DRIVEN 04 SOLARA..Sorry for novel

[G_Unit]

Hey everyone, I know this might make some people envy us down here in ole' NC, but dont ask me how in the world it happened, but it did!!!

I was driving by a Toyota dealer that I bought my Solara from and let and behold they had just gotten a pearl white, sle v6 in yesterday. My intial reaction, was a little skeptical. I liked the back since I like the SC430's. Identical!.....The front is weird. I think I like it though, the headlights and headlight assembly was awsome. It had a new camry type assemby, while the actual headlamp looked like a projector. HOT!!

The body panels looked nice, jus like the first gen. Nice curves and lines. The panels looked good as Toyota has always done a good job.

The ivory white interior on the pearl white exterior was really a nice combo. It looked like a SC430. The doors seemed a little larger and easier to get in.

Once in inside........WOW!!!....The internet does this car no justice. Thank-goodness the old black plastic panels are gone and and repalced with this nice ass satin like finish. The guages are of excellent, they have a indiglo look to them, and light up all white at nite, really nice, plus they are outlined in chrome. Looked really good. This particular one had an awsome combo...the pearl white, ivory (very) perforated seats, and redwood (never seen this type of material...had a purplish, red look), and the silver, with all the chrome accents (door handles, and e-brake button, etc.) This one also had steering wheel mount controls for the info/trip computer, and the volume control for the stereo. Also the wheel now telescopes, as well as tilt. The JBL was okay, it just looked really nice. THE GATED SHIFTER IS HOT!!!!...It has this like minty colored glass on it....the auto-shift was FUN!!!....the system will not kick you out of gear when you redline nor auto shift up, only down....hehe...i had fun, i think i broke the last 18 miles in good!!!.....The shift system was really neat. It actually was really really responsive, I mean I dont know if i can really tell a difference. Impressive.

Lets talk about power....The 3.3 vvti??....i think thats what it is...I really seemed to tell in a difference in the way the engine responed compared to mine ( I have the 3.0 auto). This was was zipper and it had a nice ass pull. Especially, now I dont know if it is the vvti that gives it the pull, but after 3700, man the things just took off, and it redlines about about 6300, short, but thanks to a five speed its fun. I had a good time driving it.

The handling was okay, not bad, actually a lot better than the previous gen. I really actually liked it better than my TRD suspension. It was ALOT smoother, but still very responsive. Still a little interior noise on the highway, but I guess its a given due to teh frameless glass. Still a nice feature. The brakes really seemed neat, it stopped, but being a speed demon, I always am never satisfied with stopping power. I like to stop on a dime. But this system they say is a elctronically controlled brake system??....I dont know, like it is supposed to control and monitor each brake independently. Hey as long as it works! Also a neat feature was the tire pressure monitor. I just wonder how all this will be affected for aftermarket acessories.

Overall the new 04 seems more refined and spacious. It did seem bigger on the inside and back. Lots of airbags.

I didnt like the wheels, Also I heard the SE is a lot sportier, with the kit and wheels. Also it has the same ole dingy looking exhaust tip.

Overall I loved it, its really shows Toyota sense of quality and engineering.

The manager told me that the TRD version with the supercharger and the whole nine are on its way, hopefully by next month, (will keep you guys posted)...and a convertible due out in 3 months. That will def. look like the SC.

Well I hope this gave everyone who reads a good sense of what to expect from the 2004. I know a lot of people didnt like it....hell I didnt like it either when i saw it on teh computer and pictures, but when i saw it in person today, man its got alot of potential.

I will try to keep in touch I am getting surgery done on my eye tomorrow, Dont know if anyone knows what Kerotaconous is ( kcenter.org if anyone is intereted.)

Well everyone take care.....

Amit G

P.S. I know I have been a sleeper to this website, but I promise to try to be more active!!...Still trying to get my car all in order and then put pics up.

Mods so far:
Stage 3 TRD (no supercharger)
Auto 3.0
Momo Steering wheel and e-brake
Flame red with black leather.
TSW REVO's
Hyper white exterior and interiors ( trying to get yellow fogs..sugestions?)
And was ready to get a whole lot more done...slowly....but now this 04 has really caught my attention. Hey whatever the case, glad to be part of this great website, mad props to the designers and founders!

[Jackass-Jeff]

Sounds good!!

VVT-i adds A LOT of low end pull!!!

The headlights ARE projectors =D a new type too...

I hope the conv. is a hardtop (doubtful... but if they are trying to be exactly like the SC... lol)

[indiglosolara]

Yea i share the same opinion as him, As like everyone else on this forum i didn't like it too much by the pictures. But when i saw it at the dealer i was in love. Although i will not be trading my gen 1.5 for the 04 i still like this car. you have to really see in person to understand and appreciate the car and how much work was put into this design.

Just my .02cents

Kenny

[700t]

[quote="xravexboix"]Sounds good!!

VVT-i adds A LOT of low end pull!!!

...

I was happy to hear about the 26lb.ft torque increase and 5speed tranny for acceleration but then I found out the new Solara is some 160lbs heavier.
Ever noticed how a passenger(160lbs) in your car makes it feel sluggish during hard accelerations compared to being alone?

I guess its 2 steps forward(3.3 torque+5speed) and 1 step backwards(curb weight increase).

[NASTY]

I hope the conv. is a hardtop (doubtful... but if they are trying to be exactly like the SC... lol)

definitely not, but it'd be cool!

TRD version in month, with a S/C? i HIGHLY doubt...

