Here’s how the Toyota Solara attempted to be the “sporty” Camry 

i sold so many many solaras when they arrived in 99 as a toyota salesman in florida.

Proudly own a 2004 coupe since 2009. Sandy has been trouble free in the 11 years of ownership and I have no plans of getting rid of her.

My dad bought a 2003 in 2006. Car only had 20k miles, but had been totaled and rebuilt. He got it for cheap and drove it up until about 2 years ago when my little sister bought it from him. Car is a champ, took so many roadtrips in it, always got us to where we needed to go

I've owned 2 Solara' a 2004 V6 that I have had since 2010 and a 2008 I bought new. Very solid cars overall.

It's too bad the 2 door coupe has gone away. Now everyone wants ugly look alike SUV's and pickups, that have all the aerodynamics of a brick and the style of a window air conditioner grill. All in white, black gray or silver. BORING

Thank the algorithm, this is an awesome series!

Watching as I sit in my Toyota Solara and thinking how much I love my car.

The second Gen Solara received the 2.4 liter 2az-fe engine and was more powerful than the 2.2 liter that the first Gen had. I know, because I'm a Camry lover too.

Thanks for the video Pat. I never knew about the roll over protection feature.

I worked on a project back in 06 as a transportation coordinator and I had to rent a Solara. I really enjoyed driving it for the two weeks we had it.

Thanks for this video! I feel like the Solara is a great, often overlooked vehicle. I too owned a 2004 Solara (SLE V6, Coupe) for 6 years before joining the SUV community. It was and still is my favorite and best car I've ever owned. I plan on eventually buying another, but this time I'd like to get the SE sport in a 5spd manual.

Nice video. I still own the 2004 Solara convertible I bought new. It has 107,000 miles on it and still runs great. But I retired to New Hampshire in 2018 so now it only comes out of the garage between the first week of April and the week before the first snow in October or November. Cruising New England Spring, Summer and Fall with the top down.

I have a 2004 solara coupe with the 5-speed manual transmission. It's an awesome car. My grandfather bought the car new in 2004 and after his passing in 2014, it was given to my dad. After I got my license last year, my dad gave it to me.

My dad has an Absolutely red 2005 Toyota Solara Convertible with beige top and interior. It was beautiful chrome wheels. It still has less than 50k on it as he doesn;t drive it during the winter. It is his pride and joy.

Those are actually pretty attractive coupes, and based on good reliability. Never attracted much interest from me, cause I'm not a big fan of larger front wheel drives, but I was always annoyed at the everything's-a-sedan-or SUV diminished choices in the market.

If you buy something like this for your mid life crisis i cannot even imagine how the rest of your life was...

The solara with the 3.5 isn't a bad ride good power, brakes etc. It's not a Corvette but far superior to the craptastic Sebring.

my Mom had one of the late 2000's convertibles (white with tan top), and when she got rid of it a few years ago people were actually approaching her on several occasions if she wanted to sell the car. Apparently their value is holding? I got the same with my 2003 Infiniti G35 as that is the most attractive G generation.

The Solara Convertible is one of my favorite vehicles back in 2005 😍

I have a 2008 solara convertible v6 sle and I’m so thankful to have it as my first car it is so fun to drive and absolutely incredible

2000 Solara V6 was the first car I bought brand new. Knew it was the car for me the minute I drove it. Fit me perfectly, and felt so solid. I drove it for 20 years until I traded her in for a new Camry last year. You’ve already covered a lot of the cars I’ve owned but I’ll throw out the Dodge Neon as a potential topic. That’s what I had before the Solara :)

I’ve been driving my ‘00 Solara SE V6, from 60’000 up to 131,851 as of today. Not a bad car so far

I love my 1999 Solara . I bought it used in 2003 with only 20k miles on it. I consider the Solara a spiritual replacement for my very fist car, the 1979 Olds Cutlass Supreme. Could you do a video for the Camry of the 70s and 80s, the Cutlass and its G body twins? Also could you do the GM 10 replacements?

My first car was a 1999 Toyota Camry LE V6 when I was 18. I remember my dad took me to Toyota dealer and paid $26000 cash back in 12/1998. I was so happy, I was trying so hard to mod that car, I changed carbon fiber hood, TRD muffler, TRD shock and spring, and almost TRD supercharger. During my 4 years ownership I put well over 150,000 miles. It was a great memories. So, I totally understand what you saying and how you feel. Also I raced many cars on the street with my Camry V6 and I won most of time. I even won ‘00 Lexus IS 300 and GS 300.

