Just got my 04... now what?

[Brady12]

Man, I just got my '04 Solara SLE V6 in Silver with NAV. Oh man do I love it. LOVE IT! Like many others, I too narrowed my choice to either the Solara or the Accord Coupe. For my money, I need to like the exterior but love the interior. Solara wins hands down. Not even close. Everyone who gets in it swears they are in a Lexus. And throw in the amazing rear tail lights (Lexus-like) on the Solara and the deal seals itself.

I got such an amazing deal (below invoice) that I decided to buy the '04 instead of the '05. OK, so now that I have the car, can anyone help me out here with a few questions:

1. I have the Dark Grey leather interior. This is my first leather interior, what should I do to keep it in great condition?

2. When should I have this baby detailed? Anything to know when I do?

3. Is there any harm in taking it to the car wash? Not one of those lame gas station automatic jobs, but a So-Cal hand wash job that goes through a conveyor belt type thing with actual people hand washing it as it goes, then dried off by guys.

4. I have the NAV, and the manual suggests not tinting the windows, but the heat in So Cal can get quite hot and I really wanted to tint them. Any thoughts?


Also just wanted to thank everyone who gave thoughts to my last post where I was thinking over buying this car. Overall, I am in love. Just love this thing.

Brady12

[Shoe]

Answear to your leather seats question.

I use a leather "leather cleaner and lusture" cream on the leather once a season and it cleans and conditions the seats. With the perferated seats I vacume the seats after just to pick up any cream tha may have sipped in the perferations but really when you put it on it dosent seem to get in the holes but just in case ya know.

leaves it feeling nice n soft and slippy for the firest few days ( like satttin sheets on ur bed) ur woman will think ur up to something.

ps smells good too sure beats the smell of that fry that fell down the side of the seat, mcdonalds anyone?

shoe

[fotodad]

First, welcome to the forum! It's a pleasure to have another satisfied Solara owner to talk with.

Secondly, A CAR WASH! If you love your car like it seems you do, don't let some "guys" who make a couple bucks an hour use rags with the accumulated dirt of 199 cars scratch your car in their so-called "car wash." If you love your baby, you clean it yourself with 100% cotton rags and/or microfabric rags.

Can't help ya with the other stuff.

ENJOY!

[slingshot]

Answear to your leather seats question.

I use a leather "leather cleaner and lusture" cream on the leather once a season and it cleans and conditions the seats. With the perferated seats I vacume the seats after just to pick up any cream tha may have sipped in the perferations but really when you put it on it dosent seem to get in the holes but just in case ya know.

leaves it feeling nice n soft and slippy for the firest few days ( like satttin sheets on ur bed) ur woman will think ur up to something.

ps smells good too sure beats the smell of that fry that fell down the side of the seat, mcdonalds anyone?

shoe

Shoe,
What is the name of this cleaner you use?

[cascino]

I have been given several opinions about tinting with NAV. There are non-metallic tints available. I also have been cocnerned about tinting with NAV because of the statement in the owners manual. Let me know if you go ahead.
Thanks, Greg

2004 Solara SLE V6
NAV
Absolutely Red with Ivory leather

[TW85]

1) Clean and condition your leather once every two months. I have used various leather products and my favorite combo, by far, is Zymol Leather Cleaner and Zymol Leather Conditioner.

2) You can have it detailed anytime you like.

3) Do not take your car to a car wash. The workers are paid $8/hr if they're lucky, do not give a rats *** about your car, and will put more scratches and swirls in your car than you can imagine.

[Brady12]

Cool, thanks guys! It is really great to have a forum with like minded folks. I will take all your suggestions to heart, and please keep more coming.

Now one issue to discuss a wee bit further. The car wash. While I love my new Solara to death, I simply don't have the time to wash/wax etc.. I work too damn much...lol. Out here in So Cal, we have pretty decent car washes and people bring pretty high class cars to them all the time. While I realize they won't "care" for my car in the time they give to it, they do a pretty decent job. My '01 Civic was treated quite well at these places.

They do have have some which are a bit more upscale and I may go that route seeing my lack of time to do it myself. Thanks for all your help though.

As for detailing it, I assume detailers will treat the leather, no? Should I bring my own cleaner to them or trust their supplies will be good. I feel a real sense of pride with this car and want to keep the leather in great condition. I purposely got the Lunar Mist instead of the Black because Black is such a pain to keep up. The Lunar Mist hides dirt better and can go longer between washes.

As for the tinting, I am going to hold off until I hear some real stories from people who have done it with NAV.

Anyway, thanks for all your info & help. Keep it coming!

Brady12

[NOBOOST]

You can tint your windows with NAVI...

We tinted our Camry's windows and never had any problems... just dont tint the windshield.

[thealkimo]

Secondly, A CAR WASH! If you love your car like it seems you do, don't let some "guys" who make a couple bucks an hour use rags with the accumulated dirt of 199 cars scratch your car in their so-called "car wash." If you love your baby, you clean it yourself with 100% cotton rags and/or microfabric rags.

Can't help ya with the other stuff.

ENJOY!

Agreed, having your car washed can get to be expensive and you don't know everything that's going on when it's being washed. Besides, after you spend a couple hours washing it yourself, you have greater pride for your car...it's a good feeling!

[VirtualSlayer]

I'd stil say, the back of the solara is gross. dats the only flaw w/ looks

[Brady12]

I'd stil say, the back of the solara is gross. dats the only flaw w/ looks

really? I love the back of the Solara. Reminds me of the Lexus coupe and was a reason why I purchased the vehicle. But, to each their own.