1SICKREVIEW: 2011 Lexus CT 200h
11-05-10, 11:35 PM
#17
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good stuff mike! 
some very nice insight on the car!!!
never felt anything about the HS, but always hope on the CT. i think this can be a better entry level luxury car on the lexus lineup. imagine all the college new grad getting into the work industry wanting something luxurious
some very nice insight on the car!!!never felt anything about the HS, but always hope on the CT. i think this can be a better entry level luxury car on the lexus lineup. imagine all the college new grad getting into the work industry wanting something luxurious
Hit the nail right on the head, ironically I saw a review on TV today (local) and I was thinking...Once I'm outta college, it might be a candidate to replace the ES..
I definitely like the light color interior with the bamboo, and put that blue color I saw here awhile ago and it'd be a perfect car for me. I'm sure it'd get close to 42MPG too, my relatives have a '10 Prius and it gets 49MPG driving regularly (no rolling roadblock). Sounds like an awesome car!!
11-06-10, 02:02 PM
#20
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Before the lexus, I drove a Toyota Celica GT (140 hp with 2,500 lbs. curb weight). I just can't imagine myself driving a car with the same hp but weighing >20% more. If it is a base price of $30K, I would always choose the BMW 128i - no matter how much I love my IS and the Lexus brand. Plus, if you look at the specs for both cars, the leg/head/shoulder room, along with weight, are pretty much identical.
This is just my opinion, but I am willing to take the 128i and sacrifice 14mpg for better handling and 90hp more in a V6. And you get a manual option with the BMW.
This is just my opinion, but I am willing to take the 128i and sacrifice 14mpg for better handling and 90hp more in a V6. And you get a manual option with the BMW.
11-06-10, 03:08 PM
#22
Before the lexus, I drove a Toyota Celica GT (140 hp with 2,500 lbs. curb weight). I just can't imagine myself driving a car with the same hp but weighing >20% more. If it is a base price of $30K, I would always choose the BMW 128i - no matter how much I love my IS and the Lexus brand. Plus, if you look at the specs for both cars, the leg/head/shoulder room, along with weight, are pretty much identical.
This is just my opinion, but I am willing to take the 128i and sacrifice 14mpg for better handling and 90hp more in a V6. And you get a manual option with the BMW.
This is just my opinion, but I am willing to take the 128i and sacrifice 14mpg for better handling and 90hp more in a V6. And you get a manual option with the BMW.
11-06-10, 03:45 PM
#23
Great review; I went to the CT driving event here in Dallas. It was 10am in the morning so the sun was everywhere:
The first impression I had was how GREAT GREAT the steering wheel was. It was a thick enough for my taste. There's a big difference between normal driving mode and sport mode. I would also leave it on sport mode the whole time.
Some notes that I found out from the reps:
The piece of wood in front of the passenger seat is interchangeable. You just open the glove compartment and pop it out. The rep said it's meant for people to own more than one piece and change them whenever they want.
Here's a close up of the bamboo one:
If you look at the back of the front seats, there'll be a zipper on each seat so you can remove the leather/nuluxe cover. It's suppose to let you change seat colors or replace them with a new one without having to buy a new seat. Here's a close up of the zipper:
And here are some close up of the car:
The first impression I had was how GREAT GREAT the steering wheel was. It was a thick enough for my taste. There's a big difference between normal driving mode and sport mode. I would also leave it on sport mode the whole time.
Some notes that I found out from the reps:
The piece of wood in front of the passenger seat is interchangeable. You just open the glove compartment and pop it out. The rep said it's meant for people to own more than one piece and change them whenever they want.
Here's a close up of the bamboo one:
If you look at the back of the front seats, there'll be a zipper on each seat so you can remove the leather/nuluxe cover. It's suppose to let you change seat colors or replace them with a new one without having to buy a new seat. Here's a close up of the zipper:
And here are some close up of the car:
11-06-10, 05:48 PM
#24
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interior is pretty good for entry level, but the cup holders are ugly, how they have a curvature look to them.
Did you notice that the passenger seat does not have electronic control? Im not sure if that is a Europe thing or if they are going to bring that (or lack of) over here too.
Great write up. I would venture a guess that the car will slot right above 30K.
Did you notice that the passenger seat does not have electronic control? Im not sure if that is a Europe thing or if they are going to bring that (or lack of) over here too.
Great write up. I would venture a guess that the car will slot right above 30K.
11-07-10, 12:04 PM
#26
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
nice car. wish it came in a non-hybrid version to give it more useful space.
a ford fiesta 5 door hatch is probably at least as useful, and much cheaper. although not as luxurious.
a ford fiesta 5 door hatch is probably at least as useful, and much cheaper. although not as luxurious.
11-07-10, 12:25 PM
#27
. In fact, fiesta doesnt have enough space for car in its class (Yaris), as it is mostly built for style and not ergonomics.There isnt much space taken in CT200h by batteries, most of the "inefficiency" compared to Corolla for instance comes from luxury features like big seats where you sit properly and not upright as in econobox.
11-07-10, 03:47 PM
#28
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Great review; I went to the CT driving event here in Dallas. It was 10am in the morning so the sun was everywhere:
The first impression I had was how GREAT GREAT the steering wheel was. It was a thick enough for my taste. There's a big difference between normal driving mode and sport mode. I would also leave it on sport mode the whole time.
