Why did Toyota stop making the Solara?

Toyota discontinued the Solara coupe and convertible models in 2008 after a 10-year production run. The Solara was positioned as a more stylish and upscale version of the popular Camry sedan, but it ultimately failed to gain significant traction with consumers.

Declining Sales and Shifting Market Trends

The Solara's sales had been declining for several years prior to its discontinuation. In 2007, Toyota sold just over 20,000 Solara models, down from a peak of nearly 70,000 units in 2002. This decline was largely attributed to shifting consumer preferences, as the market was moving away from traditional coupes and convertibles towards crossovers, SUVs, and other more practical vehicle types.

Overlap with the Camry

Another factor that contributed to the Solara's demise was its close relationship to the Camry sedan. The Solara shared much of its underlying platform and mechanical components with the Camry, making it difficult for Toyota to justify the Solara's higher price tag and more limited practicality. Consumers who wanted a more stylish version of the Camry could often find similar features and performance in the Camry itself, reducing the Solara's appeal.

Changing Priorities at Toyota

In the late 2000s, Toyota was shifting its focus towards developing more fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicles, such as the Prius hybrid. The company likely saw the Solara as a less strategic model that did not align with its evolving product priorities. Discontinuing the Solara allowed Toyota to allocate resources towards developing new models that better matched consumer demand and the company's long-term sustainability goals.

In the end, the combination of declining sales, market shifts, and changing priorities at Toyota led to the discontinuation of the Solara coupe and convertible models in 2008, marking the end of an era for this once-popular Toyota nameplate.

Is Toyota bringing back the Solara?

No, the Toyota Solara is not coming back and has been discontinued. While there are many speculative videos and social media posts on the internet about a new Solara, these are not official announcements from Toyota and are likely concept designs or fan-made content. The Solara was discontinued in 2008 due to declining sales and a shift in the market toward SUVs. 
This video discusses the comeback of the Toyota Solara: 38sFOUR WHEELYouTube · Aug 29, 2025

• Discontinued in 2008: The Solara's production ended in 2008, with the coupe ceasing first and the convertible shortly after. 
• Decline in popularity: The discontinuation was a result of falling sales as the market began to shift away from coupes and convertibles towards crossovers and SUVs. 
• Online speculation: The return of the Solara is a popular topic online, with many videos, like those on YouTube, showing potential designs for a new model. However, these are not official and are based on concepts rather than any actual product plans from Toyota. 
• Official lineup: The current official Toyota model lineup for 2025 does not include the Solara. 

How much is a 2008 Toyota Solara convertible worth today?

A 2008 Toyota Solara convertible is generally worth between $4,000 and $12,000, depending on its trim (SE, Sport, or SLE), mileage, condition, and features. For example, a high-mileage or lower-trim model might be valued around $4,000-$6,000, while a low-mileage, well-maintained SLE model could be priced at $9,000-$12,000 or more.
 
Factors influencing the price

• Trim: The price varies by trim level, with the SLE being the most expensive and the SE being the most affordable. 
• Mileage: Lower mileage is generally associated with higher prices. For example, a 2008 Solara with 56,000 miles might be priced around $11,789, while one with 142,000 miles might be listed for around $4,995. 
• Condition: The car's overall condition is a major factor. A vehicle in excellent condition with no accidents will be worth more than one with damage or a history of accidents. 
• Features: Options like leather seats, a V6 engine, and a clean title can increase the value. 

What year of Toyota Camry to stay away from?

The Toyota Camry years to avoid are primarily 2007–2011, due to excessive oil consumption issues in the 4-cylinder engine, and 2002, which had numerous complaints. Other years with significant reported issues include 2008 and 2009, as well as 2012-2014 for potential transmission problems and 2018-2019 for specific 8-speed automatic transmission and fuel system problems.
 
This video discusses the best and worst Toyota Camry years: 54scar PROblemsYouTube · May 22, 2025
2007–2011 

• 4-cylinder engine: This generation is known for the 2AZ-FE engine, which has low-tension piston rings that can lead to excessive oil burning, especially at higher mileage. 
• Melting dashboards: These models are also prone to dashboards that melt and become sticky in hot weather. 
• Airbag system: Some 2010-2011 models had airbag failures, including unexpected deployment or failure to deploy in an accident. 

Other problematic years

• 2002: This model year received a high number of complaints. 
• 2008 and 2009: These years had a high number of complaints, with 2009 specifically mentioned for oil consumption issues in the 4-cylinder engine. 
• 2012–2014: These models are associated with transmission torque converter issues. 
• 2018–2019: These models may experience issues with the 8-speed automatic transmission's shifting and problems with the fuel system, including defective fuel pumps. 

This video explains how to check for problems in a 2007 Toyota Camry: 18sYourCarAngelYouTube · Apr 14, 2024

What are common problems with the Solara?

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.