Road & Track: Sebring, Accord, Solara Comparison

[mattyboyl]

First off: Honda should be emabarrased at the camparison between the auto Solara and the manual Accord. I mean, come on, the Solara is pushing 225 hp and 240 ft-lb of torque where the Accord is pushing just about the flip of the numbers, pushing 240 hp and 212 ft-lbs of torque. Our drivetrain loss in the Solara is unbelievable and competitive with the loss of a manual of another car brand. That is something to think about. A 6-speed manual on this Solara would be scary to say the least.

Secondly: I also test drove both cars. The Accord was $2000-$3000 more than the Solara, yet I couldn't figure out why. I mean, Toyota could of put a Lexus badge on it's Solara. I didn't feel that Accord could of put an Acura badge on this car. I felt that I was in a peppier 4 door Civic. The Solara felt nothing like a regular Camry, but had a touch of class and performance Toyota usually lacks. Toyota usually produces bland cars with hp numbers competive with a Ford Taurus and not the imports. The ride quality of the Solara was much more luxurios and comfortable. When I drove the Honda, I felt like I was driving a sports car and not a luxury or mid-sized sedan. The dash layout was subpar to say the least with no fancy trim or logical layout. Nothing about it wowed me like the Solara. The Honda looked like a rent-a-car with cheap plastic interior. The exterior styling is bland, like the Camry, yet as many of you have already said, doesn't get ripped for styling. Solara comes out with a sexy, curvy, daring, more aggressive, Lexus looking automobile, as per magazines request, and still get the cold shoulder. My honest opinion is that Honda is still getting their props from years of great engines and automobiles. I think that is where they have the audacity to have that $3,000 price difference. You are paying for past reputation and not neccessarily a better car. They were always a baby step above Toyota. I don't think they are today, I think they are closer than ever and cannot compare Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suziki, Hyundai, Kia, and any domestic. The only car company that I would say is competive to a Toyota or Honda but not quite there yet due to the longetivity of reputation is Nissan.

[mattyboyl]

First off: Honda should be emabarrased at the camparison between the auto Solara and the manual Accord. I mean, come on, the Solara is pushing 225 hp and 240 ft-lb of torque where the Accord is pushing just about the flip of the numbers, pushing 240 hp and 212 ft-lbs of torque. Our drivetrain loss in the Solara is unbelievable and competitive with the loss of a manual of another car brand. That is something to think about. A 6-speed manual on this Solara would be scary to say the least.

Secondly: I also test drove both cars. The Accord was $2000-$3000 more than the Solara, yet I couldn't figure out why. I mean, Toyota could of put a Lexus badge on it's Solara. I didn't feel that Accord could of put an Acura badge on this car. I felt that I was in a peppier 4 door Civic. The Solara felt nothing like a regular Camry, but had a touch of class and performance Toyota usually lacks. Toyota usually produces bland cars with hp numbers competive with a Ford Taurus and not the imports. The ride quality of the Solara was much more luxurios and comfortable. When I drove the Honda, I felt like I was driving a sports car and not a luxury or mid-sized sedan. The dash layout was subpar to say the least with no fancy trim or logical layout. Nothing about it wowed me like the Solara. The Honda looked like a rent-a-car with cheap plastic interior. The exterior styling is bland, like the Camry, yet as many of you have already said, doesn't get ripped for styling. Solara comes out with a sexy, curvy, daring, more aggressive, Lexus looking automobile, as per magazines request, and still get the cold shoulder. My honest opinion is that Honda is still getting their props from years of great engines and automobiles. I think that is where they have the audacity to have that $3,000 price difference. You are paying for past reputation and not neccessarily a better car. They were always a baby step above Toyota. I don't think they are today, I think they are closer than ever and cannot compare Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suziki, Hyundai, Kia, and any domestic. The only car company that I would say is competive to a Toyota or Honda but not quite there yet due to the longetivity of reputation is Nissan.

[michaels artic frost]

I'm not a big fan of the Accord, the 04 Solara has so much more style and shape to it's body styling. A friend of mine just bought the 04 Black Accord V6 and I've the the 04 Artic Frost Pearl Solara V6 and my car looks soooooo much betta, hands down. Besides, he gave almost $6000 more than mine with the same options, minus the leatha seats. Don't get me wrong, Honda makes good cars, I just love my 04 Solara and would buy it all over again, and again, and again...need I say more?

[TW85]

It surprises me how many people pay MORE for an Accord than they would for a similar Solara. When I was shopping, I could have purchased a fully loaded Accord EX V6 Coupe, fog lights, spoiler, etc., for $2,000 LESS than the Solara I ended up with.

[slingshot]

It surprises me how many people pay MORE for an Accord than they would for a similar Solara. When I was shopping, I could have purchased a fully loaded Accord EX V6 Coupe, fog lights, spoiler, etc., for $2,000 LESS than the Solara I ended up with.

I don't see how that would be possible. I got my Solara for invoice (dealer cost). The invoice of the Accord with the options you mention is definitely higher than the Solara's invoice. Honda would have had to give it to you for thousands under invoice. You'd be very lucky to even get an Accord at invoice.

