My Latest Weird Car Obsession is the CT200h

"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
12/15/2016 at 16:27 • Filed to: LEXUS, CT200H

I’ve been obsessed with these things for the last few months. Maybe it’s my liking of efficiency and practicality. It gets great gas mileage, it’s reliable and it’s a hatchback so there is plenty of room inside.

You also get a very nice leather appointed interior and I have to say I really like the styling both inside and out.

They even come in the occasional funky color.

Early models can be had used for around $10,000 US. I could easily see myself buying one when I graduate college and get a better job in the next few years.

I think it would be a fantastic daily driver and while it shares the prius drivetrain it is much funkier and cooler to me than other hybrids. In fact I see the prius drivetrain as a plus because it has proven to be reliable. I can appreciate it for what it is and it’s right up my alley.

DISCUSSION (38)

Your boy, BJR > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:31

Bro. I *sell* Lexuses, and I’ll tell you that you DON’T want one of these.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:31

Fantastic looking, but a terrible car.

Wacko > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:32

i don’t know, i really don’t like the flow of the rear window and rear doors.

Captain of the Enterprise > Your boy, BJR
12/15/2016 at 16:32

why?

Captain of the Enterprise > Wacko
12/15/2016 at 16:33

that’s fair. It’s a beauty in the eye of the beholder thing. For the record I also like the Nissan Cube right now so this may be a weird phase in car taste.

Bytemite > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:35

It’s just a Prius with a Lexus badge and interior. It looks very nice, and the interior is plush and the ride is quiet. But it still drives exactly like a Prius.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:37

Kinja'd!!!

They’re also the perfect candidate for some nice wheels and air ride. Not a huge fan of the tire stretch on this one but otherwise, it’s such a clean build.

Wacko > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:37

i’m not saying you can’t like it.

the cube is all weird and funky, but on the Lexus, it’s like they gave up when they got to that point. Or it was the best they can do in the parts bin.

It just doesn’t fit with the rest of the car.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:38

I wish they would have put the 3.5L in these with the 2.5L as a base and the hybrid as an option.

For Sweden > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:38

Why does he sell Lexuses?

Why do any of us experience disappointment?

bob and john > Bytemite
12/15/2016 at 16:39

honestly, the interior isnt even that nice. its actually HORRIBLE by lexus standards.

Your boy, BJR > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 16:43

It’s slow. The hatch is tiny. The seats are not leather. They have more in common texture wise with that shit mouse pads are made of than with cows. They’re ungainly looking. They are GARBAGE in the snow, the interior is cheap shit. It is a total disgrace to the Lexus name. If you want a funky Lexus Hybrid, get the HS 250h. That has all of the benefits of the CT (gas mileage) but with a useable trunk, an actually nice interior, and some great features like a Mark Levinson stereo, real leather seats, and a rear sunshade.

Bytemite > bob and john
12/15/2016 at 16:46

Yeah..I haven’t been in a modern luxury car in a while so most likely any entry level car from Lexus would blow me away.

Bytemite > Your boy, BJR
12/15/2016 at 16:47

What’s your favorite Lexus to sell?

Your boy, BJR > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/15/2016 at 16:47

Go away.

Your boy, BJR > Bytemite
12/15/2016 at 16:48

The LS and the LX. Those have the biggest paydays.

Also the LS is a genuinely amazing car in every single way.

bob and john > Bytemite
12/15/2016 at 16:49

this should not have a lexus badge. really. its that bad.

Captain of the Enterprise > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/15/2016 at 16:50

I like the color a lot

Captain of the Enterprise > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
12/15/2016 at 16:51

I completely agree, then you probably could have gotten them a little cheaper too without the batteries and such.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Your boy, BJR
12/15/2016 at 16:55

What? It’s not like it’s ruining the handling of a sports car, and it’s air ride so it can be raised to a safe clearance height when not hard parked. A little VIP-style hatchback.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 17:01

The 3.5 could have even made it a CT-F

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 17:12

They’re fine but the front seats are a little cramped. Build quality is questionable in areas too, the plastics don’t wear well at all. They’re good commuters but other than the looks, they don’t do anything the Prius cant.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 17:35

You get to drive a Prius without being the butt of the joke. Plus it really does look good. I do wish that the F wasn’t a Hybrid though. This thing could be a great new age Ingetra, or upscale ST competitor.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
12/15/2016 at 17:36

There is an F but it’s just anHybrid with stiff suspension and a body kit

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Bytemite
12/15/2016 at 17:37

But that’s the point

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/15/2016 at 17:39

That’s just a f sport. I’m talking true F

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 17:40

My mom just ordered this one. Should be here on Monday.

https://www.carmax.com/car/13450009

bhtooefr > Bytemite
12/15/2016 at 17:56

Rear suspension is independent, and it’s shorter wheelbase.

What it actually is is a nicer version of the Auris Hybrid, which is an Auris (Corolla iM) with the Gen 3 Prius’s powertrain.

Captain of the Enterprise > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/15/2016 at 18:09

True I’d like a non hybrid as well

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/15/2016 at 18:09

Cool! I hope she likes it

bhtooefr > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
12/15/2016 at 18:10

I doubt the 3.5 liter would’ve fit. A platform-mate of this car did get the 3.5 (the RAV4), but that’s a bit different from sticking a 3.5 in a CT.

The 2.5 4-cylinder, on the other hand, even with its hybrid system, would have, I’m pretty sure. And, 200 hp instead of 134 or whatever would’ve been at least a legitimately hot hatch at launch.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 18:14

So do I. I will report back on what she thinks (and what I think) after having lived with it for a bit.

Captain of the Enterprise > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/15/2016 at 18:46

Sweet! looking forward to it

Bytemite > bhtooefr
12/15/2016 at 18:49

Good to know.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 21:13

I briefly consider one of these at the start of my last at search until I actually sat in one. They are neither roomy or practical. The seats are cramped front and rear and the cargo area is tiny (in part because the battery is down there). Kind of defeats the point of being a hatch.

Pyrochazm > Captain of the Enterprise
12/15/2016 at 23:04

I really think the 200h is one of the better looking cars Toyota makes.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Captain of the Enterprise
12/16/2016 at 00:20

They look nice, but the interior on these always gets to me. Lots of dark plastic, always looking more like a Toyota than a Lexus. Also some parts bin stuff (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it), but compare to my wife’s 2008 Vibe:

Same window switches as my wife’s car
Same door lock controls as my wife’s car
Same cruise stalk as my wife’s car
Same mirror controls as my wife’s car
Same brightness controls as my wife’s car

I can’t quite tell but both the signal stalk and wiper stalk look to be the same as well.

Same left-hand row of 3 buttons as my Tacoma

I’m sure it’s a well-built car and all...

CaptDale - is secretly British > Captain of the Enterprise
12/16/2016 at 12:12

And it doesn’t even look like a Prius!