Should I order my Solara?

[Joey_B]

I've just begun shopping for an 04 SLE V6 and decided on the Oceanus Pearl/Ivory Leather combination. My salesman's search pulls up a big list of Oceanus Pearl in all Solara trim levels and every blasted one in the upper Midwest has the Dark Stone interior. He then told me an SLE V6 in Oceanus Pearl was allocated to come in to his dealership and that I can adjust the order before a certain date when the car is scheduled to be built, including changing the interior from Stone to Ivory. And of course, there's always the option to special order.

I was surprised to hear that I could "tweak" a dealer allocated vehicle before it was built. But I'm assuming it's like any other order that hasn't been started yet. The salesman assured me it was a viable option.

Anyone else special order their Solara?

Joey B

[slingshot]

Not me. My dealer found the exact model I wanted at another dealership and drove it over.

[Hammerli]

My mother did that when she bought her Matrix. We are glad she did, since every dealer we have been to says they have not seen one configured like hers. Only problem is that it can make it more difficult to get a really good discount.

[fotodad]

Joey,

I bought my car at Kolosso Toyota in Appleton. I went to Kolosso's website and they had your car listed in their inventory but it didn't list the interior color. I gave them a call and they told me the car hadn't arrived yet, but should be there within 10 days. They said it will have the ivory interior.


Price:$28,181 (MSRP)
Body Style:Coupe
Body Type:CAR
Doors:2
Transmission:Automatic
Engine:3.3L 6 cyl Fuel Injection
Exterior:Oceanus Pearl
Stock Number:7919
VIN:4T1CA30P84U013792
http://www2.kolossotoyota.com/en_US/

You might want to give them a call if you don't mind driving to Appleton. My salesman's name is Matt Kuettner. Their toll free number is: 1-888-565-6776. He's a good guy. Tell him Mike from Neenah sent ya!

Good luck!

[Joey_B]

fotodad,

Thanks for the suggestion! I got a quote yesterday on an SLE V6 fully loaded (except for the NAV) at invoice (about $25,000) from a large Milwaukee area dealer. Personally, I'd prefer to buy from the small dealership here in my neighborhood. But they wanted about $1000 over invoice. There was no comparison. I visit Milwaukee about once a month, so the drive from Madison wasn't a big issue.

There were no Oceanus/Ivory SLE V6's currently in the four state Chicago region, and none on order. But I was told about how one can re-option a dealer alllocated vehicle before it's built.

Ultimately, I decided to go with another color choice and the Milwaukee dealer quickly located what I wanted.

Joey B

PS. I hadn't seen a Solara in Oceanus Pearl (except online) but I really like the color. Then when I finally saw one in person, I changed my mind. Funny how the online pictures really make the car look different.

[fotodad]

Joey,

I typically travel to Milwaukee when I'm looking to buy a car, as well. It seems no one in the Fox Cities wants to deal. I can always find the price I want when I go to Milwaukee dealerships. So I was quite surprised when I went to Kolosso in Appleton and they gave me the price I wanted.

I'm glad you found your car. I've always liked silver, so every car I buy until the day I die will probably be silver. But I understand your point about seeing a color on the internet and then seeing it in person. I found that out when looking at the 04 Solaras. I thought the internet pictures made the car look hideous. Then I saw one in person and immediately fell in love.

What color did you decide on?

[Joey_B]

fotodad,

I went with the Desert Sand/Ivory which I think gives the car a richer, more Lexus-like look. My younger male co-workers think the color combo is a bit "old man" (I'm 45). But all the women I know absolutely love it!

Joey B

[fotodad]

Joey,

Nice color combo. I'll bet it does look a lot like a Lexus: sophisticated and classy. I've seen every exterior color in person but that one.

Your younger co-workers obviously don't understand the concept of elegance. They probably feel women love glits and glamor. Well maybe the bimbos do, but the women with intelligence and class are attacted to a person who drives a car which exudes self-confidence. That's what the Solara does, regardless of color. By the way, I'm the same age as you.

Have fun!

[Joey_B]

fotodad,

The Canadian website Auto123 has a nice review of the 04 V6 SLE with pics. Their test car was in the light gold with ivory leather. Interestingly, in Canada they are calling it "Frosted Mink Pearl". But it appears to be the same color.

Frosted Mink?

I wonder what the animal rights activists think about that one?

http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/roa ... 18534&pg=1

[MrGBojangles]

Purchased an 04 SLE in Oceanus Pearl with Ivory interior last month here in Phila. Love the color and combination.
It was the only one of that color on the lot (about 20 or so) at a major Philadelphia dealer. Salesman said it was the first in that color he's seen.

Is there a way to determine how many of each color the factory produces?

Cheers
Bojangles

[glenb]

I bought the Desert Sand Mica/Ivory combo and love it.
It is a little "old man looking" but then I have earned it.

[Joey_B]

I ended up getting the Desert Sand / Ivory Leather combo. I think the Desert Sand color looks nice on the Solara and plays up the luxury side of the SLE. It also looks more like a warm silver on cloudy days.

I get a lot of compliments on the color.