Overview & Reviews
Introduced as sportier siblings to the mainstay midsize Camry sedan, the Toyota Camry Solara coupe and convertible quietly enjoyed a reputation for being reliable, well built and pleasantly styled, if not excitingly so. For most family sedans, such qualities are certainly considered desirable, but when it comes to coupes and convertibles, we think that a little fun and pizzazz should figure in as well. The Camry Solara never offered much in terms of excitement, but that didn't prevent it from being a popular choice for a midsize two-door.
For both generations of the Solara, rear-seat room was generous and safety ratings and feature content were impressive. Smooth four-cylinder or V6 power resided under the hood, and overall the Toyota Camry Solara was reasonably priced and offered great value considering all that it delivered.
If you're looking for a sport-oriented coupe or convertible, the Toyota Camry Solara isn't going to be your best choice. And the most recent Camry Solara convertible's traditional fabric top can be seen as a bit dowdy given that many competing models from the same time period offer retractable hardtop designs. But if you treasure overall quality, value and comfort, there are few coupes or convertibles that put it all together as well as the Camry Solara.
Most Recent Toyota Camry Solara
The most recent Toyota Camry Solara was the second-generation model and was sold from 2004-'08. It was based on the 2002-'06 Camry sedan and was available as a midsize coupe or convertible in SE, SE Sport and SLE trim levels.
The standard engine on the Camry Solara coupe was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder rated at 157 horsepower and 158 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic (four-speed prior to '06). Optional on coupes and standard on convertibles was a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 210 horses and 220 lb-ft of torque. Prior to 2007, horsepower ratings will appear to be greater; however, this was due to a change in the way horsepower is measured rather than an actual output change. No manual transmission was available with this smooth engine, but the automatic was a modern five-speed with a manual-shift gate for those who like to select their own gears. On the road, the Toyota Camry Solara's suspension tuning delivered a comfortable ride. The added stiffness of the SE Sport model gave it enough capability to provide some fun through corners while still maintaining the civilized ride quality of the other models.
The base SE was decently equipped with most modern convenience features, while the Sport version added a firmer suspension, 17-inch wheels, an exterior body kit, xenon HID headlights and unique interior trim. The top-drawer SLE provided a few extra luxury-oriented standard features. Major options included stability control and a navigation system (which was upgraded for '07).
The Solara's front seats offer plenty of room for even the tallest drivers, but the rear seats are still best reserved for short trips. While Solara coupes can seat three passengers snugly in back, the Camry Solara convertible can accommodate just two. The Solara convertible's standard power top could be raised and lowered in just 10 seconds, and it stowed neatly under a tonneau cover that matched the color of the interior.
Past Toyota Camry Solara Models
The Camry Solara originally debuted for 1999 and was produced through 2003. Mechanically, it was related to the 1997-2001 Camry sedan. Toyota hoped its new two-door would appeal to consumers who wanted the style of a sporty car but the room and comfort of a larger, more practical vehicle. In the first year, only the coupe was sold, but Toyota added the convertible version for model-year 2000.
For this Camry Solara's run, Toyota offered the familiar SE or SLE trim levels. Initially, Toyota offered either a 2.2-liter, 135-hp four-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter, 192-hp V6. Either engine could be had with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. For 2002, Toyota introduced a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 157 hp. Revised front and rear styling was also introduced that year. For 2003 and beyond, Toyota discontinued the manual transmission option for the V6.
At the time, we commented favorably about the Toyota Camry Solara's roomy cabin and smooth engines. Downsides included a lack of driving or styling excitement and the absence of some higher-end features, such as stability control and a navigation system.
User Reviews:
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poor quality but comfortable - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By pchang - December 4 - 10:00 aminterior is roomy and comfortable. however, ever since i bought the car brand new three years ago, i have had it fixed at least $2000. besides the 36,000-mile only tires, all four of the suspension had to be replaced when it was about 42,000.
