Toyota's Camry has become synonymous with solid, dependable transportation. Add gas, oil every now and then, and drive for the next decade, without worrying about a thing. Such steadfastness has made Camry America's greatest-selling car for two consecutive years. However, There is nothing particularly sexy about reliability, until now.
The Solara retains the Camry's smooth, quiet performance and appliance-style function, while serving up two-door swoopy coupe styling and a sporty edge. What's more, Toyota offers Solara with something that's hard to find in a mid-priced coupe: an optional manual transmission available with the optional V6 engine.
The Solara debuted for the 1999 model year, and little has changed for 2000. Underneath its exterior sheetmetal rest the basic mechanical underpinnings of a Camry, with some tweaking here and there. In an era when the coupe appears to be a vanishing breed, Toyota thinks it's found a niche with the stylish Solara.
The Solara come in three variants: an SE version with a base-level 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine; an SE version with a 3.0-liter V6, and the top-of-the-line SLE, featuring the V6, plus standard luxury appointments (most of which are optional on the SE V6) such as a premium JBL sound system, eight-way power adjustable seats, remote keyless entry, heated side-view mirrors, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The base transmission with both engines is a five-speed manual, while a four-speed automatic is optional.
What prompted
Toyota to build a high-profile coupe in an era when classics like the
Buick Riviera and
Ford Thunderbird have disappeared? Demographics. Baby Boomers who have paid off their mortgages and watched their kids graduate from college are now ready to splurge on themselves. They're nostalgic for big, long-hooded coupes, but aren't ready to turn their backs on practicality.
Toyota calls Solara "a well-deserved indulgence" -- exactly what it thinks these empty-nest Boomers want.
Solara's styling is unique. With strong character lines and a wide, aggressive rear end, the Solara is more expressive than a Camry, and more interesting to the eye. Of course, Toyota does not want shoppers to completely forget the Camry, or its reputation for quality. That is why the coupe's official name is Camry Solara.
Solara is available with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine or an optional 3.0-liter V6, both offered in the Camry. It is built on the same 105-inch wheelbase, although Solara gets extra bracing in the front end and behind the rear seat to stiffen the chassis. It has firmer suspension settings than Camry, and a recalibrated power steering system that delivers heavier, more direct feel at the wheel. It is all intended to make Solara drive more like a sports car, and to that end Toyota offers a five-speed manual transmission with the V6. That combo isn't available on the Honda Accord Coupe or Chrysler Sebring Coupe.
The base Solara comes well equipped. The standard package includes air conditioning, power windows, locks and mirrors, and Toyota's five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Like the Camry, Solara is available with optional side-impact airbags.
