My cousin came by with his father's 1999 Solara V6 5 speed, so I had the chance to take it on an "extended" test drive. Toyota did a pretty good job with the Solara: sharp looks, comfortable seats, clean shifting tranny(albeit kinda long throw) and very good ergonomics. However, the car's motor (1MZ) just doesn't put out enough HP/TQ for my liking; I took it to a section of highway by my home and ran it hard for about 1/2-3/4 mile just to see how fast it is (compared to my 2K2 Max auto on the same stretch). Where my max is at 110mph, the Solara was just approaching 100mph. Disclaimer: that's not to say a better driver couldn't get it up a litter faster.

All in all, it's a really nice car with "sufficient" power. (Man!! I do miss having a manual tranny.) I would NOW definitely consider getting the convertible SE V6 version as a third car.

Has anyone else here driven a V6 Solara 5 speed? What do you think?

 

it needs to relate to a maxima. I think thats what you were going for, so I'll give you the opportunity.

 

My friend has a 2000 Solara SE 5-speed V6 that he let me learn on when I was learning stick. It really has a smooth "toyota-quality" type ride to it, (similar to my siste'rs avalon) but since I was just learning how to drive stick, I really didn't get the opportunity to take it up to full speed. When we drove around a few times, he did take it up to full speed and it was pretty smooth, but then again, when I think back to when I test drove a 2000 and 2001 Max SE auto's, I thought they were pretty quick and smooth too.

Overall, I'd say if the max wasn't around, the Solara would probably be the 2nd choice.

 

I test drove one before I bought my max. I liked the car but I just thought the Max was more stylish and sporty. I wanted heated seats, 17 inch rims and all the little things that the toyota doesn't offer. The thing that really got me about the solara was the interior gauges. I wasn't a big fan of the layout and the way that they looked compared to the max. Don't get me wrong I think its a great car and the convertable is definately an attractive option. The thing I love about Toyota are the TRD packages. Seeing that you can get body kits, rims, SCs for each model and they are covered under warrenty is a excellent selling point for Toyota. However I still like the Max better!

 

Can't forget the Max's two extra doors too!

 

 

I traded in a '00 Solara SE V6 5 speed to get my Max. Solara has nicer ride on rough surfaces and has great fit and finish. A qualtity car. 80k km and no problems. But the Max has--
-less wind noise (frameless windows suck)
-better handling
-less squeaks and rattles
-way more power
-more content (heated seats, HID, heater steering wheel, keyless entry (the base SE V6s did not come with this), 17" rims, LSD)
-better manual gearbox, the 1-2 shift on the Solara was horrible esp cold.
-same number of rock chips

 

do you have something to say, or just here to mock me?

 

I'll attempt to get this back on topic......

Before I bought my 2K2, I drove an automatic version of the Solara V6. It was a nice car, but much like its Camry father, it was a sensory deprivation tank. All in all, it was a nice car, but the Maxima is obviously bigger, has two additional doors, doesn't wallow as much (and thats saying something stock), and has a great deal more power. All of this on top the fact that it is darned near impossible to find a V6 5spd Solara makes the Maxima a better choice.

 

I agree!! The 5speed one I drove was the only V6 one I've seen so far.

 

a little from column A, a little from column B.....

I drove a solara auto convertible a few months ago... IT was a nice break from my max as it was loaded and a convertible... Ya its not as powerfull but so damn smooth it didnt matter... Made my max feel like a dammn race car too..


Adam

 

I had a nice race with 98 Solara 5 spd. What do they run? It wasnt a one-on-one race, but rather "the skillfull driver race" in highway traffic. My skills made me loose the punk by few car lengths. I think if we went side by side, we'd be even. BTW my Max is also 5 spd.

 

I am pretty sure it wasn't a '98. I can't find a listing for the Solara that year.

But from the specs:

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1999/toy...tml?id=lin0066

I would hope it would be better than an 'even' race...

 

i'd have to agree also, if not max, probably a solara. good thing about that car is that u can get the trd supercharger package and still be under warranty, of course, u'll be paying up the a$$ for it though

 

But the cool thing is, you'll have Toyota's backing on it, where as with the Max, Nissan doesn't want to hear or have anything to do with the 4 letter "M" word.

 

Toyota's tranny is much smoother than that of the Honda and Nissan. If it is not the look (exterior and interior)....I would prefer to drive a Toyota.

 

While I actually like the exterior of the Solara, the interior and driving dynamics of the car are just to blahhhh. Much like the Camry of yore, it isn't that exciting.

On a somewhat related note, if I had to have an auto tranny, I think my minimum forward gears for it would be five (if not a CVT). Driving a four speed automatic seems so 90s now . I hope all manufacturers make that jump soon similar to how they went from three forward cogs to four. A little tranny trivia....did you know that the Dodge Neon was a 3spd auto up until this past year? So much for Chryslers pioneering technology.