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SolaraGuy.com • View topic - Convertible, should I go Gen 1 or Gen 1.5?
Stock talk about the Generation 1 and 1.5 Toyota Solara which were produced from 1999 to 2003.

What would you buy?

2000 Solara Convertible 50K miles
3
50%
2003 Solara Convertible 80K miles
3
50%
 
Total votes : 6

Convertible, should I go Gen 1 or Gen 1.5?

Convertible, should I go Gen 1 or Gen 1.5?

Postby plunk10 » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:11 am

So I've found a couple of convertibles for sale in my area. In the past, I test drove a 2000 Gen 1 convertible, while today I tried a 2003 Gen 1.5 convertible Gen 1 had 50,000 miles, while Gen 1.5 had 80,000 miles.

I must admit, the older model seemed to make more squeeks and rattles, and had some bad wind noise coming from the convertible top.

What changes were made between Gen 1 and 1.5? Should I spring for the newer car with higher miles?
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Postby variant » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:16 am

both v4s?
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Postby returnofthedack » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:22 am

i dont think either one is a v4....because there is no v4
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Postby variant » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:23 am

i4 whatever
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Postby plunk10 » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:24 am

both are SLE V6 models.
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Postby variant » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:55 am

nice, lucky you, I would go for the 00 just because it has the lower miles and I like the older tails better but if you felt that it wasn't up to par quality wise(which was prolly just the owners fault) then go for the 03
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Postby TripleBlack » Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:04 pm

If I'm not mistaken, the differences are primarily cosmetic. To the best of my knowledge, these are all them...

Redesigned headlights - I think the lenses look nicer, but that's a matter of opinion. As a matter of fact, though, the low beams and high beams are now seperate bulbs. Using only stock lights, the more recent set up is brighter.

Redesigned front bumper and grill - The bumper is different to accomodate the different headlights. I think the grill is the same size and shape, but looks nicer. Again, this is merely opinion. Functionally, I don't think either have been improved.

Redesigned fog lights - They're slimmer in the 1.5 than in the 1. These help complete the look up front which is all together slightly more aggresive, in much the same way that baseball is more aggresive than softball. In other words, the differences are not drastic. =)

Moved buttons - Specific to the convertible, in the Gen1, the "Traction Off" button is very easy to reach, while the "Roof Open/Close" and "Rear Windows" buttons are somewhat more of a stretch. In the Gen1.5, Toyota realized which buttons receive the majority of usage, and logically swapped their placements. This makes so much sense you have to wonder if they fired the guy who let the first design actually make it into production.

Remote trunk release - In the Gen1, the trunk can be opened only by a lever beneath the driver seat (immediately adjacent to the fuel door release). In the Gen1.5, that lever is gone. Now, it's a button hidden behind the glove compartment door. The latter model also comes with the ability to pop the trunk using the remote. Woo! =)

Redesigned taillights - The newer ones incorporate a little more style than the older ones. As for my favorite between them, I haven't really decided.

DRL controllability - In the Gen1, disabling the day time running lights requires you pull a small whitish/grayish clip apart. It's located inbetween the top of the passenger side front shock tower and firewall; you can't miss it. But, in the Gen1.5, to disable the DRLs, merely rotate the switch on the headlight stalk. This method, of course, has the distinct advantage of being possible without exiting the vehicle.

Chrome Steering Wheel Emblem - Mandarinsolara's post below this one is correct. Thank you for reminding me. I have edited this list accordingly. The emblem on the steering wheel does indeed look much better in the Gen1.5 because it's chrome, unlike in the Gen1, where it's the same as the rest of the steering wheel.

Wood Trim - This was mentioned already in another post, but I actually logged on because I just thought of it. The wood trim on the Gen1.5 is a different color (it's more orange-ish) (not as ugly as it sounds) and there's more of it; the shifter has wood around it. In the Gen1, that isn't the case. Yet again, it's a matter of opinion, but this another area in which I prefer the 1.5. Really, the whole center stack should be wood too. Oh well.
Now, are these differences worth extra mileage? That's up to you. As for myself, when I bought my convertible, my choices were a Gen1 with 60k miles or a Gen1.5 with 44k miles. The difference in price was steeper than it should be. As in, while the Gen1 may have been only slightly inferior, it was also significantly cheaper.

I took the Gen1.5 anyway. But, that's just me. As I said, whether this list affects your decision or not is your call. Try to leep in mind that the single most extreme difference between those two cars is their odometers.
Last edited by TripleBlack on Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:16 pm, edited 20 times in total.
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Postby Mandarinsolara » Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:08 pm

gen 1.5 all the way, i think the emblem on the steering wheel is chrome too
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Postby Jon11582 » Mon Jun 19, 2006 4:36 pm

Interior wood panels are also a different color.

The biggest difference is the styling and headlights changing from single bulb to dual bulb, which is superior.

Get the cheaper one I guess.

Both will have the same wind noise, and assuming same wear and tear, the same squeaks and rattles. No changes were made to my knowledge to change either of those.
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My .02 cents

Postby JMSinMaryland » Mon Jun 19, 2006 5:23 pm

Gen 1, (1999-2001) would be the ONLY Solara I would consider. The styling has gone downhill since 2002. Jon.
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Re: My .02 cents

Postby MCOjerry » Mon Jun 19, 2006 5:59 pm

JMSinMaryland wrote:Gen 1, (1999-2001) would be the ONLY Solara I would consider. The styling has gone downhill since 2002. Jon.


Aw, I'm downhill :-(

I know that each person has a different view on cars, but why do the Gen 1 guys get so down on the Gen 2?

It's different, but it's certainly not ugly. I like Gen 2 better, but I think that the Gen 1, 1.1 have great style too. I like the 1.5 better, but...
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My .02 cents

Postby JMSinMaryland » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:19 pm

First, I'll admit myself opinions are like...

Secondly, I've been around the Camry community since 1992. I saw the Solara in 1999 for the first time at the NYIAS (New York International Auto Show) and it happened to be the TRD version. There was nothing on the car that stood out and needing change. I thought the headlight/bumper treatment and taillight change on the Gen 1.5 took away from the clean classy lines of the 1999-2001. Even though I know underneath they are the same cars mechanically. The Gen 2's seem to have gone from classy to bloated (in my eyes). It's not as clean and tight as the Gen 1. Here's a pic of my baby before it was totaled in an accident (not my fault). Jon. p.s. maybe in my eyes the Gen 2 has too much going on and I prefer a simpler, cleaner line and not so many organic shapes.

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Postby MCOjerry » Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:27 pm

I guess I can see the beauty in both. It's just different.

Everything and everyone must evolve. :)
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