Toyota was expected to kill the slow selling Solara Coupe and Convertible by the end of this month...but now it looks that at least the convertible has been saved.
According to Steve St. Angelo, president of Toyota's Kentucky operations, the Solara Convertible has been saved because of the backlash that Toyota got from customers and dealers. Toyota has decided to continue producing the Solara convertible for another two years. St. Angelo didn't mention if the coupe has also been saved. Toyota produced 28,479 Solara coupes and convertibles last year. It's unknown how many Toyota is going to produce now that this announcement has been made.
Full Story: Autoblog
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Comments (12)
I like convertables, but I am not too excited with this one. The back rear quarter looks like it is wearing a diaper and the front quarter panel is replaced with huge headlights. The grill is ok, but the lights make it look cross-eyed. I can understand why it was slow selling, and with toyota posting a "huge" downturn in sales, not sure if this was a good idea. But maybe instead of buying their gass guzzling SUV and trucks, this may sell instead as a fun alternative. I'm sure it will run and perform well.
Posted by sparky | August 11, 2008 12:29 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 12:29
the backlash generated by 45,000 retirees can be quite fierce. Hell they just have that much time to write grammatically correct opinionated letters all day.
Posted by stahlight | August 11, 2008 12:38 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 12:38
The Solara is one of the ugliest convertibles made, I can't believe anybody would care enough to actually create a backlash.
Posted by gm0n3y | August 11, 2008 1:50 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 13:50
Toyota is probably now addressing the "backlash" of the death of the MR2 by keeping this crappy convertible alive. Or maybe it's the backlash of Toyota killing all of their sports coupes that they think they're making up for. The Solara is incredibly ridiculous and should have been phased out years ago.
Posted by Jason | August 11, 2008 2:05 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 14:05
OMG, I have to see this uglified Camry for a few more years? Kill it already and bring out a new and more attractive coupe/covertible, Toyota!!
I was full of glee a while back when I saw a white Solara on fire on the side of the freeway. So happy...
Posted by Optimummind | August 11, 2008 5:55 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 17:55
The backlash might have been that because people we all think Toyota makes bland vehicles, and so Toyota thought the Solora was still a valuable card in their deck.
Posted by Saheed | August 11, 2008 6:18 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 18:18
what is this ugly fruit hanging/collapsing over its tires with a grin as if it just finished 25 quarterpounders?
Posted by lowest iq | August 12, 2008 3:30 AM
Posted on August 12, 2008 03:30
it really does look like it just gorged on some beef patties.
I wonder if thats why it has the diapers on the back side.
Posted by doh | August 12, 2008 9:20 AM
Posted on August 12, 2008 09:20
So Toyota kills the Supra and the MR2 and then decides that they can't turf the Solara because too many people like it?
Posted by gm0n3y | August 12, 2008 11:53 AM
Posted on August 12, 2008 11:53
The Solara is flat out ugly as hell. Who are the people that are whinning about Toyota killing it off when it only sold 28,479 cars last year?
Posted by SteelCity1981 | August 12, 2008 10:22 PM
Posted on August 12, 2008 22:22
uh are you all on crack? This car runs great, looks great and is the best convertible on the market for under 30k. It's a beautiful car. Fools.
Posted by wtf? | August 14, 2008 2:21 PM
Posted on August 14, 2008 14:21
The Solara is the highest quality/reliability of any model in Toyota's lineup. It has the least complaints out of ANY Toyota.
It isn't a "performer", "drag racer" or a "track car". It's just a comfortable car to drive around. It also gets decent mpg (4cyl) model. There isn't a single rattle in the cabin and the materials used are near Lexus quality. Infact, if you were to slap a Lexus label on it, you can fool a person who isn't to savy about cars.
Funny how many complain about Toyota should make a Supra and MR2. Toyota did, and NOBODY bought them. The Supra was a good $50,000 car over 10 years ago. If they were to bring it again today it'd probably sell for about $80,000 which hardly anybody could afford. Besides, I'd rather get a Z06 than a Supra (awaits for the Fast and the Furious fanriceboys to reply).
As for the MR2, the car had potential if Toyota put a good engine in there instead of a corolla.
Toyota should just stick to making good boring cars, they have that market in the palm of their hands.
Posted by Clark | October 26, 2008 1:28 PM
Posted on October 26, 2008 13:28