I proudly drive a red 2006 Coupe. I love it. I've had it almost 3 years and have only put tires and a valve cover gasket on the car. 170,000 miles and still running strong. They realy should have marketed it as a Lexus, it had a lot of Lexus-esce style about it especially the 2nd gen.

The Solara convertible, especially its later years looks like it borrows heavily from the Lexus SC430. Does anyone know if they were built alongside each other?

yesterday, I saw a second generation solara. It’s beautiful seeing it in person.

I’ve got a 2004 Solara 4 cylinder SE, and it’s hands down the best little car I’ve ever owned. I’ll probably be driving that car till I drop dead

Had a bud in highschool who’s (now ex) girlfriend drove a gold Solara. She was... A handful.. Hope she’s taking care of that nose, she put it through a lot when I knew her. ❄️

I just sold mine a month ago and I miss it everyday 😞

Bought a brand new '99 SLE V6 and drove it 22 years and 250k miles. Great car. Bought a low mileage used '03 SE convertible with a 4 banger. Drove it a few years. It was just "ok"...the roof leaked & wore out too early, the engine occasionally started with a cloud of smoke. And yes, it had a lot of body shake. So I sold it. I then bought a "cream puff" '06 SLE convertible. It was a much better car- biggest complaint was that some LCD displays were utterly impossible to see in daylight. I never could get behind its bulbous looks- the Gen 1 was far better looking. I sold it and bought a Highlander. But I may buy another Gen 2 Solara ragtop because its a great car...but, geeze, can I get past its looks? Its pretty darn ugly, compared to say, a Mustang or Camaro.

I was driving down the Mass Pike one morning and I saw this white vision driving besides me. It was a white Solar that has custom matching rims (or covers) and had all the badges removed for a clean, classy look. That vision still haunts me.

First gen Solara looked so much better than the second gen.. Especially from the back, second gen had SUCH and ugly ass!

Toyota Cressida would be a good car to cover. Only offered three model years.

Not a fan of convertibles but will miss the Solara Coupe for sure, especially the second gen, even though it didn't look as good as the first gen. The utilisation of the larger 3MZ-FE V6 wss also appropriate IMO. If only it were available with a 6MT and helical LSD along with any available sports performance package group......

The Solara was FAR from small. It was 190 inches long

Toyota gave up on couples and let Honda have it. Their smaller car, the Toyota Corolla has never been offered in a coupe. Smaller cars are not very popular in the USA anymore

I friggin loved the first gen styling the last gen got too blobby

Possible car suggestions, my very first car at age 16 (1987) was a 1979 Pontiac Sunbird, that was awful only lasted a few months before I got 1980 Mazda GLC Sport, followed by my 1984 Toyota Corolla SR-5, which was totaled. My first new car was 1990 Plymouth Horizon, which was a great car put 135,000 miles on it in 3 years, and bought a 1993 Dodge Shadow ES. I really loved that car. Eventually my other half and myself had 1995 Ford Escort LX, and 1996 Ford Escort GT, both with 5 speeds. We ended the 1990's with 1997 Toyota Corolla and 1999 Chevy Prizm (they had dropped the Geo name by then)

I had an 04 Solara. drove it 315k miles without any problems besides oil changes and brakes. I loved that car. A drunk driver totaled it

Best car ive ever bought...I got close too 425.000 miles. With basic maintenance , tough car

Thank you for sharing your Solara story. I can tell you this is the first car my wife actually wanted. Her first was a used 2001 red tan top.

Just discovering the Solara. I bought my grandson a 2002 SE coupe with the 4 cyl, and overall I am pleased.

My elementary school principal had a white Toyota Solara convertible and a beige Lexus RX350

This was a very well thought out video. Thanks for your insights... and the video.

Excellent job. One small point though. The four cylinder was not a a carry over to the second generation. It was a 2.4L VVTi engine with 160 HP. It was a completely different engine compared to the previous 135 HP 2.2L engine of the 1st generation.

I drive a 1st gen (2000 MY) and they indeed can be fun sporty cars... if you replace the bouncy "grandma-car" suspension with some coilovers (slammed obviously) and get rid of the balloon tires for some bigger wheels lol. it is a little ricey to modify one of these "luxury sports" cars that were kinda made for old people but at the end of the day it's still a dependable toyota, even when you mod the crap out of it.

I think the Solara looks more like a Avalon coupe...

