The new Solara Convertible went on sale across the nation in April, with a price tag lower than the equivalently equipped
 |
| More car for less money, it's hard to argue with a sales pitch like that. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
outgoing model, despite its more powerful engine, additional standard features and sportier new design. At $39,000 the new Solara drop-top shaves $505 from last year's Solara convertible window sticker, with $3,000 in added value tacked on, according to TCI. "More car for less money is a combination Toyota is sure customers will find irresistible," stated Tony Wearing, Managing Director of TCI. "The top-down driving fun of the Camry Solara Convertible is even more
 |
| The Solara Convertible's unstable chassis really takes away from the otherwise fantastic overall execution. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
appealing when you see and try Solara's sleek new body design, sporty new performance, exceptional features and unbeatable Toyota quality and dependability." In the end I've got mixed emotions. I find the new exterior design a big improvement over the outgoing Solara's rather staid styling, and the interior is fabulous. The powertrain is also faultless, with reliability that should follow in the tire tracks of the previous Solara, and current Camry and Lexus ES 330, or in other words it should be near the top of its class. But the car's unstable chassis, shaking and wobbling while negotiating imperfect road surfaces would put me off. The Solara Convertible is a great car, with one inherent Achilles heal, and that's unfortunate.
