My folks are getting me a first new car, and they're buying me a Lexus CT 200h F-Sport.
How are these cars as daily drivers? Will I be bored out of my mind, or will I thank my parents later for buying an easy-to-maintain upscale Prius in the future? We've looked at everything from Civics to this, and they're really pushing me to get it. I just have to give the final word.
>How are these cars as daily drivers?
Pretty meh unless you get them with a loaded interior.
>Will I be bored out of my mind
Probably. Prius drivetrain.
>or will I thank my parents later for buying an easy-to-maintain upscale Prius in the future?
You might hate them when the batteries go south in a few years.
Where do you live?
>How are these cars as daily drivers?
It's a luxury model that is currently trying too hard to be an econobox with a sporty feel. It doesn't know what it wants to be.
I mean, look at that design. That's not a fucking Lexus.
Austin, TX.
The model we're looking at is the highest trim.
GF's dad has one of those as well. Pretty decent car, probably saved gf's life when a drunk driver crashed into the rear of it on the Autobahn at about 140kph (with the other driver probably going a lot quicker). Both walked away - amazing crash structure.
Pretty decent MPG's, complete lack of driver engagement, bad visibility, pretty damn small if you're a tall guy (I'm 6' 2''). Battery stories are already showing up, which is pretty much the only thing keeping my gf from buying daddies new CT200h (which he got after said accident totaled the entire car). She loves it.
Have you considered something like an A3, Merc CLA, BMW 1 series? I'd suggest a Volvo V40, but you can't get those in the USA apparently.
We have, but to be honest since I'm not paying for it, I don't want to subjugate my parents in buying anything more expensive than this.
They won't buy anything that isn't a hybrid or has good gas mileage (at LEAST 30 mpg, and that's pushing it with them). Cost of ownership and maintenance is going to be a big thing since they're throwing me out into the world in a few months. I wouldn't be able to afford parts and services for something as simple as an A3 or CLA, but I could afford parts and service for this.
Also, what is the battery issue people are talking about? My dad's GS 450h hasn't needed a battery replacement so far, and he has nearly 250k miles on it.
You could also consider the A3's platform-mates from VW, Seat and Skoda - but I'd be wary about buying a VAG product in the USA.
>budget 30K
>30MPG minimum
>maintenance and insurance is important
If you're not dead set on an automatic, go for a Fiesta ST. Fun, cheap, and nothing to say it won't last at least 10 years.
Batterries in the CT200h need replacing after about 400.000KM (250K miles) or about 10 years. It's about a 200 euro job here, but it might make a hybrid more expensive than a regular gas vehicle if you're paying for maintenance.
I tried to get them to look at the Fiests ST and they said "it was too dangerous and fast". Same with the Toyobaru.
Pretty decent crash rating iirc, and they're not that fast. It's just that CT200h's are quite slow.
You have to consider I'm dealing with turbo liberal helicopter parents.
They wouldn't let me play any sort of video game until I was 14, and would confiscate and shred any automotive or firearm magazine I bought with lawn mowing/chore money.
Ct owner here. Happy with the purchase, gets great mpg especially if you have a commute and spend a lot of time in traffic. It is slow but in sport mode it's not half bad. Small interior but have done road trips with friends and they didn't have any complaints. More cabin noise than other Lexus models I've driven. Trunk space is very limited for a hatch. I find it very comfortable. Got a '12 with 29k miles for $19k.
CT200 seems like a reasonable choice then. I'd try for a Mazda 3 or 6, those seem more reasonable in maintenance given the lack of batteries, and get great empeegees.
>It is slow but in sport mode it's not half bad
>10 second 0-60
We haven't checked out Mazda yet, but we'll definitely head there today. I wanted to try the Mazda 6 GT and Mazda 3 hatchback. Right now the ones I'm leaning toward the most is the CT 200h, followed by the Honda Accord EX-L, either with or without V6.
Well I don't race it or need to do burn outs at traffic lights, does well enough on the highway.
Sounds like proper parents. Be thankful to them
Fuck them. Buy something with your own money.
have you looked into a 320i? they're roughly the same price starting as a CT200h and they're alot more fun to drive
They were hardly good parents, but they definitely could've been worse.
Other than money I have saved up for college, I don't have any income. Currently doing an unpaid internship at Boeing right now.
>proper parents
>destroying non-porno magazines you bought with your own money
Fuck off
Yes, and again with parts and labor. BMW is absurdly expensive, as is insurance.
OP, this is mine.
F-sport fully loaded from Euroland.
The car imho is gorgeous to look at and apart from that when it comes to driving I can say that first of all you have to deal with the fact that this car, besides its look, is not sporty.
You get a very nice and comfortable ride, very relaxing, and when you need power just floor the gas pedal - better if in SPORT mode - and the engine will provide you instant torque thanks to the electric unit.
The gearbox is similar to a CVT but it's not the same thing, it just acts like one of that gearboxes, and that means that the engine is always at its best regime so you'll get high mpgs everytime.
I have this car from 2 months and I managed to have a fuel consumption of 21 km/l (like 50 mpgs) and I'm very satisfied about that.
The steer is suprisingly good, I didn't expect that honestly, and so is the power delivery: linear and punches well.
The bad thing is that 136 hp are low for a Lexus...but they're ok for daily drive.
