[syscon]

Is anybody using CD-Changer?
In Canada we have a premium package for $4,950 that include:

Leather Seat Surfaces
Tires: P215/45R17 AS
Wheels: 17" Aluminum Alloy
Power Moonroof
6-Disc CD Changer
10 Speakers
Driver Seat Memory System
Garage Door Opener
Mirrors Linked to Seat Memory
Rain Sensing Wipers
Auto-Dimming Side View Mirrors
Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror w/Backup Camera (Includes compass.)

I think CD-Changers are obsolete in MP3+USB age?

Tires: P215/45R17 - don't see any advantage of going to larger rim tires. Can anybody educate me what is their advantage over 205/55R16?
In Canada with winter 6-months out of 12, what is the point of going to wider tires?

Driver Seat Memory - would be the only feature that I see useful (but paying 5K extra for this feature is a bit too much).

Are there any use of backup camera in such a small car?

 

[rehabmax]

CD Changer

In the US if you get the CT200h premium with Navigation system Lexus also makes you get the upgraded audio package that includes a back up camera, dimming rear view mirror, 10 speakers and a 6 CD disc changer. I have this combination on my car. I share your opinion on the CD changer. Today it is old school.

A 20 or 40GB hard drive would have been a better idea to move all your digital music files to the car. I don't really like the iPhone/iPod interface because it lists songs alphabetically and does not bring up playlists that you created on the screen. The flip up Navigation screen is big and bright. One thing I don't like is the map screen always defaults back after 10 seconds even if you are viewing the audio information about a song. You can't stay on the XM radio or CD screens. Plus once you connect the iPod via the USB cable the iPod screen goes blank with the notice "Accessory connected" A work around is to connect the cable from the headphone jack to the Aux jack. Then control the iPod from the regular screen to select playlists/artists. Have the radio control set to AUX.

In the US leather adds $2500 (i went with the Nulux standard) for the additional $5000 they add the driver seat memory and smart cruise with accident avoidance. Plus some other stuff like rain sensing wipers and headlight washers. I could not justify that extra cost and I wanted to keep the car at $35,000 for my budget. Pushing it up to $40,000 for me was not worth it. Go for it if you really want those things.

I happen to appreciate the back up camera as the rear window is pretty small. You would miss low objects behind you like a bicycle on the ground otherwise.
CT 200h Premium, Starfire Pearl, Navigation, Premium audio.

So there are some quirks but overall the car is wonderful. Hope you enjoy whatever combination you get.

 

[syscon]

We have a lower package Touring Package $1950

Tires: P215/45R17 AS
Wheels: 17" Aluminum Alloy
Power Moonroof

I'll select only Power Moonroof, and skip the 17in tires, as I don't see any advantage to them.
What would be the price difference between P215/45R17 vs. P205/55R16?
I would like to ask them for a credit.

I would like to get a memory seats option but I don't think, they will special order for me considering, those models are going off the lot as soon as they can get them and on top of it the situation in Japan.

 

[Honeycombe]

Is anybody using CD-Changer?
In Canada we have a premium package for $4,950 that include:
I think CD-Changers are obsolete in MP3+USB age?

I don't know anyone who uses MP3/USB. Everyone I know listens to the radio or CDs. I prefer the radio, actually. Something about the element of surprise. I don't want to know the next song that will play. Surprise me. If I don't like it, I flip it. For moods when I want to hear a special CD, like for holidays, then I'll pop in a CD. Someone I know used to listen to audio books in the car. Also, it takes time to download music. Not many people I know take the time to do that. Might be an age thing (I'm in the middle aged crowd.)

 

[dkid]

I listen to XM satellite radio and CD. It is nice to go across country and listen to the same station all the way. I wouldn't know what to do with MP3. I am a little past middle age. lol

 

[Matt_RN]

In the US if you get the CT200h premium with Navigation system Lexus also makes you get the upgraded audio package that includes a back up camera, dimming rear view mirror, 10 speakers and a 6 CD disc changer. I have this combination on my car. I share your opinion on the CD changer. Today it is old school.

A 20 or 40GB hard drive would have been a better idea to move all your digital music files to the car. I don't really like the iPhone/iPod interface because it lists songs alphabetically and does not bring up playlists that you created on the screen. The flip up Navigation screen is big and bright. One thing I don't like is the map screen always defaults back after 10 seconds even if you are viewing the audio information about a song. You can't stay on the XM radio or CD screens. Plus once you connect the iPod via the USB cable the iPod screen goes blank with the notice "Accessory connected" A work around is to connect the cable from the headphone jack to the Aux jack. Then control the iPod from the regular screen to select playlists/artists. Have the radio control set to AUX.

In the US leather adds $2500 (i went with the Nulux standard) for the additional $5000 they add the driver seat memory and smart cruise with accident avoidance. Plus some other stuff like rain sensing wipers and headlight washers. I could not justify that extra cost and I wanted to keep the car at $35,000 for my budget. Pushing it up to $40,000 for me was not worth it. Go for it if you really want those things.

I happen to appreciate the back up camera as the rear window is pretty small. You would miss low objects behind you like a bicycle on the ground otherwise.
CT 200h Premium, Starfire Pearl, Navigation, Premium audio.

So there are some quirks but overall the car is wonderful. Hope you enjoy whatever combination you get.

Actually, there is a setting under General that allows you to switch off the nav system from automatically changing screens back to the default screen after x amount of seconds.

The memory system, rain sensing wipers, and tilt down mirrors come with the leather package. The LED headlamp package would include the headlight washers.

Definitely agree with you about how Lexus should have included a HDD instead of a CD changer; it seems like Lexus is always behind in technology behind our German counterparts, but then again, there's a reason why Japanese cars are so reliable. I guess the technology must be reliable before Lexus puts it in their cars. Case-in-point: look at the 2010 SC430. It still had a tape deck at the time!

The backup camera definitely mitigates situations where you can't see directly behind you because of the way the back window is cut out. I'm glad Lexus included that as an option.

 

[syscon]

I don't know anyone who uses MP3/USB. Everyone I know listens to the radio or CDs. I prefer the radio, actually. Something about the element of surprise. I don't want to know the next song that will play. Surprise me. If I don't like it, I flip it. For moods when I want to hear a special CD, like for holidays, then I'll pop in a CD. Someone I know used to listen to audio books in the car. Also, it takes time to download music. Not many people I know take the time to do that. Might be an age thing (I'm in the middle aged crowd.)

I'm not young either :-/ but I think the CD's are thing of the past.
1.) There is very little difference between quality of the MP3 recording vs. WAV
2.) Most of the time CD only include few hits of a given artist and the rest of the recording are junk. I usually rip my CD and collect only the songs I like it (convert them to MP3).
3.) CD only holds about 12-songs (+/-5), on a USB stick I can have hundreds.

If Lexus was smart they should have added solid-state drive (SSD); I'm sure it would be cheaper, take less room than the CD Changer and be more practical. I think they were rushing the first model to the market and went with the flow.

 

[Matt_RN]

That's the beauty of MP3s. They sound the same as .wav files, but take up just a fraction of the space.

 

[2hunny]

I burned 70 mp3 songs on each CD for stuff we listen to. Scrolling through the CD is easy. I still connect the phone via bluetooth for podcasts.

 

[cenix]

man, i've hooked up my mp3 player via usb and haven't looked back. i don't use the cd player anymore...

 

[Bob259]

I listen to XM satellite radio and CD. It is nice to go across country and listen to the same station all the way. I wouldn't know what to do with MP3. I am a little past middle age. lol

Ditto... same here