The Rage In Ragtops - automobiles - Evaluation

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, July, 2001 by Ed Henry

Both models performed like cars that cost thousands of dollars more, scooting in and out of traffic with ease. Side-to-side stability was impressive. And funky shimmies didn't happen in fast takeoffs as they often do in a front-wheel-drive car.

Toyota Camry Solar, (two models: SE, $25,550; SLE, $30,970). This car seems targeted to steal Sebring sales. While the Solara is slightly shorter and a bit narrower, both cars ride on practically the same size wheelbase. Both are wedge-shaped coupes aimed at appealing to families who want to spice up the drive to soccer practice.

The SE comes without frills, while the SLE's amenities include leather seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, 16-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, security system, automatic climate control and a premium audio system.

The Solara's engine delivers slightly better acceleration than the Sebring's. The vehicle we drove, an SLE, was equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 engine rated at 200 hp. A 2.2-liter inline, four-cylinder engine is available for economy-minded drivers; it gets 29 mpg tops, versus 26 mpg for the V6. Unlike the Sebring, which offers an automatic stick for manual control, Toyota offers a manual five-speed transmission option for a sportier ride.

Climbing into the Solara, you get the same sense of reassurance that Toyota delivers in all its cars. It snakes through traffic with agility, and delivers a very pleasant ride on smooth surfaces. However, it tends to rumble over rougher roads.

Mercedes-Benz CLK (two models: 320 V6, $49,545; 430 V8, $57,145). Because Robert Warren bought his Mercedes CLK cabriolet during the first model year, he has a 215-hp V6, instead of the 275-hp V8 Mercedes introduced a year or so later. We were curious to know how much he was missing, so we tested both cars.

Our conclusion: He's not missing much; the cars are identical except for their engines. While the V8 delivers more raw power--"too much for the car," says one of our drivers--the V6 will move you from the on ramp into fast traffic with ease. When it comes down to paying an additional $7,600 for the higher-horsepower motor, it hardly seems worth it.

An emergency cellular connection with remote unlocking capability is a standard feature, and information services, such as stock quotes and weather, are available. And the five-speed automatic comes with automatic stick shift.

Both cars feel and ride like a typical Benz. You're always aware of the vehicle's weight, and the steering has a heavy feel you get used to after a while. The weight makes the car feel very stable and makes the steering feel just right on a high-speed expressway, but you have to muscle your way through winding roads.

The CLK's view through the back window is stingy. The narrow rear window and rear-seat headrests (which are adjustable from the console) tend to obscure the view. Its knobs are hard to discern--nothing like the simple placement of controls in the Solara, which are where you expect them to be.

Even though Warren can't get more than one set of clubs in the trunk, he loves the car. "I've always found that a Mercedes costs more up front," he says. "But if you follow the maintenance schedule, you rarely have trouble with the car. And it's incredible how it maintains its value."