Handsome Exterior and Interior, but...
Pros:
Quality look and feel of a higher trim level Toyota, comfortable for long trips.
Cons:
Jello-like ride, JBL sound system not as clear as Bose in other applications, like Infiniti.
The Bottom Line:
Get this car if you like the looks and feel of the interior materials used.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
...rides like Jello. This vehicle exhibits the worst cowl shake of any I've driven. The windshield trembles and vibrates visibly (ever look through a vibrating window?) through every pavement irregularity.
Since Toyota have earned a legendary reputation for build- quality, I assume that no parts will shake loose or that the A-pillars won't fall off. Makes one wonder though, given the magnitude of oscillation, what problems arise down the road. Too bad, because this unsettled behavior mars what would be an otherwise well-appointed, handsomely built convertible.
I guess the real question becomes, "Why?" Because it's a convertible? Sure, all convertible-makers have a tougher time maintaining a solid feel through the underpinnings, but I've test driven new Miatas (yes, plural) that didn't make me feel like Charleton Heston in Earthquake.
What's the difference? The Solara is a larger, longer car from Toyota that lacks the attention to structural stiffness devoted to, say, the Miata or Mini. The Solara is no sports car, so what do I expect here?
Everything! Yes, I do want the convertible Solara to last forever, I want the look and cosseted feel of a Lexus and I want stability beyond that of a Flexi-Flyer.
Are my current expectations unreasonable? Maybe, until the next generation of Solara hits the showroom with the horsepower boost of the new Camry and a consistency of something stiffer than Jello.
