• Year: 2002
• Make: Toyota
• Model: Camry
• Trim: LE
• Body style: 4 Dr Sedan
• Mileage: 90458
• Engine: 4 Cyl. 2.4
• Trans: Automatic
• Exterior Color: Catalina Blue Metallic
• Interior Color: Stone
• Stock: 90960A
• VIN: 4T1BE30K02U585408

The Solara convertible's headliner is covered in rich-looking fabric; it's so nicely finished that you'd be hard-pressed to know you were in a convertible.

Toyota admits that the Camry is a car that nobody aspires to own but it's one that everyone recommends others to buy. It's what's known as a safe buy. Toyota has tried hard to make the new Camry more exciting while at the same time make sure it is still a car that will get its occupants from A to B and back without any drama or worries about reliability year in and year out.

The 2002 Toyota Camry is still not as exciting as the 2002 Volkswagen Passat or the 2002 Nissan Altima, both of which are new designs. If looks and character don't matter much, the new Camry should prove to be a great car. It's one we would have no hesitation in recommending to people who just want a solid, reliable car, something that offers a good ride, decent performance and comfort, and blends in nicely with the crowd. That's just what many buyers are after and the Camry fits the bill very nicely, thank you. It will likely continue to be America's most popular new car. The Toyota Solara is well executed. It's solid, roomy and reasonably fun to drive. It offers buyers the benefits of the Toyota Camry (smooth, powerful engines, quiet interiors, and rock-solid dependability) in a slick, two-door body style.

Opting for a Solara SE with the 200-horsepower V6 and available five-speed manual transmission gives the car a sporty edge. Or, the Solara can be ordered as a full-blown luxury coupe with leather upholstery, a concert hall sound system, and automatic climate control. Or, it can be a convertible, delivering top-down, fun in the sun.

Either way, the Solara delivers a blend of comfort, style and reliability that is tough to beat. With Toyota's reputation for quality, durability and reliability, the Solara is a compelling alternative to expensive cars such as the Acura 3.2 CL, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, and Volvo C70. Anyone seeking the mix of looks, performance and practicality that defines a good coupe or convertible may want to have the Toyota Solara on their shopping list.

America's most popular car gets a major makeover. Revised styling and a new base engine.

When Ford introduced its new version of the Taurus back in 1996 it made the mistake of making the new design too radical (and many would say too ugly) for many buyers. Within a couple of years it had to tone down the curvy look, but sales dropped.

Toyota obviously took this lesson to heart as the exterior design of the new Camry does not stray too far from the previous Camry in appearance, even though Toyota says it has made it look more exciting. Ironically, the rear deck and tail light treatment is the most different and it has a distinctly Taurus look to it. The front of the Camry appears to have a bit of Lincoln LS in it, thanks to the way the grille cuts into the top edge of the front bumper.

Overall, the new Camry offers a more sculptured appearance, with slightly flared wheel arches and a distinct dual crease line in the hood, which leads nicely into the grille. The new Camry has a much taller stance on the road than the previous model as its height has increased by more than two inches, while gaining less than an inch in length and width. The Toyota Solara is updated for 2002 with new front and rear fascias that give it some fresh sparkle. The changes include a new grille with a redesigned front bumper and air dam, new four-bulb headlamps, fog lamps, parking lamps, and jeweled tail lamps. New wheel designs are also available.

The Solara's styling features strong character lines and a wide rear end with a small rear spoiler (optional).

Transparent. That one word sums up the driving experience in the Camry. It's a compliment as it means there is nothing untoward or strange about the car -- it does everything just right. An enthusiast driver would complain that it lacks character, but for the average driver that's a positive comment as it means he or she does not have to think about what's going on.

More than two-thirds of all Camrys sold will come with the four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. It is inexpensive and fuel-efficient and provides plenty of power. Computer logic controls the automatic transmission; the car can tell when it is going up hill or down hill and shifts gears accordingly. It can hold a lower gear longer when necessary to avoid the annoying shifting up and down that occurs in some automatics.

The ride is pleasant. In fact, it's merging on luxurious, with enough cushioning to make passengers feel comfortable. The steering is light but not sloppy. Those who like a sportier, more precise handling will notice that the different suspension setup and tires on the SE do make the car feel crisper, though it's still far from being a sports sedan.