[ICrazyChrisI]

I hope the conv. is a hardtop (doubtful... but if they are trying to be exactly like the SC... lol)

definitely not, but it'd be cool!

TRD version in month, with a S/C? i HIGHLY doubt...

Im pretty sure hes referring to the SC430....

[cdssolara]

Yeah, I doubt we'll be seeing a TRD version anytime soon, much less a supercharger. Still, that was a pretty good review of the new Solara. It makes me want to at least stop by a dealer in the near future and check it out. I also think it looks like a Tiburon, at least in the pictures.

[indiglosolara]

Yeah, I doubt we'll be seeing a TRD version anytime soon, much less a supercharger. Still, that was a pretty good review of the new Solara. It makes me want to at least stop by a dealer in the near future and check it out. I also think it looks like a Tiburon, at least in the pictures.

I talked to a salesman at longo toyota and they said they we wont be seeing the TRD model for a while(dont know how long this mean). I mean the sports package is what is offered and pretty much taking over the TRD set-up. But he did say they were going to get a SE sports edtion suped up with rims and other goodies by End of Sept. So im planning to swing by around that time to see what they got. even tho picture may make this car look like a tiburon, once you see this car in person you wont think that anymore. Im beginning to really like the 04 solara more and more i look at it..

Kenny

[DavPak]

don't expect a TRD version, supercharger or convertible model any time soon. give it 1 year+. the manager is merely trying to spark your interest.

the system will not kick you out of gear when you redline nor auto shift up, only down

nope, it does. tried it myself. an auto trans will not let you blow it up.

It actually was really really responsive

i couldn't disagree more. it felt very clumsy to me.

but after 3700, man the things just took off, and it redlines about 6300, short,

3700+ is the vvt-i,
the redline starts at 5900rpms.

please keep all further '04 solara posts restricted to these threads:
http://www.zer0.info/solaraguy/viewtopic.php?t=4862

http://www.zer0.info/solaraguy/viewtopic.php?t=4579

http://www.zer0.info/solaraguy/viewtopic.php?t=3368&highlight=solara

[krawzyazn]

well i took it for a spin and the red line it a lil too low tiptronic is koo and so is the steering wheel with radio controls the guy at cerritos said they have a new marketing plan and told me they will not bring in alot of solaras or sienna's cerritos only had one of each damn car reminds me of a sc430 pretty nice except for the center consol it reminds me of the new accords

[Jackass-Jeff]

My 4-banger feels SLIGHTLY sluggish w/ 4 people in the car if I drive normally... but if I have to move fast (floor it to get on the freeway), then yes... it's really sluggish! VVT-i adjusts enough so that it doesn't feel as sluggish as it should. Maybe that's why it's "intelligent" =P

3700+ is the vvt-i,
the redline starts at 5900rpms.

VVT-i does NOT kick it at a later RPM. It is a continuous system that works THROUGHOUT the RPM range. You do feel a larger pull at around 2500 and 5000 because of how the system works, but it's not like VTEC (on/off). VVT-i is always on and has the sweet spots, but does not 'kick in' at 3700. What you feel is the shift from torque moving you to horsepower moving you because the torque disappears. That's why you see Hondas still keeping up in high speed races: horsepower is what moves you at high RPMs. Torque merely makes a better daily driver.

I've read numerous articles about it.

http://autozine.kyul.net/technical_scho ... _index.htm

Cam changing = Honda. On/Off
Cam phasing = Toyota, BMW. It's always on but either small or large.

It's sort of like comparing digital (on or off only) with analog (many readings in between).

[Guest]

that's a good article, thanks for hunting that down. on a separate note, i stopped by atlanta toyota today to see if they had on 04s. they had a red one on the lot which was a v6, but i coudlnt drive it because it was already sold. then inside there was a silver one on display, i had a seat inside. the interior rocks. the exterior is not as bad as it seems in the pictures...people are right, it looks better in person. but i didnt find myself falling in love with it like i did with the gen 1 when i first saw it. despite all that, the body quality and materials is definetely a notch up from the previous generations. the door feels and sounds solid when you shut it, and the sheetmetal or bumpers dont flex when you put pressure on them. i guess toyota realized that our previous generations were too flimsy. interior quality is impeccable as well, i coudlnt find anything i didnt like. anyways, dont wanna make an epic saga out of this, so that'll be all. you guys should stop by your local dealers and have a look, im sure a lot of the nay-sayers will change their mind

[hari-bhari]

d'oh... me ^

[SteVTEC]

Nice review!

Is the redline at 5900 rpm, or is it at 6300 rpm??


Also, if you feel a little "surge" at 3700rpm then that's probably a variable intake manifold. The previous 1MZ-FE engines had these and it did in fact have a crossover right at 3700rpm.

Stock 1MZ-FE (non VVT-i dyno): http://www.supercamry.com/pics/dyno/bas ... eline1.jpg

Our 2002 Highlander with the same engine (+ VVT-i) also has a similar little surge around 3700 rpm. And I can confirm that it does also use a variable intake manifold. The 3.3L 3MZ-FE probably has one as well. And the previous poster is correct. VVT-i is a continuous system, so you shouldn't feel any bumps or "kick-in's" with VVT-i like you would a Honda VTEC, or Toyota's VVTL-i (Celica GT-S, 2ZZ-GE engine). You'll only feel a "kick" from variable valve timing if it's using multiple cam profiles - VVT-i doesn't use multiple profiles.

[Guest]

What vehicle was that dyno from?