From the May 2001 issue of Car and Driver.
We tested a regular Toyota Camry Solara as part of our recent convertibles comparison test. But Toyota also sent a second Solara, tricked out with all sorts of go-fast, look-fast goodies from Toyota's TRD performance subsidiary.
The TRD people call this their Stage 3 package. It includes a seven-piece body kit (three rear valance panels, two front spoiler elements, and rocker-panel extensions); a set of 8.0-by-17-inch center-lock TSW cast aluminum wheels; 225/45ZR-17 Toyo-Proxes T1 Plus tires; Bilstein monotube struts; and coil springs that reduce the static ride height by 1.25 inches in front and 1.75 inches in the rear. As a package, the foregoing sells through Toyota dealers for $4219 plus eight hours of labor. The body panels are available as a separate kit for $1675.
A less restrictive muffler ($391) adds an engagingly mellow tone to the Solara's exhaust note, as well as "three to four horsepower" to the output of the stock engine, according to TRD. However, the real zinger in our test car's inventory was an Eaton supercharger kit that whistles up an extra 49 horsepower and 30 pound-feet of torque from Toyota's 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve Camry V-6. The blower achieves nearly V-8 output—247 horsepower at 6000 rpm, 242 pound-feet at 4400 rpm—with just 4.5 pounds of boost at max, which means it's a straight bolt-on unit. No compression or engine-control-unit adjustments required, according to TRD, although the kit includes a revised intake manifold. Yours for $3500 and about 2.5 hours of labor, and it's also available for the Camry sedan.
So what do these add-ons do for a garden-variety Solara? The most obvious benefit shows up on a stopwatch. Despite a distinctly convulsive pause in the one-two upshift, undoubtedly programmed into the ECU to help the transmission handle the engine's increased torque, the supercharged V-6 towed the Solara to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, 1.2 seconds quicker than the stock car, and knocked five seconds off its 0-to-100 time.
Results of the chassis tweaks were more equivocal. With its reduced ride height, increased roll stiffness, and larger tire-contact patch, the TRD Solara was quicker than any of the production ragtops in the lane change (61.3 mph), had the best skidpad number, and turned in a very respectable 172-foot stop from 70 mph, best of the day.
On the other hand, the stiffer suspension components and reduced suspension travel diminished ride quality noticeably and magnified the relative elasticity of the Solara's chassis. How this would affect body-shell durability over the long haul, in terms of the dreaded BSRs (buzzes, squeaks, and rattles), is anybody's guess, but it's hard to believe the result would be good.
Still, the net-net of the various TRD applications is a Solara that's far more entertaining to drive than its civilian counterpart. Whether the bits are worth an extra $8110 is a question only you can answer.
Specifications
Specifications
2001 Toyota Camry Solara TRD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $39,916*/$39,916
*Base price includes all performance-enhancing options
ENGINE
supercharged DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port direct fuel injection
Displacement: 182 in3, 2995 cm3
Power: 247 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 242 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
4-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.1 in
Length: 190.0 in
Curb Weight: 3520 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.6 sec @ 96 mph
100 mph: 19.6 sec
130 mph: 45.9 sec
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.5 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 132 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.86 g
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
City: 19 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
Tony was smart, well read, funny, irascible, cantankerous, opinionated, friendly, difficult, charming, honest, and eminently interesting to be around. He loved cars, car people, and words... but most of all, he loved racing. The Car and Driver writer, editor, and racer passed away in 2018 at age 78.
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