You'd never know from driving the car, but the gas pedal is a drive-by-wire affair. That means it is not connected directly to the engine by a cable; instead, it reacts through a sensor connected to a computer -- just as in modern airplanes. One advantage of this arrangement is that the optional Vehicle Skid Control system can take over control of the throttle in an emergency and apply just the right amount of braking and throttle to help keep the vehicle on a more stable path. The Toyota Solara is smooth and quiet and it rides nicely. It isn't a sports car, but feels competent on winding roads.

The optional V6 engine is so smooth at idle that the driver feels almost no vibration through the steering wheel, seats or floorboard. The only hint that the car is running comes as a faint resonance in the gas pedal. Pick up steam and that silky smooth quality remains. At freeway pace, there's little wind noise in the Solara's cabin even on the windiest days. As you'd expect, the convertible model is a bit noisier inside with the top up than the coupe.

Full steam in a Solara V6 comes in short order. With healthy torque, the V6 delivers a steady flow of acceleration. The four-speed automatic, which most Solara buyers will choose, takes full advantage of that power. Downshifts are as immediate as a jab at the gas pedal, and passing maneuvers are a breeze. Off the line, a Solara V6 automatic coupe manages 0-60 mph acceleration runs in the low 7-second range, making it one of the quickest cars in its class. The 3.0-liter V6 generates 200 horsepower at 5300 rpm and 214 pounds-feet of torque at 4400 rpm.

An all-new twin-cam 16-valve 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing comes on the base models. Power has been increased by 22 horsepower (to 157 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 162 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm). Yet it still boasts an EPA city/highway rating of 24/33 mpg (which drops slightly with an automatic and a convertible).

When the road changes direction sharply and frequently, the Solara bears up well. The steering is less numb than that in the Camry sedan. It's more progressive in the effort required by the driver, a little bit sharper, and quick enough to keep up with rapid direction changes.

But the Solara is not a sports car. It's basic handling characteristic is understeer, a pushing at the front of the car the helps keep drivers without racing experience from getting in over their heads as they make turns. It has more body roll, or lean through the corners, than a sports car. But it is well controlled as the car's weight shifts from side. Solara is competent on all kinds of roads, and its supple ride keeps driver and passengers comfortable in all circumstances.

For entertainment value, the manual transmission gives Solara an edge on competitors. The five-speed adds another level of driver involvement, and it quickens acceleration performance and improves fuel economy by 1 mpg.

We're not enamored of Solara's optional traction-control system, however. Traction control works by limiting engine power when the drive wheels slip, and the Solara's system might be useful in climates where slippery conditions are a constant problem. Yet managing power in a front-wheel-drive automobile is less demanding than in a rear-drive car to begin with. And the Solara's system is so aggressive that it turns the car into a turtle in conditions that aren't that difficult. It's safe, mind you, just not very sporting. Fortunately, a switch allows the driver to turn it off when it's not needed.

Does Solara have that intangible quality enthusiast drivers call personality? That's a hard thing to define. Certainly, it doesn't have the spirited performance of favorites like BMW's 3 Series cars. On the other hand, compared to some of the vanilla-flavored cars from staid Toyota, the Solara has personality. It doesn't beg to be driven like a racecar, but it doesn't wilt under pressure, either.

Solara can get the blood pumping fast enough to more than satisfy most drivers. The Honda Accord coupe, Solara's most obvious competitor, has slightly more responsive steering, yet it doesn't feel as substantial as the Solara. And compared to the Chrysler Sebring coupe or convertible, or just about any car in the class, the Solara is smoother and quieter.

The Solara convertible's top operation is very simple. To lower the top, lower the sun visors, release two latches near the top corners of the headliner, and press and hold the Open button on the center console. The windows windows lower automatically when the top is lowered (but do not automatically go back up when you raise the top). A semi-hard plastic boot allows you to cover the retracted convertible top and gives the Solara a clean, finished look. Successfully attaching it, however, requires a fair amount of tugging and tucking it in and around the rubber seals near the back of the rear section of the passenger compartment. Most times we didn't bother with it.

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