2003 Toyota Solara

Loved this car!

By jce (PA) on Monday, May 13, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: car was just getting old - My approximate mileage is 145,000

Pros: "comfortable ride, looked good, realiable"

Cons: "Opening for trunk too small, wide turning radius"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Bought this car new. It was my decision to buy this car and not my husband. I really loved this car and if Toyota continued to make them I would have purchased one in a second. Overall, the car was very reliable,comfortable, etc a bang for the buck that I paid for it when I bought it... but I saw repairs coming up and spending a few grand on an 11 yr old vehicle does not agree with me. The car still looked good after 11 yrs and I probably could of kept it another year but my husband wanted to get rid of it. I bought a 2013 Rav4 and each time I drive it I like it more."

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Great automobile, hope to keep it many more years!

By Eric in Tennessee (TN) on Friday, May 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 113,350

Pros: "Ride, Interior, Reliable, Stereo, Gas Mileage"

Cons: "Door ding prone, soft exterior, thin paint quality"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Bought car new in 2002 as SE V6 configuration. I just went over 113k and only had tires/battery/one light bulb/belts/rear speakers changed. This car seems to be a magnet for maddening door dings so park away from other cars in the parking lot. Or if you do not care after 10 years since manufacture, then it does not matter. I rarely have ever seen a Solara from this manufactured year at the used car lot, people drive them, and do not sell them. I use Mirada Sport GTX tires (made by Yokohama). Wear is great and very durable if you rotate your tires. Rear Speaker Replacement Hints: Rear speaker cones from the JBL premium package are, (were) paper based, and finally tore from 10 years of use and sun/heat exposure, replaced with 6x9 Pioneer speaker with polypropylene cones. If you need to replace speakers in the rear deck, do the replacement from inside the trunk, as the rear seating dash area is a myriad of snaps and overlapping plastic corners. Thus you will be foiled trying to get the rear deck dash up to get to access the speakers or tear up stuff. So climb in the trunk, use vice-grips, clamp and reverse turn the screws until they go up into the holes, use tin snips and cut the metal speaker lattice holding the round magnet to the speaker cone rim. Pull the speaker guts out and down, and cut the metal rim of the old JBL speaker in one or two places pull pieces through down from the metal oval opening. Depending on the size of your new speakers the oval opening can really accommodate 6x9 speakers, as the trunk lid rods/rear middle seat belt returns limit space. Drill new holes as per your speaker, I used #10 screws that are about one inch or more facing downward through the new drill holes raise new speakers to the screw heads put bolts on."

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Nicest Car I have owned to date

By Patdapilot (IL) on Monday, April 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 61,000

Pros: "Great Ride, Good Looks and easy maintenance"

Cons: "It attracts too many bugs on the grill."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"We bought this new. We raised our children and wanted something FUN.. WOW. .We got it. This car is now 11 years old and nothing is wrong. We do keep it in the Garage all year. We wash it regularly. We do routing maintenance. We replaced the original tires at 50 K. We found one of the interior Belts of the tire was apparently damaged in an accident we had. New Tires Now NO ISSUEs on the ride. This car is fun to drive, great to look at and maintenance free so to speak. I wish Toyota would keep the style and the product. Unfortunately they did not listen to me. I will hang on to this car until I can give it to my youngest Grandson/Daughter. They will enjoy it as well. It will be approximately 30 yrs old then. By then it will be a COOL OLD CAR.. I hope they will give Grandpa a ride in it and be as proud of me as they are of the COOL Car. Keep going Toyota."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Purchased New

By marty (MD) on Monday, April 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 76,000

Pros: "Fun to Drive...Comfortable/Reliable"

Cons: "None"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This has been one of my favorite cars that I have ever owned...Have had No issues...Only usual maintence ..new battery, tires etc...I keep thinking its time for a new car but there is nothing on the road that I like better...or handles as well...."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Most Reliable and Best Auto...I Love this car!

By ldbluvcar (FL) on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 73,000

Pros: "Love the moonroof. Handles well. Fun to drive."

Cons: "Pick up when the air conditioning is running."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought my Solara new in March of 2000. I loved the look of the interior with two tone dashboard and wood look it seemed almost like a Lexus. Even after all these years, I get in the car and see a beauty. In all it's 13 years of service, the only time I ever need to call my auto club was when a battery died and the only maintenance needed was brakes(once), tires and just recently I had a new timing belt installed. (The owners manual says it should be done at 90K miles or 6 years.) so I thought it was about time. We just took the car across the state recently and got about 27 mpg. In town I get about 18 or so. Most reliable car I've ever owned. I'll probably need a new paint job in a year or two. I'll keep this car forever!!!"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Awesome Vehicle

By Dave (OH) on Sunday, April 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 141,700

Pros: "Fun to Drive, Gas, Sporty, Clean, Safe, Exciting"

Cons: "None."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This car was and is still my first car, it's an absolutely perfect car. It's strong, but not over-the-top, it gets awesome mileage, great sound system, safe 4-star rating, awesome curves. Not one major piece of maintenance, I've got 70,000 mile tires, that I've had for 90,000. That's how good this car is, I feel safer in this car than in my brothers truck. Which he's wrecked 4 times, and has had it repaired. This car has excellent handling, I play with it's control all the time, the only thing that seems to happen to a lot of Solara's are they die too soon. Mine on the other hand is babied, I just need to replace an O2 sensor (which is standard maintenance 65$ here). Excellent vehicle. Great first car, and an awesome learner vehicle."

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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