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READ - Serious Alignment Problems - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Intruder - July 11 - 2:00 amPretty good value but far too many problems on delivery. Tried 2 different dealers for warrantee repairs but couldnt get ANYTHING fixed. These cars have a sub-standard suspension. Many Camrys & Solaras pull to the left and it cannot be fixed. Before buying, take any comparable car for a ride and compare the cornering and then let go of the wheel on a straight road. It will probably pull to the left. Lots of discussion about the problem in Web forums. Search on Toyota Owners Club Executive cars - alignment problems.
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First Toyota/Last Toyota - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By Back to Nissan - December 9 - 2:00 amPurchased new 2004 Solara SE Sport on 9/4/03. From day one, car pulls left and tire pressure warning light is always on. Have taken to dealership 5 times, they have opened a case with Toyota Technical, and still unable to fix. Am developing quite a few muscles holding this car on the road. Have discovered numerous reviews on the internet stating the same problems with this car. Very nice looking car if they could make it go straight.
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toy car - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Jan - November 20 - 5:06 amI have several smaller quality issues with this car. Door not sealing correctly/wind noise/radio-control knobs sticking/carpeting not secured in place/truck not staying closed/consol compartment not staying closed/etc. With the reputation of Toyota, I am disappointed.
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Never Again - 2005 Toyota Camry Solara
By flyer131 - July 12 - 10:00 amWorst choice Ive ever made in a vehicle. Charged full sticker price eventhough I asked what was the dealerships best price as per their "lowest price guaranteed" billboard. Day of delivery took over 2 hours to get the car. Car delivered dirty. I was asked to pay half the cost of the cargo net that was promised by the salesperson. Dealership very unresponsive to my concerns. Steering is very loose. Car seems to float over the road. Tires spin on wet pavement. Drivers seat has NO lower back support. Tilt steering blocks the view of the gauges. 4 cylinders lack power for merging onto highways. Carpet sheds! Worst of all is Toyotas poor customer assistance.
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All flash, no dash - 2003 Toyota Camry Solara
By mysticwarrior - April 6 - 3:53 pmDont let the fact that the top goes down down fool you. Terrible JBL radio, lousy seats, lots of wind noise with the top up, busy HVAC controls, no stick, so so gas mileage, crappy center console is an elbow rest not an arm rest. Purchased this car for the wife cause she liked the way it looked with the top down, but after spending an hour driving it, she would rather drive her 10 year old jeep with 150,000 miles on it. This car may or not be reliable down the road, but its a lot to put up with just for the sake of reliability.
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Doesnt always start - 2007 Toyota Camry Solara
By Zack - March 16 - 11:16 pmI bought my car in march and absolutely loved it. I noticed in august my passenger window didnt always stay rolled up and then my car wasnt always starting. It would eventually start but the dealership just made me feel as if i was crazy or somehow at fault. Unfortunatley, as is with most issues, not everything can be duplicated at the dealership and Ive had my car in the shop at least once a week since November. Its now a week before Christmas. Since my car is under warranty, I hope this issue is resolved before my warranty ends.
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Just not enough.... - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By Deborah - December 20 - 5:00 amIts a pretty car, Ill give it that. But thats not enough to make this a car to love. The 4-cyl engine doesnt have enough power, I worry about getting enough acceleration to merge on to the highways. The car just feels a bit "clunky" to me. Oh, and dont crack the windows if its just stopped raining, youll get drenched; the water pours in....
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Not a bad deal for the money - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By arjun metha - September 15 - 9:26 pmI bought this car with 70,000 miles. It runs good, but did have some problems here and there. I believe the brakes could be better on the car. I have gotten the brakes done by the dealership, and still dont feel a major difference. Other than that the car is not bad overall. One more thing, I believe the headlights could be better on the car.
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Problems - 2006 Toyota Camry Solara
By mad - September 1 - 9:03 pmi have had my car almost for 5 years and in the three months i have had to take it because of the engine light coming on. 400.00 for a new sensor and right now waiting to see what s wrong this time. Toyotas used to last for 150,000 miles or more but this is crazy my car is maintenanced regularly and this is what i get. never never again will i purchase a Toyota
