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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used cars are bad and what bout transmis - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By alison sudduth - February 22 - 1:16 amI have been highly disappointed in this vehicle; it has caused me a lot of grief. I will never buy a used vehicle again but then again I thought Toyota built a better transmission and never expected it to go out at 46,000 miles. I have had the engine light on for 8 years and part of the years I had total warranty coverage but it seems it didnt seem to matter. Had work done on it buy Toyota but they only screwed it up and Im paying for it now
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Thought I was Buying Quality - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By NrTsT - November 23 - 2:00 amI bought a Toyota after only owning Hondas figuring they would be about the same in quality. I was wrong. Since buying this car in December of 03 I have experienced many small problems.First the rear speaker deck rattles at the slightest hint of bass (music or or talk radio).Second the car has small rattlings throughout the cabin.Third the manual transmision is loud, notchy and at times very hard to shift.Fourth the AC fan has a highpitched chirping sound comming from it which means another trip to the horrible dealer to complain. Finally the dealer has been no help in resolving any of the above mentioned issues. Will not buy Toyota again:)
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My experience - 2002 Toyota Camry Solara
By Steve I. - April 20 - 11:56 amI leased a 2000 Solara and the transmission died in 2 years. It the took the dealer almost a month to locate a replacement transmission. I would not deal with this car again. I cant wait until my lease is up to dump this car.
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LEMON DUE TO MANUFAC. PLANT? - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara
By LAN - December 17 - 2:00 amPURCHASED USED(12500); TOYOTA CERTIFIED;.fIRST, FRONT END NOISE;FIXED ONE YEAR LATER.NEXT ENGINE LIGHT ON WITHIN 3 MONTHS; SOLENOID? OR TRANSMISSION?.TRANSMISSION OIL DIRTY/BURNT EARLY ON;PROBLEMS 55000;INTERIOR WOOD GRAIN FADES; DEFROSTER HARD FOR ME TO OPERATE; LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS COMING ON NOW...ALWAYS SOMEIN..LEMON?
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Disappointed - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By djintn - December 4 - 8:56 pmSexy car, but with several problems. Been in shop four times within 11,000 miles, and two more times since then at 16,000 miles. Pulls to the left, BIG blind spot to the right rear, rattle in the dash and the 3.3 V6 has a hesitation at low speeds when you give it gas that has almost got me hit (Toyota claims that it was designed that way). Hood is magnet for rocks and paint is inferior. All of these issues can be found on the Toyota Owners boards and on the complaints section of the NHTSA website.
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Functional, but with major problems - 2000 Toyota Camry Solara
By David Hull - December 4 - 9:06 amIve always owned Ford products until this Toyota, and was expecting great things. Bought it with just over 35,000 miles on it. At 55,000 miles, had to replace the engine after a broken push rod destroyed the lower half. Thankfully, the local dealer was able to arrange "good will" coverage, as the warranty had just expired. Ive never been able to keep an alignment on the car for more than a few months, and have major vibration through the steering column at highway speeds. It handles well but lacks any power, as you might imagine with a 4-cylinder. Im sorely disappointed with my first Toyota.
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unreliable - 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
By upset - August 8 - 2:00 amSince owning my 99 Solara I have had numerous mechanical problems. I had to replace the engine in October 01and starter motor in March 02. This car sure hasnt met my expectations of Toyota quality.
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Will never buy a Toyota again - 2008 Toyota Camry Solara
By Debby - April 16 - 11:46 amI wanted a convertible so badly and picked this one (my first Toyota). It has the worst pickup of any car I have ever driven. My VW Beetle was more powerful than this car. I am hesitant when on a ramp to get on a highway because the car fails the get up and go you need. My lease is over in two years and I cant wait!!! On the positive side, it is nice to drive with the top down on a nice day. Oh by the way, the rear window is very poor in terms of visibility so be careful when backing up.
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Slow & sluggish - 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
By SandraDee - February 13 - 1:43 amI thought 220hp meant a little performance. Honestly, my 150hp Pontiac had better acceleration & performance than this thing. It is slow, sluggish, hesitates with acceleration, downshifts when I dont want it too, and jerks like a kid learning a stick shift (its an automatic) at slow speeds. The dealership tells me there is nothing they can do about it, that it is the "drive by wire" throttle system. Well, I HATE it. I would like to be able to accelerate into traffic without worrying about getting hit by oncoming traffic because my car didnt respond when I hit the gas. The dealer promised me that I would "LOVE" my Toyota, but Im ready to trade it in with less than 5k miles on it!
