[bilmat]

For those of you who have owned a CT for more than a few weeks, have you found any good or not-so-good surprises or shortcomings with the car now that you have been able to spend time with it?

After 3 1/2 months of ownership (I purchased my non-Nav CT Premium on March 17th) I've been very satisfied with it. But a day after I brought the car home I discovered one missing feature that I assumed would be standard on all Lexus models: a wireless garage door opener. As near as I can tell, the device (Homelink) comes only on Nav models (my overhead control panel looks nothing like the one pictured in the owner's manual under "Garage Door Opener.")

I never gave any thought to a wireless door opener when I test drove and had a detailed look at the car and its features prior to purchase because of that assumption. While I miss the convenience of pushing a button on the overhead control panel to open or close the garage door like I can on my ES350 and my MDX, the lack of the feature is in no way a big deal. Attaching a regular garage door opener with Velcro to the left side of the inside of the glove box was an easy solution. I will, however, admit to a little razzing from a couple of friends as they watched me lean over and open the glove box to raise or lower my garage door.

Friend: "Are you absolutely sure this is a Lexus?"

Suppressing my reflex to shout, "Get out of my freakin' car," I would glumly nod my head and reply, "That's what it said on the invoice."

Other than the missing wireless door opener that I feel should have been a standard feature on a CT200h Premium (and all other Lexus models for that matter), everything else about the car is as advertised and works flawlessly, and overall, I'm a very satisfied owner. But I would switch the heated seat controls for a wireless garage door opener in a heartbeat. With the moderate climate we have here in the S.F. Bay Area, I doubt that my butt will ever call out to my brain to activate the seat heaters, a sentiment that probably applies to MattRN in L.A., HeyGurl in Texas and numerous other CT owners who live in the southwestern states. But I digress...

For you owners who are reading this post, have you found any surprises or shortcomings — either good or bad — now that you have had time to live with your CT?

 

[SteveRD66]

We don't have home link option here in australia but most garage door openers come with a small fob like your car key fob to open the door, they usually come with a clip to clip on to your sun visor so it's easy to reach, but if you are velcroing it in place why place it in your glove box ! Why not have it near your drivers side.

 

[xxxxseacliff]

Bill, the Homelink doesn't come with the Nav it comes with the premium sound package.
There is a way thou, go on eBay and find the one that works with rolling codes. If I remember about $35 or so. Just got to find a spot under the dash to mount and you should be in business. This is what was suggested to me before I ordered from a CT member.

 

[fourpt5]

Here in the NE, the Homelink option came packaged with the Premium stereo and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. It's amazing what features to which you become accustomed in a upscale car.

 

[audi4t]

The signal from the wireless key fob can be shielded and prevents operation as experienced by my wife with key fob in one of her pocket books.

Would have liked the heated steering wheel (in addition to the heated seats we have) here in New England.

Rain sensing wipers would have been an improvement.

Dual TMPS like other Lexus models which would permit simple changeover when separate winter and summer rims are mounted.

 

[bondguy]

Would have been nice to have a power seat on passenger side also...this is a $36,000 car after all

 

[Max12]

I've been completely satisfied, I do have the homelink system though.

 

[Matt_RN]

HAHAHAHAHHA. Surprisingly, I use my seat warmers a lot earlier this year. But that's because I drive naked, with all the windows open, and the heat blasting too. Anything below 75 degrees and I'm complaining. We sure are spoiled by the weather here in Southern CA. That also probably explains why my MPG has been so low, with the windows open and all on the highway.

The passenger door trim panel coming off is annoying, but I don't have passengers so it doesn't matter too much. I heard there's a replacement now.

 

[SteveRD66]

How exactly is the door trim handle coming off ? Is it only if you pull it a certain way

I've had my CT 3 weeks now and had good pull on the handle and had quite a few passengers in the car and it hasn't come off

 

[Dirvin]

The demo at the dealership's came off in my hands on my demo drive. I don't have "kid sized" hands and I didn't do anything unusual. Just grabbed the handle and tried to pull it shut.

 

[Kostamojen]

Its hard to park straight in a parking spot cause of the high hood line.

 

[gharai]

I'm only 5'7" but from my seat position the window controls are too far forward. I have to lean and reach forward to get to the front window controls. In my IS 250 it was perfectly positioned. That's my biggest gripe so far.

 

[midcow3]

Actually I don't like surprises - but, no cup holders in the back seat ?

Actually, I don't like surprises so I do extensive research. I have actually already read the owner's manual and navigation manual online.

But a surprise for this level of car is the lack of a folddown center rest in the backseat (the Prius has one) and the associated cup holders normally in the fold down back cseat center rest.

Actually, there are NO cupholders in the backseat!

There are two cup holders in the front and a bottle storage in the driver's door.

 

[johnleigh]

Actually, I don't like surprises so I do extensive research. I have actually already read the owner's manual and navigation manual online.

But a surprise for this level of car is the lack of a folddown center rest in the backseat (the Prius has one) and the associated cup holders normally in the fold down back cseat center rest.

Actually, there are NO cupholders in the backseat!

There are two cup holders in the front and a bottle storage in the driver's door.

Seconded.

 

[dgstan]

I'm rather unhappy about the fact that the iPod controls do not have a "random album" mode. You can do random songs, but I prefer to listen to entire albums and as it is now, it just plays them in the order they appear on the iPod.

It's problematic in that every time you disconnect the iPod, it starts over with the same album sequence. My DICE unit in my old Prius could shuffle albums and that was my default listening mode.

I wonder if there's any chance of getting this addressed in a software update.

 

[audi4t]

The bottom corner of the passenger door is very low. Easy to hit sidewalk when opening door.

 

[xyip]

Maybe the car is too quiet on the road.. There's a few times (4+ times), cars beside me were trying to change lane without realizing there's a car beside them... Man.. people should really do shoulder check....... ><"

 

[Jedi767]

Haha ^Matt you drive naked in the CT!?

We should really turn this into a 'Heres my problems with the CT, what solution can we come up with' thread.

That being said, the main problems off the top of my head are;
- USB port is in a terrible place
- No seat coolers (my girlfriends older IS has them.. Very embarrassing)
- Passenger seat isn't electric
- No extra little storage compartments near the driver for MISC stuff like coins
- No rear cupholders (this really bothers me)

 

[Dirvin]

I wish it had a power hatch button like my RX. Helps when you have your arms full.

 

[Boldlygo]

The stupid thinking of Lexus Canada with regards to options, features and accessories. We can't get : heated steering wheel, park assist, Lexus Enform, electronic device holder, dynamic radar cruize control, pre-collision warning, stabilizer bars (did I forget anything?)

Geez, we have NO accessories in Canada except a cargo net and a block heater!!!! I've had to get my accessories through John @CT200Hchat.com.