by kinihawaii » Sun Sep 21, 2003 3:46 am
Just picked up an Artic Mist SE Sport. 1st one on to be sold on the island. Was looking at the Accord v-6 Coupe and the Mazda6 V-6 Sport Package. The Accord Coupe is too small and the auto version (the shifter/console) is UGLY, plus no manual mode. The 6sp manual was too expensive even if it wouldn't have been too small. The Mazda6 is a nice car, with a decent price, but the auto tranny isn't any where near the quality and feel, precision of the Toyota (Lexus) tranny. The fabric interior on the Mazda is kind of cheap, more Ford than I liked. The engine isn't as strong or smooth and similarly equipped they price out to within a couple hundred dollars of the Solara. The Solara is sooooo much higher quality, the door closing thump, the engine sophistication, smoothness, performance, interior materials, fit and finish. It is my first Toyota. Why oh why did I wait so long? Just one final note, the 5sp auto in the Solara has to be the 5sp from the Lexus (GS). It is smooth, responsive and in the manual mode responds quicker than the auto in my friends 350Z. Awesome car, can't wait to take it across the island.