The interior are very well made and the car has got a bunch of the latest technology and aids but that depends on the market the car is being sold because Lexus decides for every country.
For example I'm extremely pissed off because my car lacks the DAB radio (I have the expensive sat nav upgrade) and the Adaptive cruise control...but, hey, I have a fancy red leather interior.
Seriously, get the fuckin red leather. I FUCKIN LOVE IT.
Buy a used Lexus IS350 F-Sport or be a little bit better and get the GS 350 F-Sport.
Don't get the CT 200h, you will regret it and by then, its too late.
Too bad that ugly ass front fascia is gonna age like shit.
Japan fuckin up big time.
As a CT200h owner let me tell you how it is:
Comfy as fuck: check
Handles well: check (double wishbones in the rear)
Sorta Peppy: if you turn it into sport mode, it's """sporty""" and """"peppy"""" under 60km/h after that it starts to feel pretty average
Mine is a fully loaded 2011 and absolutely nothing has gone wrong so far.
Only thing is the brakes are really grabby because of dynamos and whatnot.
Anyone else hate Lexus logo is asymmetrical ?
OP here, I think I'll go for it.
While not fast, I do want something comfortable and fairly affordable to own. I tried talking my folks up to an IS250/350 used, Focus ST, etc and they wouldn't budge.
Shit, it's a free car. I won't complain about a free car. We'll do one final drive of a couple other models, but I think they're pushing me towards this, reviews of this are entirely positive, and reliability is phenomenal.
>Will I be bored out of my mind, or will I thank my parents later for buying an easy-to-maintain upscale Prius in the future?
Depends on how much of an ungrateful spoiled faggot you are. Someone else is paying for a brand new car, you should be thankful regardless.
>logo is asymmetrical
So is the logo of just about every other manufacturer. Check your autism, please.
You'll be better off getting the new Civic Touring.
Don't get me wrong, I'd be grateful for a $500 Geo Metro. I was just asking about people's opinions, and they seem generally positive. I'll give it one last test drive, then probably get it depending on how our trip to Mazda goes.
I tried, but thry really don't feel comparable. The civic was more fun to drive, but it was also a lot more uncomfortable and felt less refined overall.
Get a fully-loaded, 2.5l, hatchback Mazda 3.
it probably ends up being cheaper than that Lexus.
A fully loaded Mazda3 is 30K.
The CT200h starts at 33K.
A 90% loaded Mazda6 costs about 34.5K.
A similarly equipped CT200h is about 38K.
A fully loaded CT200h is just over 40K.
The Mazdas will probably be cheaper in maintenance too, and will return a more realistic MPG figure. I'd go for the 6 - it's gorgeous in red.
But then youre stuck in a mazduh
>growing up in the 80/90s but being raised as as a 2000s nu-child
christ
Mazdas are also more fun to drive than a Prius with a shiny L slapped to it.
They're not great. Consumer Reports didn't like it at all, and for them not to like a Toyota is pretty unusual. They're small inside, mileage isn't that great, the driving dynamics suck, etc. But it's nice and quiet inside, which might be what matters.
I'd honestly prefer the Prius Prime, whenever it comes out.
Don't worry about the batteries, Priuses have been remarkably reliable.
Other cars with good mileage:
Civic - common but excellent as of 2016
Mazda3 - a lot more fun to drive and available as a hatch, but more road noise on rough roads
Golf/Jetta - nice but unreliable
Miata - always the answer!
>accepting a free car from mommy and daddy
Why does it seem like I'm the only person on this board that has actually worked hard for every car he has bought?
>but excellent as of 2016
excuse me
Dude I'm still working for my first car.
Granted, I just had my last day of high school, but I've been working a few years now, and have money set aside. College is going to be a fucking pain.
Maybe you weren't raised by people like my parents, but I was rarely allowed to leave the house for years. Much less get a job.
Currently I'm doing an internship with Boeing right now. I don't make any money other than a small sum which I'm saving for cost of living when I go to college full-time.
Thank you.
We're going to be checking out Mazda soon, possibly tomorrow. I'm honestly hoping to like something there, and I hope my parents do as well. After all it is their money, and I only have so much influence on their decision.
I need something that's a sedan or hatchback, so no Miata. I honestly don't care what Consumer Reports likes or doesn't, I read their report on it, and it's mostly opinionated.
Good luck to you.
Jesus christ man, if you're going to be spending ~$30k at least look into something more competitive. Lexus are just inflated up the ass and you don't necessarily get your value's worth. This is the cheapest Lexus you can get into and it shows, interior feels like a poor man's IS. The wobbly fitment of shift knob, prominent hard plastics, not to mention droning CVT noise and holy fuck that road noise. You would think a "luxury" brand hybrid would provide some decent comfort but that shit was louder than a Mazda 3. It looks nice on the outside but when you're the one driving inside you just go "what the fuck did I paid the $30k for again?". Also calling the car "not sporty" is a huge understatement, it's literally heavier and slower than a Prius. Go test drive it and tell me you feel safe passing cars on highway in this thing. I'm not against hybrids but I'm against cars that jew you for money and doesn't get your money's worth. Spend 2/3 of that and get a fully loaded Mazda3. That stupid MPG meme needs to fucking die, do your homework on cost of ownership and you'll find it's cost of gas is fucking insignificant if you're in the position that can entertain a $30k car.
This is why CT sales are the lowest and not many people are aware of the existence.