[TW85]

I (well, my parents) could have bought the Accord for $24,000 including sales tax ($300).

[slingshot]

I (well, my parents) could have bought the Accord for $24,000 including sales tax ($300).

The invoice price for a V6 Accord EX coupe is $23844. That's not counting the $490 for destination and handling nor the prices of the rear wing and fog lights (they total retail $829-invoice maybe $700). That totals to $25034. So your price of $24000 was giving Honda no profit at all sounds like (it's about $1,000 below invoice!!)

The equivalent-optioned Solara's invoice is just over $24K so basically this proves the fantastic deal you had for the Accord would have been the same at best of what the Solara should have cost (since quite a few Solaras are selling at invoice). If you paid $26000 for a Solara you should have gotten almost every single option available like I did.

[TW85]

The listed invoice for my Solara was $25,800. Add $300 for sales tax and you arrive at what we paid, and I'll tell you that I had a heck of a time getting that price (shopped three states).

Not sure about up north, but Accords down here are cheaper than Camrys, Solaras, Maximas, etc. Obviously MSRP is the same but there are better deals to be had.

[slingshot]

Look at this website (Edmunds.com):
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/toyota/ ... .1.toyota*

This is what it says:

2004 Toyota Camry Solara
SLE V6 2dr Coupe (3.3L 6cyl 5A)
National Base Price
(Excludes destination charge.)

MSRP $25,995
Invoice $23,393

I don't know how you get an invoice price of $25,800 when the MSRP is $25,995! Perhaps you also got the other options that come packaged almost always with the SLE: VSC/Traction, curtain airbags, rear spoiler, and mats package. Those four add up to $1175 invoice. So then the total invoice becomes $24568 before destination and handling. That is about the same as the Accord's invoice with rear wing and fogs and no shipping at $24,544.
Remember the Accord does not include Vehicle Stability Control at all and the Auto dimming mirror that is std with Solara is $250 extra. So you still get more bang for the buck with the Solara.

[TW85]

LOL, give me a break. I know what I paid for my car, I know what the invoice was, and I know my car is fully loaded with the exception of navigation (MSRP was $28,300, invoice $25,800). I also know that I had several offers on Accords before finally deciding on the Solara.

Yes, you get more with the Solara, but regardless, the Accord is still cheaper down here after negotiations.

[Brady12]

Well, I got my SLE V6 Lunar Mist with NAV in So Cal for under invoice. It is all about how you negotiate. I had to get in my car and almost leave when they met my price.

[TW85]

Location plays a key role in how much a dealer will negotiate. Example: We bought a new 23' boat last year in Georgia. The same boat with the same options, engine, trailer, etc., would have cost at least $5,000 more in the north and $2,000 more in Florida.

[slingshot]

Location plays a key role in how much a dealer will negotiate. Example: We bought a new 23' boat last year in Georgia. The same boat with the same options, engine, trailer, etc., would have cost at least $5,000 more in the north and $2,000 more in Florida.

Nowhere in this country is this car being sold for above MSRP. Many people here from all different parts of the country are getting it for a lot less than MSRP. Some are getting it for invoice or below! How much you do end up getting it for of course depends on your negotiations. I got a price quote over the Internet which ended up being less than what dealers were offering in person (it was invoice price). I highly recommend using that method if possible.

[NOBOOST]

I mean, Toyota could of put a Lexus badge on it's Solara.**********


Close but not close....I love the solara but it is not as refined as a lexus...the lexus is soooo smooooth and quiet....and would definatly not have any problems

I didn't feel that Accord could of put an Acura badge on this car.

Well guess what....they did... its called a TL


I liked the Accord but in Chicago they would not budge on the price ... I could have bought a TL for only 3 g's more than the accord...grnted the Tl didnt have navi.

I used to be the biggest fan of honda back in the late 80's and early 90's but whenever I look at new cars ( every 18 mnths) It seems all the Honda dealers think there crap don't stick and it bothers me...

I went into the Honda dealer in mid febuary to but a 04 accord exl v6 with navi... I specifically told the guy to not dick around with me and play the "dealer" game with me... his first offer was to give me the car for around 26 g's....not bad but when I told him I had a trade he said than we will give you 10 g's for your car ( he knew I had a trade all along because he commented on it when I pulled up ) ...I told him make it 14.5 g's and we had a deal...he said than you pay 30g's for the accord... I walked out... got a call 2 days later and told the guy I would be back to talk to him and went in to see him with my solara...

They bashed me buying the solara BUT some people outside told me what a beautiful car it was and asked me where I got it... I told them TOYOTA....right in front of the salesmanager...

[slingshot]

haha, great story. You should have bashed them about them losing your sale because they were acting so snooty. The Honda dealers here also don't budge easily from MSRP. I remember back in 99 they were insisting on MSRP on a year old car! There isn't a better way of getting back at them then by driving your new non-Honda car there. With all the recent transmission problems they ought to be giving larger discounts now.