motorhead

I'm in the market for a Ct F sport. I found a really good deal on a 13 but i like the look of 14. I know that I can swap out the bumpers and spoiler but what else is different. The nav is stationary now but is that the only difference? Does 13 have the same apps and functionality? Is the stereo in the 14 really any better than the 13? I know improvements were made to ride for 13 and then in 14 extra welds were used throughout the body. Is there a ride difference from 13 to 14? Ct's are hard to come by in KY so I can't just go drive them back to back. Any knowledge and advice would be greatly appreciated.

nabbun

Chassis is supposed to be stiffer

jgoleno

straight from the 2014 product handbook:

Changes for the 2014 CT200h:
Exterior--Appearance
--Revised front appearance
--revised rear appearance
--L-Finesse spindle grill
--Larger roof spoiler
--LED rear license plate light

Performance--Drivetrain
--Revised engine plumbing and mounting for smoother operation
--Revised suspension tuning for enhanced stability
--New design 17" Split 5-spoke aluminum wheels
--Expanded use of body adhesive, benefitting stability and ride comfort

Safety and Security
--TRAC off switch

Comfort -- Trim
--Parchment NuLuxe replaces Ecru NuLuxe
--Flaxen leather replaces Water Grey leather
--Ecru headliner replace Light Grey headliner
--Metallic and Linear wood trims
--Sun visors with slide feature
--Reshaped leather-trimmed shifter

Comfort -- Climate
--Air conditioning adds pollen filter

Comfort -- Audio
--New-Generation audio(Same as IS)
--Center display screen now fixed in position
--Revised steering wheel controls

alpha0M3G4

I wish we had a TRAC off switch on the 2013 models and earlier.. however I've become quite proficient in the certification mode process.

U U D D L R L R B A START

motorhead

Thanks for that info Jgoleno. Now......as far as the "performance/drivetrain" changes...are they noticable? Can you go from a 13 to a 14 and be like "oh yeah i can feel the difference"? Same goes for the "new-generation audio." Is it a noticeable difference? I have driven a 14 and 15 and love the ride and drive. Drove an 11 and thought it was alot rougher. Is the 13 the same?

RonSwanson

Honestly, if you're looking for a CT F-sport, you should just go with the 2014. With smart shopping and patience, the price difference between a used '13 and '14 won't be much and the '14 will be worth it in cosmetics changes alone. And the '11 you drove had a lot of factors (tires, etc.) relating to its ~5 years of aging/abuse, which would make the drive feel different from a newer model.

lcneed

I took my 2012 CT to the dealer for services for the last 3 years. And every time I get a newer year CT as loaner. The new 2014+ CT drives better than the older one. I can feel the differences. When I first getting the 2012, 2013 loaners, I don't feel any difference than mine. But the newer ones certainly did. I actually like my 2012 Nav Screen better though.

lcneed

Oh and 2014 has the shark-fin antenna.

jgoleno

I'm there with jtnoboru. I traded in a '13 CT for a '15 CT about 3 months ago and cosmetic alone it was worth the upgrade. There is definitely some change with how the power is handled and the steering alone seems more responsive/fun. The sound and nav systems were what I was most excited about though. The '14 has the Gen 8 system while the '13 only has Gen 7. My day job currently is a technology specialist for a dealership and I'm a lot more happy with how the Gen 8 Nav works. Much more user friendly and a little more intuitive. Voice commands are easier to work with, and just the overall radio interface was updated too to make things easier.

ItzFilyO

The base audio is still a pain to use, pairing Bluetooth is horrible. I think all CT should come with at least a screen, with or without nav.

Honda still gives u a screen even for the non-nav cars but this $30K Lexus doesn't.

UMassMike

I find that odd, too, but the MY16+ has a Display Audio screen that's a $1600 add on, instead of the $3000 add on for navigation, which has the screen but no nav. Either way, I think it should come stock with a screen. Doesn't the Toyota Corolla have a touch screen radio as standard equipment now?

lcneed

It is really not that bad. I just did it this morning when they gave me an non-nav 2014 CT as loaner. All voice commanded with nothing to punch in except 0000 on the phone.

ItzFilyO

Yes, the base (LE) Corolla comes with a touch screen radio now and a backup cam standard.

Raidin

I remember reading something that included every change, but can't find it now. I recall it mentioned that over 100 new spot welds were used, along with more sound-deadening material, because customers complained that road noise was too high for a Lexus along with the stiffness of the chassis issue.

Raidin

I realized I could do a search for "2014 ct" and include the search term "spot weld" and I found more on this.

I must have missed it, because the first place I checked was the 2014 press release. Here's a paragraph from it:

Here's a link to Autoblog writing about the new-then 2014 CT, along with the press release they posted: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/21/2...ybrid-la-2013/

Note how the press release even says all exterior paint now has a scratch-resistant self-healing clear coat?