Some notes that I found out from the reps:
The piece of wood in front of the passenger seat is interchangeable. You just open the glove compartment and pop it out. The rep said it's meant for people to own more than one piece and change them whenever they want.
Here's a close up of the bamboo one:
If you look at the back of the front seats, there'll be a zipper on each seat so you can remove the leather/nuluxe cover. It's suppose to let you change seat colors or replace them with a new one without having to buy a new seat. Here's a close up of the zipper:
The first impression I had was how GREAT GREAT the steering wheel was. It was a thick enough for my taste. There's a big difference between normal driving mode and sport mode. I would also leave it on sport mode the whole time.
Some notes that I found out from the reps:
The piece of wood in front of the passenger seat is interchangeable. You just open the glove compartment and pop it out. The rep said it's meant for people to own more than one piece and change them whenever they want.
Here's a close up of the bamboo one:
If you look at the back of the front seats, there'll be a zipper on each seat so you can remove the leather/nuluxe cover. It's suppose to let you change seat colors or replace them with a new one without having to buy a new seat. Here's a close up of the zipper:
fiesta is smaller size car, it is not as useful... well, unless you think IS and GS are same size . In fact, fiesta doesnt have enough space for car in its class (Yaris), as it is mostly built for style and not ergonomics.
There isnt much space taken in CT200h by batteries, most of the "inefficiency" compared to Corolla for instance comes from luxury features like big seats where you sit properly and not upright as in econobox.
. In fact, fiesta doesnt have enough space for car in its class (Yaris), as it is mostly built for style and not ergonomics.There isnt much space taken in CT200h by batteries, most of the "inefficiency" compared to Corolla for instance comes from luxury features like big seats where you sit properly and not upright as in econobox.
Great review Mike!
I'm also intrigued to see what happens as Lexus goes "downmarket". Profitablity at the end of the day rules the corporate rule (with the exception of the LF A...lol)....and even AM has proven that.
Nice to see you getting taken care of by Lexus. Guess it goes to show the time you spend here is actually worth something.
If AM can bring the Cygnet, Lexus should be able to sell a CT.
While seeing a vehicle in person vs. pictures is very different....the first thing I though of when I saw the red one was....wow that looks a lot like my neighbours Matrix Xwhatever.
I'm not sure what the opposition to "faux" leather is?
The appearance is almost exactly the same. Yes, the feel is different, but the durability of "leatherette" is amazing.
I actually had this discussion on the BMW forum today. We chose the leatherette in our ML knowing it was going to be our dog vehicle. When our X5 was new the true leather was essentially the same as the ML's leatherette when new. The difference is that the X5 (10 months old) "broken in" is softer and feels more luxurious now.
However, our ML is 18 months old and looks exactly like it did the day we bought it and our 95 lb (ish) pup has climbed all over most of it.
This is one area where different strokes for different folks certainly applies, imo.
Well what else am I supposed to expect now....lol.
Really Mike???
The new RX is a huge step up in handling from the previous gen...and of course the LF A has proven that Lexus can do handling (and maybe the F )...but have they come that far that an econo box is going to outhandle most of their line up???
I'm also intrigued to see what happens as Lexus goes "downmarket". Profitablity at the end of the day rules the corporate rule (with the exception of the LF A...lol)....and even AM has proven that.
Nice to see you getting taken care of by Lexus. Guess it goes to show the time you spend here is actually worth something.
If AM can bring the Cygnet, Lexus should be able to sell a CT.
While seeing a vehicle in person vs. pictures is very different....the first thing I though of when I saw the red one was....wow that looks a lot like my neighbours Matrix Xwhatever.
I'm not sure what the opposition to "faux" leather is?
The appearance is almost exactly the same. Yes, the feel is different, but the durability of "leatherette" is amazing.I actually had this discussion on the BMW forum today. We chose the leatherette in our ML knowing it was going to be our dog vehicle. When our X5 was new the true leather was essentially the same as the ML's leatherette when new. The difference is that the X5 (10 months old) "broken in" is softer and feels more luxurious now.
However, our ML is 18 months old and looks exactly like it did the day we bought it and our 95 lb (ish) pup has climbed all over most of it.
This is one area where different strokes for different folks certainly applies, imo.
Well what else am I supposed to expect now....lol.
Really Mike???
The new RX is a huge step up in handling from the previous gen...and of course the LF A has proven that Lexus can do handling (and maybe the F
)...but have they come that far that an econo box is going to outhandle most of their line up???I do spend a lot of time here
Most here don't like faux leather. Personally it is not for me. Some people are firm believers in it though and that is fine for me. Choice is good no?
In regards to handling yes all Lexus models are greatly improved over the past and they are not bad like some people insist on saying. The CT does have low power so its easier to "handle" and maybe that is part of the equation. I feel though that the combination of low inertia, center mass, low driving position, nice steering wheel helped tremendously. My other favorite handling Lexus is the IS 300 and IS 350 F-sport.
11-09-10, 07:30 AM
#29
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
so prius-defenders, why is the center gauge stack great there but lexus didn't do the same on the CT? i think the interior on this CT is really nice. great job Lexus