When I was 12 years old in 2000(after I turned 12 in August 31st , 1999), my Mom's friend picked me up in a new Toyota Solara and we went out. When I was dropped back home, my mother asked me what kind of vehicle was that(due to me already being a vehicle buff since the early 1990s) , and she was shocked that I told her it was a new Solara! P.S. This was in New Orleans by the way.

Do the Taurus! My grandma had the 1st gen my mom had the 3rd gen and I have the final gen as an adult now.

I had a 2004 Solara SLE V6 silver convertible and loved it. I wanted a convertible that could comfortably fit 2 adults in the back along with a decent sized boot(trunk) and there weren't a great deal of options. This was perfect. Never had an issue with it, only sold because I moved back to the UK. Thanks for the video!

I didn't know until I saw your channel that so many convertibles has another company do it with no added rigidity. I remember driving a friend's new Beatle vert and it pretty bad. The car also sucked imo driving one another time with 4 others squeezed in so I had the front seat moved forward and couldn't see crap. I always liked the solara never drove one though, it looked like it could've been the avalon coupe.

I have one of the few winter survivors 2nd gen 3.3L V6 SLE Coupe (05') models in Canada. I love the thing. All leather, heated seats.. mechanical parts available everywhere.. And used they're a great deal! I love the thing but tbh I'd also swap it for another car any day. It's not really sporty like the gen1. the suspension is very meeehhhhh and cloud-like. But for a student car on a budget, an absolute steal.

The Solara with the V6 and stick was actually a pretty great drive.

Such a beautiful car, especially the convertible.

When I was still working at a shop, we had an older lady come in with a TRD supercharged V6 Solara with the 5/SPD. We thought she was BS'ing us when she said it was boosted until we popped the hood. Wouldn't mind taking one for a spin

My sister Jessie had a 2004 Toyota Solara and (despite her mistreating it) it was a really great car and extremely dependable until the day she totaled it.

just a suggestion for what cars we dont see..., My family bought a 1980 Pontiac Phoenix SJ in the fall of 79. We may have been the first one to buy one from that dealership. It later became my car in 1989, Other than a junk 4 speed manual trans that ate 2nd gear twice, was very trouble free. I also owned a 80 Buick Skylark, no major problems.

My 2004 solara sle 2.4 has 300,992 miles on it, and can still run smooth going 140mph, ill drive it til it dies!

I was wondering if you've ever done an episode with the DSM triplets (Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymouth Laser/Eagle Talon)? I had both a Talon and Laser, a 2.0l engine, and an AWD version that I loved. I actually owned 3 of them that I loved. I had both a Talon and Laser 2.0l and an AWD Talon TSi which was my favorite. I also briefly had a Dodge Stealth RT twin-turbo AWD that was amazing which, of course, was based on the same platform.

I used to have a Dodge Stealth that I just loved! I am the owner of a 2007 Solara that I have had a few years now. ( pearl diamond white with tan top) I love this car so much & it is a blast to drive. It is in great condition but I can't wait to cherry it out. Best car. The blind spot when the top is up is a bit of a pain, but I got blind spot mirrors & refuse to let anyone be in my blind spot or drive like they are late to their own funeral around me. I can hit 100 mph pretty quick when I encounter those that want to ride my ass or be too aggressive. I just wish it had a v8 & manual transmission!

Would’ve loved to see the final model year of the Solara with the 3.5 2GR-FE V6

My first car was a 73 El Camino SS. I have always had a fascination with the truck... car... trar.... Ute style vehicles.. I think the story of some of the El Caminos smaller cousins might be interesting. Dodge rampage, Subaru brat or the like. Awesome channel with great content!

Owned a 2nd gen for four years. Wasn't the car I was originally looking for but it ended up being the best car I've had so far.

Just got my 99 solara as my first car. 212,000 miles still running strong.

I owned a 2000 Toyota Solara with a 3.0 Liter V-6, a 4 speed automatic transmission and had the SE Package and was a hard top model, it was a great little car that I owned.

I had a 2002 2.2L 4cyl 5speed manual Solara. The 2AZ-FE engine in it was Toyota's go to engine for a bunch of models and had some major upgrades in 2006. More aggressive exhaust porting, internal pistol oil squirters, etc. That engine was also in the Xb and Tc (as well as various models even the RAV-4). There is a rich aftermarket for tuner mods, making it a sleeper waiting to be "woke." There was even a TRD supercharger kit available. the swap from gen 1 2AZ-FE to a gen 2 is crazy easy and they are plentiful and cheap. I even grabbed a 2008 JDM version for around $1K and have modded it into a beast which could embarrass a similar aged Si(S) with ease. Although I eventually passed it down to my nephew, who has continued modding it; I have neighbor doing the same mods right now. The Solara is the platform that isn't known as a platform and the import sleeper from hell!

