Lexus CT200h Sport

Added by SB1500
Create date Feb 5, 2024
Updated Aug 2, 2024

My fifth car and hopefully in the running for the longest-owned title...

Overview Modifications Updates (3) Gallery Discussion

Introduction

Bought on a whim in January 2024 as it was local, heavily discounted and from a fear born out of the uncertainty from the BMW engine in the Avensis' longevity...

It just won over the idea of buying a new Panda because of safety worries having a small child in now most of the time (particularly on the long journeys)

Diesel inefficiency of the Avensis was also costing quite a lot - it became difficult to justify all the short, pointless and/or fun trips here and there.

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Latest updates

Some photo updates…

Aug 2, 2024

The handover from the Avensis… Much smaller but much more sensible size for me.

Pretty awful weather to be taking delivery of a car on… snowy / icy

First snow-foam wash with this car… AutoGlym’s Polar series stuff is decent! Took a few weeks to get the cobwebs from a 6+ month sit around gone…

I ordered this ‘special service tool’ AFTER realising I needed it… luckily managed to get the old oil filter off without damage. Prepared next time…

I always thought the CT had a really dated, ugly looking interior in any photos or reviews I saw of it over the years. But the first time I sat in it in person it did feel much better than I expected.. Everything is laid out really well, and everywhere you come into contact with (knee, elbow) has a little stitched soft fake leather part that feel cushioned. The controls are quite nice to interact with as well, although a lot is shared over from the Avensis such as window controls, stalks etc.

This rear part is definitely the most unique part of the CT’s shape. Again, I always thought this was really ugly and awkward looking online but it blends in easily with the black. It has grown on me. My Panda’s had a unique third side/rear window design feature that was important to its overall side profile / look and the parallel with this is something I quite like now.

Some photos of clean sills! Hassle of a job but one that makes stepping into the car a pleasure for a couple of weeks..

So, this one was a disaster waiting to happen… Taking a CT to the beach in general was a stupid idea… taking an automatic car to the beach, probably also not a good choice… The Michelin tyres made for the road / smooth by design also didn’t help. Ended up getting grounded on the sand and had to be pulled out by a Suzuki 4x4 with huge tyres! Nice guy though, lesson learnt. The CT doesn’t compare to my old Panda’s which could show up most other cars on the sand!

Some photos of a wax using Turtle Wax Graphene infused liquid wax.

Engine bay, post quick little detail… No, not the ‘hold a pressure washer to the engine’ idiocracy! Mostly black trim gel … lol

Took this to show a friend of mine (who has a gross misunderstanding of how the Hybrid system works, having read about the gimmicky EV mode) to show that quite a lot of the time, even at higher speeds, the car can just switch to electric for prolonged periods when demand is low…

The only real ‘big’ investment I’ve made… Michelin Pilot Sport 5’s. Absolutely tyres, even on a slow car like this one. They corner really well, I think the weight of the car with the batteries etc helps throwing it about be more fun than you’d expect. These tyres definitely will never reach their limits on this car, but that’s not so bad. Debated for a long time over sticking with the factory Yokohama’s but they were so hard to source that they essentially cost the same as the PS5s. The sidewalls have this funny little dark area that if you touch it, feels like velvet.. of course that’s a gimmick on a tyre but when nobody’s looking I usually give it a touch… I know, I’m weird..

The first 6 months...

Jun 20, 2024

- End of January, major DIY service
- Mid February, one of those Hybrid Health Checks, £70. Passed / no issues found, breathing easy
- Late February, DIY brake fluid (never had time on the January service), no issues, didn't need to remove the wheels for the last two sides.
- Late February, Ordered and replaced some dirt-seized / broken plastic clips under the car
- Early April, idiot in motorcycle decides to drive into the back of the car damaging light / bumper, repaired with genuine parts at no cost to me.
- May, passed MOT no issues or advisories
- June, ordered four new Pilot Sport 5 tyres - can't wait to get them on and take 'em for a spin. Long debated getting Cross Climates but settled on getting good summers and then next year getting good winters as we literally have 6 months of over 7 degrees and 6 months dipping below it regularly.

Planning to do a 6 months / 5,000 mile oil change in July (time and mileage is lining up nicely for that) using the proper oil / filter. £100 here and there to be a little over the top can't do any harm. That'll do it until next January now for another bigger service.

Off to a good start with a complete DIY service...

Feb 5, 2024

Before I submit to a service at the dealer (for that ten year warranty thing while I can) I thought I'd take the opportunity to service this covering every single service item upfront so that going forward, it's just oil changes and the seldom changed other item as per the schedule. First 3 years - Lexus serviced on the record. Last 3... by a Toyota dealer which according to Lexus doesn't count as a dealer service for the car. It's unclear what they actually did versus what they managed to log on the system, and as they'd lied to my over the Avensis brake fluid change why take the risk?

Everything changed: oil, filter, spark plugs, coolant (for engine and inverter), transmission fluid, wipers, fuel system cleaner added to a full tank of petrol, stone chip repair kit, brake fluid change and engine air filter / cabin filter.

Not without difficulty: the oil filter has a special tool required, took about 45 minutes trying to get that off without the tool (ordered one since). Spark plugs down a very long channel and took a while to carefully get out and in. Liquid pump for the transmission fluid, very difficult due to cheap little pump with a bend in the tube on both ends, sucking air half the time... then the drain plug gushed out with pressure, directly into a bar... which spread the flow wide all over the tools and garage floor, managing to completely miss the pan.. Other than that things went smoothly. Got there in the end.

All genuine parts / fluids as well (well, as you can see, largely Toyota branded but that's how they come).

Booked in for a 'hybrid battery health check' at Lexus next week too... to be safe. That's about the only thing I can't do myself.

Now it's just oil and filter changes which I plan to do every 5,000 using the Toyota/Lexus oil.

I think this was wise to do upfront versus splitting it into a bunch of jobs across the year. The parts are surprisingly all very reasonably priced, easy to find and mostly standard procedure to fit. These things can allegedly do 300,000 miles plus if looked after - imagine that.