, but you don't see them as much.
@@imagenius9574 they are the generation you want if you want performance
you should do 1st gen audi tt
Ok
I am retired and have plenty of money to buy any car I want. I drive a 2005 Solara. Any questions? PS. I got tired of having my BMW in the shop.
Based.
Do the first gen now
Please do the Pontiac g8 next please please
my first car was a convertible solara. i have a vid of when it was straight piped and it sounds incredible (V6). i ended up turbocharging it. it was probably the fastes solara in the world lol.
on a side note, the only manual solaras are the 4cyl. all convertibles are top trim V6 sle. first gen solara had a manual option for the v6. the aftermarket support is absolutely non existent. there was a factory TRD supercharger option but it barely made any power.
funny seeing you here. I watched your solara videos after getting mine in September lol. Did you do any intake mods to it? If possible I'd love a list of mods you did to the car.
They actually do have manual v6 solaras they use the same E153 from the xv20 Camry
@@SlammedAvalon read what I said
@@turbone54 oh my bad you have a second generation thought u we’re talking about the first
I heard tale of a guy who swapped a k24 in a 2nd gen Solara, twin turbo charged it, and essentially made it rwd, with probably 500 hp or so.
Where are you finding these used car posts? I an near that 2007 white Solara, but I haven't seen it. My brother and his wife want to sell me a 2004 for $3500. Too much? They were going to sell outside for 5k.
What mileage? I personally paid 7k for my 2006 coupe se auto for less than 30k miles (basically sat unused for 10+ years, 20k miles were from use as a rental car by an agency). If its well maintained i would say its worth it.
@@neon9016Bro I paid 9k for a convertible SLE with 95k miles. Still worth it. The convertible was worth like 10k more though.
@@ethangrimborne8427 95k on a camry is still damn near new so i can understand the price especially if you’re very into the convertible solara (which im not a huge fan of convertibles but feel the solara has a particularly good look)
5th gen Camaro please!
Fun fact the v6 is a 3MZ-FE one of the most favorite engine to be working on for reliability and simplicity of maintenance. Also Toyota has made terrible engines too as well in some early 2000 models but fixes will resolve those issues and work great. It's just from factory they suck :)
You can go to Lowe's and get 14 ft 2 by 6 and fit it in here not very many but you can get a job done for a lot less gas than a truck
You have to have it ran through the entire car and it will hang out of the trunk be careful but it can be done
I used to own a 2006 solora convertible s model and it was amazing but the only con was overheating
Ahh damn
Interesting, probably needed a coolant change, because that's not a normal problem.
I see a 2006 Solara SE Sport w 155K on CL for $4600 in excellent condition. Not sure if it's a 4cyl or 6. Good buy
If the CL post that you found has pictures check and see if the post contain pictures of the tachometer (RPM) gauge, 04-08 V6 Solara redlines @ 5600 RPM while the V4 counterpart reclines @ 6000 RPM. As for the price that you posted it's a fair price.
@@touv83I appreciate you getting back to me, but the car was sold, LOL. So I'm getting a 2009 GTI w 140000 miles instead. But it's not in the same kind of condition.
If you find a Solara with under 100k miles, I paid $7150 2 years ago convertible. I know I paid higher as there were so many over 150k miles for under $5k
Do 4g eclipse!!
Bettt
You said the SRT4 neon back then made 225hp. Maybe to the wheels but more like 260 hp to the crank
Isn't that what people mean when they say hp: not at the crank but at the wheels?
Nah it made 230hp to the crank
Is it solar powered?
Nah, but it was called the Solara as a poetic reference of a vehicle chasing the sun (because, you know, convertible).
Ouuu very close friend lol
@@markroden the dead souls of Pontiac sun fires ??
Well it is a Toyota
You can get a trd supercharger from the gen 1 trd solara
That’s sick as hell
Good luck finding that though. I have seen what you're talking about, but I don't think it would fit on the 2nd gen's engine. Turbocharger is probably an option of course, but I'd honestly be satisfied with just a feeder intake and a tune.
@@ethangrimborne8427it does
the Solara is really popular in Russia
That's a joke right? Cuz Russia's cold.
Do 2008 Acura Rsx so much potential or am I wrong
He has mentioned the RSX quite a bit. The problem is it's significantly more uncommon (and also less spacious), or else I would have gotten one. Also, it's only better if you build and tune it. It does look better though.
I meant to say tsx 💀
@@ethangrimborne8427 yea he has and that is true
In that case it's worse except for tuning. I would want one though if it didn't take premium fuel, even though it is a sedan.
@@ethangrimborne8427 oh I’m looking too one specially because of the k24 innit
In essence a two door camry
Yep lol
Yes, in other words getting rid of the main problem the Camry had: bad looks, and little luxury.
I know bad in your videos doesnt equal bad, but at 8:20 about the exhaust which is shown is a modified i4. The v6s sound insanely good modified for being v6. Way better than for example not tryna start a war but waaaay better than modified VQs
SOOO true.
2nd
Goattt
1st gen is better