I've owned a 2004 Solara Coupe for almost 4 years now, with my sister owning it for almost 6 years before that. Other than the awful rear visibility (fixable with modern tech) it's a great machine. I've scarcely had trouble out of it, and I find it balances performance with utility quite well with a back seat larger than my wife's newer Corolla and a sizeable trunk. Also, my dog loves to stick his head out the sun roof while driving through town. Edit to add: I live on the Gulf Coast and there are still dozens of Solaras running around looking and driving great in my city. When I moved here I was struck by just how many of them there were. I couldn't go a single day without seeing at least one or 2 unique examples. It's interesting to see the different levels of care some have had, as well as seeing the all too common damage to the rear corners due to their poor rear visibility lol

Daihatsu Rocky and chianne

I have a 2007 V6 sle dark metallic blue... one of the best cars I ever owned

As an owner of a 04’ solara I think it’s a pretty nice car tbh it runs well and sounds great without a muffler

A solara with a V6 and a five speed was a pretty fast car.

Only Mercedes-Benz SL-Class survive the mid-size coupe/convertible market. Even Lexus have to stop producing the SC430 in 2010

Nice video! It would be cool to see 80s iroc camaros, or any Cadillac eldorados

Awesome video! I've been looking to buy a solara for a while now so this was very informative and helpful!

Man, if I ever owned a Solara convertible from brand new, I promise you I would never sell it. Toyota needs to make a convertible again. I am hoping the new MR2 will have a convertible option.

if I weren't legally blind/autistic I wanted either a Solara SLE V6 Convertible in either Red Flame Metallic Indigo Blue Pearl or Gold dust Metallic over silver interior or a Chrysler Sebring LXI V6 convertible in deep garnet red metallic/Blue Satin Glow or Sapphire Blue metallic over sandstone tan but with the Sebring I'd have opted for the manual transmission because Chrysler's automatics at the time had a penchant for dying early around 80,000 miles while the Toyota autos didn't have that issue and I likely would've learned to drive an automatic first anyway. Camry didn't become the best selling sedan until 1997 model year prior to that it had been the Ford Taurus for 5 straight years 1992-1996

I have a gold 2000 Toyota Solara SLE. 204K miles! Toyota means trust!

I am pretty sure the BMW roll bars are spring loaded, they have a reset procedure as well in cases where spirited driving causes them to pop out

1997 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE....!!! (My Mid-Life Chrysler)

I am a Toyota Tech. I bought a 2000 Solara SLE new, Pearl White with Charcoal Leather. I still own the car with 441,000 miles. I am overhauling the engine soon. I'll never sell her...

I wish Toyota would make a convertible again, I want Toyota reliability with a drop top and a manual transmission.

I was always on the fence about the Solara.

Khadeem's Family From Okeeheelee Middle School Drives The Solara Back Then.

I just get 2007 convertible whit 130 k miles

My Family And Ms. Lynn Drives The Toyota Back Then.

I wish they kept making the Solara into the 10’s, or at least made a 2-door Camry. I would have also loved a Camry Wagon, but alas

Best car I ever owned was my 02 solara 5 speed V6 I miss it 😢

1982 Plymouth Champ "Twin Stick"

I never really liked this so much.....definitely a 'family' convertible. More for someone like my mom.

The Solara is basically a reliable, and better built Chrysler Sebring coupe /convertible

Did want the hurt performance with the ac on ? Aren't convertibles the heaviest model and less rigged ??

I got a 2008 sle love it quiet and peaceful inside and power wend u need it and mpg are great for a v6 seems to waste gas like a 4 banger averaging around 24 miles to the gallon of course baby acceleration we d i go road rage mode maybe 16

No manual is gay

As a teenager I always thought the solora was a rebadge soarer or lex sc400. I blame gran turismo from the mid 90s.

Had a 04. Now have a 08. Sad toyota will never build a camry coupe again. A new solara is the only new car I would buy

1994 Pontiac Bonneville

Hope you see this but I had a cherry red Pontiac sunbird with a white soft top I think it was a 93

im trying to buy one of these, reviews say it was a great car released at the worst time

If you are looking for another car to RU-vid, infinity q and g series. I like your videos.