I drive an '08 Solara SE, Same as an '05 SE Sport without the gfx. Anyway, it gets about 34 Highway, which is better than the XRS gets for most people.
The Solara is a nicer car, hands down. IIRC a '05 SE Sport should have standard 4 wheel disc ABS, keyless that opens the trunk, tilt and telescope steering wheel, steering wheel audio controls, 6 disc CD changer, trip computer, etc.
One caution about the Solara, it has poor rear visibility, you can loose a semi in the blind spot and backing it up is a PITA.
Just my .02 though.
Go and drive all three and buy what you want.
Thanks, did not know that. My friend had a probe once, cant be worse that that! So you like the 4 cyl in that Solara? I dont expect a miracle but I've never had anything really fun to drive.
The official word on the XRS's I read was :
1.8-liter four-cylinder with not only variable valve timing but also variable valve lift to boost output to 170 horsepower at an exhilarating 7,600 rpm and 127 pounds-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm — still a piddling amount, but now spread a little more broadly to improve stop-and-go behavior. That's been Matrix XRS' problem — not much torque and none at useful speeds.
I know most nor I, will be driving this thing at 7000 rpms everyday, but still isnt that hard on the engine?
If your engine will handle it, you will rev it every day, trust me. You'll find yourself doing it without any conscience effort.
Anyhow, I like my Solara, but there is one thing I would like to point out to you: 2 doors does not always equal sporty car.
A Solara is a 2 door Camry. It mission in life is to move its occupants in style and pretty good comfort, not to rival a BMW 3-series in terms of sporty driving. My Solara drives like my mother's last Camry (a 2005 LE) albeit it has better brakes and a lot less body roll on cornering and braking.
If Toyota intended the Solara to be a sporty car, all of them would have the 3.5L V6 and they would all have 17" wheels with VR rated tires. It would also weight about 800 pounds less and lose much of the backseat and trunk. As it is, the 2008 Solara has a trunk that is not even 1 full cubic foot smaller than the Camry Sedan and the backseat isn't much smaller either.
The car is big, there is no other way to put it. I can put everything I need for an entire year at college into the trunk and backseat and not have to pack things so they block the back window.
As of right now, the Civic Si is about the only Japanese sporty coupe being made that isn't an outright sports car. If I were you, I'd try out the Si. I've heard good things about them and Hondas in general.