- 127,439
- 5,597 fair
- Yuma, AZ
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- autoshopper.com
2004 toyota camry solara review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Stylish coupe and convertible join the popular sedan. introductionthe toyota camry continues to be the best-selling passenger car in america, with more than 413,000 sold in 2003. Toyota's reputation for quality, durability and reliability are a big part of the reason. The camry is the perfect transportation appliance, flawlessly performing its duties, never annoying its owner. Its soft suspension smoothes out beat-up city streets. The interior is ergonomically excellent, with big climate and audio knobs that are easy to adjust. The seats are comfortable. What's not to like? how about the sporty look of a two-door? How about being able to drop the top? enter the toyota camry solara. At the same time, the solara coupe and convertible are built on the same platform as the camry sedan, and offer all the same quality, durability and reliability, while maintaining much of the practicality. Both offer easy, carefree operation. Both give their owners a sportier lifestyle without the cost and impracticality of a true sports car. Both are high-quality cars. The solara convertible was unveiled at the 2004 chicago auto show in february. and don't think the camry sedan has been ignored for 2004. Sporty se models offer a new 3. 3-liter v6 rated at 225 horsepower. An automatic is standard on all other models. the camry solara coupe comes in se, se sport, and sle trim levels. The le v6 22,260) adds abs with electronic brake force distribution (ebd), an engine immobilizer, and 15-inch aluminum wheels. the camry se 19,875) is a sportier model, with higher-rate springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars, along with higher-effort steering and bigger (16-inch) wheels and tires. A three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and lots of bright trim add zing to the interior, and a power moonroof is standard. The se v6 23,315) adds abs, ebd, the engine immobilizer, and aluminum wheels. the camry xle 22,295) is the most luxurious model, featuring wood-grain trim, power driver and passenger seats, automatic climate control, jbl premium stereo with in-dash six-cd changer, driver information center, an alarm system with engine immobilizer, a cargo net, and a rear-window sunshade. Anti-lock brakes and automatic transmission are standard. The xle v6 25,405) replaces the standard steel wheels with aluminum wheels. the solara se coupe 19,120) is the base level in the two-door lineup and comes standard with abs, side-impact airbags, 16-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, mirrors and locks, remote keyless entry, am/fm/cd/cassette. The solara se v6 coupe 21,450) is identically equipped. the solara se sport 20,615) adds a sport-tuned suspension and steering, lower-profile summer tires on 17-inch wheels, and flashier trim inside and out. Se sport v6 22,945) is similarly equipped. the solara sle 22,995) is the more luxurious model with automatic climate control, power moonroof, jbl stereo with six-disc cd changer, power seats and woodgrain interior trim. The sport-tuned suspension comes standard. leather upholstery is optional for the camry se and xle and solara sle coupe 1,220-$1,630). A navigation system is optional on the camry se v6 3,080) and xle v6 2,670), and solara sle v6 coupe 1,350). we highly recommend abs 300) for models that don't come with it, along with side-impact and side-curtain airbags 650) or, better still, a package for v6 sedans that includes the full set of airbags plus electronic stability control (vsc), traction control, and brake assist 1,300). Side-curtain airbags are available as a stand-alone option on any coupe 400), but electronic stability control 650) is offered only on the sle v6. walkaroundthe toyota camry presents a sculptured appearance, with slightly flared wheel arches and a distinct dual crease line in the hood, the latter leading nicely into the grille. To some extent the smooth lines of the sedan camouflage its height; the current car stands 2 inches taller than the pre-2002 model. Overall, it's a solid-looking car, stylish yet conservatively so. the new solara looks rounder and more massive than the previous-generation solara, and it is larger. Solara shares the camry sedan's 107-inch wheelbase. It is 3. 3 inches longer overall than the sedan measuring 192. 5 inches from bumper to bumper. the solara coupe looks like a stylized version of the sedan. It's a more adventurous design. The roofline is sleeker and the rear is totally different from the camry sedans, reminding us of the lexus sc 430. The arc-shaped theme features a continuous line from the front bumper, over the roof, and down to the rear bumper. Just below the beltline, a character line flows in a gentle s-curve from the teardrop headlamps to the teardrop taillights. The solara looks aerodynamically efficient, and it is, with a cd of only 0. 29, making it slip through the air much more easily than the previous solara, good for wind noise, gas mileage, and speed. The outside door handles are easy to grab, much better than lever-style handles. the solara convertible features a glass rear window. The power top folds down in just 10 seconds. Toyota says the convertible's body structure was designed from the ground up for topless motoring, unlike the previous generation convertible, which was adapted from the then-current coupe. Toyota tells us to expect improved torsional rigidity, which should translate into a more solid feel and a quieter ride. The design, styling, engineering of the solara was completed in the u. And it is built in the u. S. interiorthe toyota camry has a comfortable interior with controls that are simple and easy to operate. Everything is laid out simply. Optional power-adjustable pedals 120) help shorter drivers find a more comfortable and safer driving position (farther from the airbag-armed steering wheel). radio and climate controls are mounted high in the center of the dash for easy access. Three big knobs mounted prominently in the center of the dashboard are used to manually control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning on se and le models. Xle models get automatic climate control with a smooth tactile feel that reminds us of lexus, which set the modern standard. The stereo uses big tuning and volume knobs and big buttons that make it easy to operate, whether scanning for radio stations or moving between songs on a cd. We found the audio quality on the available jbl sound system a bit lacking, however. the instruments are located in a relatively small pod right in front of the steering wheel, with a large half-moon tachometer and matching speedometer. The fuel and temperature gauges are located within the two larger instruments. Lights and windshield wiper/washer controls are on stalks on the steering column, leaving the left lower edge of the dash free of switches. the sedan's dashboard is relatively plain, with no large curved surfaces, and it is set relatively high. The dash blends nicely into the door panels, but the cover for the passenger-side air bag is noticeable as the seams show clearly. Many other manufacturers have managed to make the passenger-side air bag invisible. a wide center console separates the two front bucket seats and contains useful storage areas. The parking brake on the le and se is located in the center console, whereas the xle gets a foot-operated parking brake. rear-seat passengers will find the accommodations quite pleasant for a mid-size sedan. Head- and legroom have increased compared to the previous camry. The rear seat splits 60/40, allowing long objects to pass through from the trunk, although the opening is smaller than it might be. The trunk itself is a decent size and shape. Gooseneck hinges steal some space, but are hidden under a cover, reducing the chance that they will damage trunk contents as the lid is closed. inside as well as out, the camry solara adds a dash of panache. The sweeping console invokes the intimate atmosphere of a sporty coupe. The seats are relatively flat, whic.
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