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Toyota Convertibles
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| Enjoy the fruits of the season |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:52:13 |
| Rating |
 83 ( -14 -16.86% ) | | Author | Phil Ruth |
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Description:
Enjoy The Fruits of the Season
Nothing says spring like a new convertible, and Toyota offers two distinctly different drop-tops to help you soak up the sun. The MR2 Spyder is a low-slung sports car with surgically accurate handling and close-coupled accommodations. The Camry Solara, on the other hand, is a roomy, cushy cruiser that prefers the open road to the twisties. Which one fits your style? Read on to find out.
Toyota MR2 SPYDER
The MR2 didn't start out as a convertible: it was first introduced in 1987 as a hardtop coupe that ran head-to-head with the now-defunct Pontiac Fiero. In the interest of achieving perfectly balanced handling, both cars had their engines mounted in the middle rather than the front. The MR2 carried its mid-engine chassis into its racier second generation, but an overly aggressive rear suspension made the car easy to spin. Sales tanked, and Toyota iced the MR2 name in the mid-1990s.
Now the MR2 is back. It retains its mid-engine layout, which has been combined with clever suspension tuning to provide utterly stable and secure handling. The convertible top and lightweight construction add an element of fun that the MR2 never had before, and this combination of virtues has given the venerable Mazda Miata its first real competition. That mid-engine layout squeezes trunk space, though - two small duffel bags are about all you'll be able to stow. Such is the price of the MR2's mechanical purity.
Toyota Camry Solara
Not so long ago, the "personal luxury coupe" seemed to be going the way of the pterodactyl. Boomers toted kids in SUVs and minivans, and the four-door sedan came into its own as a sporty car. Large convertibles seemed to become even more rare. Those with fond memories of cruising in a posh, plush-riding drop-top had few choices in the new-car market.
Within the last few years, though, luxury convertibles have resurfaced. Chrysler still owns this market with its Sebring convertible, but the Camry Solara puts up a good fight. The "Camry" name is synonymous with "reliability" in most buyers' books, and the interior accommodates four with relative ease. The suspension bias here is definitely on a soft ride, so while the Solara isn't an enthusiastic playmate in the curves, its highway demeanor is smooth and settled. It's just the ticket for a road trip that helps you to slough off the stress of daily life. |
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