DriveTech

Toyota Certified Used 2005 Toyota Solara SE Convertible is tops even with its top down.

Looking for a convertible but don't want to pay full retail price? Then I have a gem for you.

Check out this 2005 Toyota Solara SE convertible from Poway Toyota with only 7,223 miles on it (it may have a few more miles when I'm done with it). Because it's a Toyota certified used car, you get up to six years or 100,000-mile warranty, roadside assistance and the remainder of the factory warranty. Plus, you get a Carfax guarantee and an Auto-Bio profile of this model. That's pretty extensive, so you can buy with confidence.

The Solara is in the Camry family and it has very sleek lines, even for a convertible. You don't have to do anything out of the ordinary to lower the canvas top, just put the car in park and hit the lowering switch on the left side of the dash. The headlight switch does block the lowering switch, but after awhile you get comfortable with its location.

The interior is laid out clean and simple, with large knobs to operate the sound system and climate control. A row of gauges at the top of the dash is very informative. To the left is fuel, vehicle information and the clock, then on the right is the outside temperature. The gauge pod has an overhang lip for those days the top is down and you're trying to avoid glare. In the center of the dash below the climate controls is a door that opens to a cavernous storage area. In the center console is the shifter for the five-speed sequential automatic transmission.

To the rear of the shifter is a two-cup holder with a lid to conceal the holders or whatever you want to store in that area (it's big enough!). The armrests also have two storage areas. No leather in this drop-top but there's a nice material that handles the sun beating down if you leave its top down all day.

The seating is very comfortable and all the seats are adjustable. The front seats operate manually, which I really like because you're not hunting for electrical controls - just lift of the bar in the front of the seat and forward or backwards you go. Or lift a lever on the side of the seat to recline, which is simple but very efficient.

When I climbed into the back seat, all six-feet of me fit. And when you flip the seat back lever to fold it forward, the seat slides forward all the way to the front for easy access. Once in the backseat I pulled the front seat all the way back and still had plenty of legroom. To get out, just put your foot on the lever to the right of the seat so that it folds and slides forward.

With the top up it's hard to tell you're in a convertible. The top has an inner liner that looks good and hides the top mechanism. And if you love the Camry but need a little more sport, then the Solara is it. The Solara SE has a 3.3-liter dual overhead camshaft V6, sport-tuned suspension, the ability to manually shift the automatic transmission, sway bars front and rear, fog lights and a lip on the trunk for styling. You also get the latest in headlight technology with Projector Ellipsoid headlights. Plus, the steering wheel adjusts in a tilt and telescope manner to fit just about everyone's driving style.

If you're worried about your Solara convertible being stolen because it's a convertible, have no fear. It comes with a factory-installed system that consists of a theft deterrent combination alarm and engine immobilizer. So you can leave the top down if you want (but don't forget to put your valuables in the trunk). And don't worry about a thief using the trunk release. Toyota provides a locking trunk release. Pretty cool!

Safety is all around the '05 Solara. It has front and side airbags, crumple zones surrounding occupants, bars in the doors, four-wheel disc brakes and ABS brakes.

I haven't been to Toyota of Poway to get a car before and it was like old home week. I used to be the service manager there and the Sonic Group has really put this dealership on the map. It's in the top five in the customer service index, thanks to Service Manager Greg Chalmers and his crew. In fact, I left my Toyota MR2 in their hands for service and I don't leave my car with just anyone.

When it comes to sales, I ran into so many great folks, such as Assistant Sales Manager Dave Crisostomo, Used Car Manager Tim Hack and Team Leader Ronnie Ramos (the kid in the house). Hack is so anal about getting perfect cars he uses a paint depth gauge to make sure the car he buys is perfect. What a great crew. Best of all, when you drive on the lot you don't get inundated by salespeople. The crew at Poway Toyota is what I look for in a top-level dealership. Check them out for new or certified car or for just servicing your Toyota.