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April 3, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/toyota_camry-solara_2000

  Bob Storck
EditorBob Storck

POINT CLEAR, Ala. — When Toyota released the name of their latest midsize sport coupe, we knew that it was bound to eventually come as a convertible. When you name a car Solara, you’d be foolish not to take advantage of the connotation.

They weren’t admitting it, but Toyota knew all along that this package would be ideal as a convertible. "From the moment pen met paper, stylists had a convertible on their minds," admits Tony Wearing, Toyota Canada’s vice president of Vehicles Sales and Marketing.

The Solara convertible starts life as a coupe in Toyota’s plant in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. It is then shipped to a nearby ASC facility for removal of the top and structural reinforcement, then is shipped back to Toyota for paint and running gear and interior parts. It’s then returned to ASC for final detail work including interior trim and top installation.

The power folding soft-top convertible roof, available in black and camel fabric, features a full headliner, automatic-down power rear quarter windows and a large glass rear window. When they designed it, apparently they spared no effort making it weatherproof: cruising through a wicked Gulf storm put our Solara to a test we hadn’t anticipated — the leak test. It passed with flying colors.

Fortunately, we also got the opportunity to enjoy the Solara convertible in the fresh air of Northern Arizona, and found it scooted among the mountain vistas admirably. In either version — Solara comes as a 2.2-liter, 136-hp four or as a 200-hp, 3.0-liter V-6, in SE or SLE trim — it’s blessed with smooth power delivery and faultless shifting, if not overburdened with it.

It also handles fairly well for a larger car minus its roof. The Solara convertible rides on a four-wheel independent suspension that includes anti-vibration subframes, gas-filled shocks, and front and rear stabilizer bars. The smooth, comfortable ride is a testament to the fine capabilities of the refined front-wheel drive package that it shares with the Solara coupe and the Camry.

POINT CLEAR, Ala. — When Toyota released the name of their latest midsize sport coupe, we knew that it was bound to eventually come as a convertible. When you name a car Solara, you’d be foolish not to take advantage of the connotation. They weren’t admitting it, but Toyota knew all along that this package would be ideal as a convertible. "From the moment pen met paper, stylists had a convertible on their minds," admits Tony Wearing, Toyota Canada’s vice president of Vehicles Sales and Marketing. The Solara convertible starts life as a coupe in Toyota’s plant in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. It is then shipped to a nearby ASC facility for removal of the top and structural reinforcement, then is shipped back to Toyota for paint and running gear and interior parts. It’s then returned to ASC for final detail work including interior trim and top installation. The power folding soft-top convertible roof, available in black and camel fabric, features a full headliner, automatic-down power rear quarter windows and a large glass rear window. When they designed it, apparently they spared no effort making it weatherproof: cruising through a wicked Gulf storm put our Solara to a test we hadn’t anticipated — the leak test. It passed with flying colors. Fortunately, we also got the opportunity to enjoy the Solara convertible in the fresh air of Northern Arizona, and found it scooted among the mountain vistas admirably. In either version — Solara comes as a 2.2-liter, 136-hp four or as a 200-hp, 3.0-liter V-6, in SE or SLE trim — it’s blessed with smooth power delivery and faultless shifting, if not overburdened with it. It also handles fairly well for a larger car minus its roof. The Solara convertible rides on a four-wheel independent suspension that includes anti-vibration subframes, gas-filled shocks, and front and rear stabilizer bars. The smooth, comfortable ride is a testament to the fine capabilities of the refined front-wheel drive package that it shares with the Solara coupe and the Camry. POINT CLEAR, Ala. — When Toyota released the name of their latest midsize sport coupe, we knew that it was bound to eventually come as a convertible . When you name a car Solara, you’d be foolish not to take advantage of the connotation. They weren’t admitting it, but Toyota knew ...