spwolf

i wouldnt trust roumours. They are usually not true. Year ago at largest Rav4 site, people were trying to convince me how Rav4 is going to stop the production :-). Instead, Toyota doubled it... lol.

spwolf

"platform" and chasis are two different terms. One relates on how all major pieces fit together and another is actual chasis of the car. platforms are used to lower manufacturing costs, so several cars can be produced on the same line, while chasis sharing is used to lower all costs, including engineering and manufacturing.

In reality, Toyota is moving from the term platform, since it people view it as if it is the same car, which is really not true. Great deal of R&D goes into every car, and every car is based on something, they dont simply start from scratch...

flipside909

Rumor or not, Toyota Camry Solara sales have been not so great. In contrast, the RAV4 has been a great seller since it's inception in 1995. Toyota was the front runner in creating that small SUV market. The Solara is a North American only car. (US & Canada). Toyota is very good about canceling their slowest models. The Paseo is a great example of this, only ran 2 generation before it was axed. This was based off the 4th generation Tercel "Platform".

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

I think the biggest problems are (1) it's overpriced, (2)it's huge for a two door, (3) it's underpowered, and (4) two doors don't sell as well as four door versions of the same car. But it's the only four seater convertible that can actually be comfortable for all four passengers...

Camry or not, the Solara tries to appeal to people who like sporty cars with more room. But all these factors will turn away this small population of buyers.

God forbid they make a two-door ES!!!

Gojirra99

Do you have any idea what the actual figures are like ? They don't seperate them from the Camry in their press release . . .

rominl

iTrader: (4)

maybe coz' they don't want you to know?

in cali (LA), i see solara, but seriously, there are more solara than sc430, but i almost want to say it's just as "rare"

ST430

Have you ever driven a Solara? It is equivalent of a 2 door ES, inside and out. Minimal noise, especially for a sporty coupe, great interior on par with Lexus levels, very cushy ride, and plenty of space for a coupe. I had one as my commuter to compliment my S2000. Was amazed at the refinement (easily beats the accord). To boot, I see a ton of them around here in the Bay Area too. Price wasn't too bad either.

spwolf

I think I remember I calculated 70,000 for last year, which aint bad at all actually.
Thats what people confuse sometimes - some cars are made to be lower volume than others.

Solara has been always good for Toyota, otherwise they would not have made new versions of it. Dont expect it sells as much as Camry, or Corolla. But they as much of it as cheaper tC, which has been seen as huge sucess for Toyota...

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

I actually sold my 2004 Solara for a IS350. It's true that it has ES-like amenities. I would have kept it had I chosen the V6 over the V4...

LexFather

unstuck, thanks

<VENOM>

My Lexus dealer sent me an invite for an ES350 showing, prototype car, up close look before the actual car starts showing up on April 24 and can be sold the panoramic roof looks cool but the only thing that struck me as weird was the salesperson I spoke with kept telling me it needed regular, I thought I did enough reading to reassure myself that the ES350 with the 272 hp would need premium, I guess time will tell

rominl

iTrader: (4)

wow really? if anything that would be the first lexus to able to take regular "by default"?

XeroK00L

I thought the ES has always been able to take regular from day 1. It's in my owner's manual too.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

all lexus can take regular. but is regular the recommended fuel? i don't think so. i thought all lexus recommend premium?