New Owner - Coming from 451hp & 13 MPG

Glad you are okay, But to give up such sweet power - ARRRG!. People put way, way too much emphasis on mpg and gas costs. If you really look at it, for most people than can afford a CT200h, the gas is not one of your major costs. I have always had performance vehicles and occasionally I filter in a car that gets good mileage. I also have mainly had manual shift cars; I missed not shifting more than the power but not by much. I still have the CT200h but don’t drive it very much and when I do it feels like a dog, even in power mode. And then I really like audio and even with upgraded speakers and amp o nthe CT200h, AM, FM, XM still such with the OEM head unit. Direct AIX sounds good now. Lexus audio is so, so lame.

Having said all that, enjoy your new CT200h, it really is a pretty good car.

my95tsi said:

IMO the CT is pointless for someone who doesn't drive more than 20,000 miles a year. I had an IS350 with all the F Sport goodies and drive about 25-30,000 miles a year. The CT was a no brainer as I was spending over $400 a month in gas. Now I spend half that. If I didn't drive so much I'd still have the IS350. I miss my 350 a lot but not for the power but rather the quality and look. The CT has half the quality of the IS line and it's apparent.


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Yeah, that's the thing, the CT will get about 25-30k miles put on a year, and money aside, it's a great convenience to not have to stop at the pump every two days, putting $65 in the tank.

It's also great not paying $125 for an oil change, or replacing the tires twice or more a year. It's not just the money, again, it's convenience.

That said, those things weren't my concern when I owned the c63. The car is phenominal and I never felt disappointed driving it. The car got a ton of positive attention and shocked looks when people saw how fast a family sedan could be. LOTS of fun.

Don said:

I feel the same as you, midcow3. My wife and I fight over who will NOT drive our CT. It had comfortable front seats and is built well, but it's just plain blah and lacks excitement. Wish I didn't feel that way because I dumped a lot of money to buy the car. Too bad that resale on the CTs are so low right now.

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I totally understand this as well. I know the feeling VERY well. I am coming from a car that was wayyyy more power than I needed, and I wanted more. I was toying around with all sorts of cars on the road and my car never let me down. I had a nice run-in with a Ferrari California (the owner was visisbly angry the his car couldn't keep up with mine... he was yelling "MONEY!!" at me - since his car cost more than mine).

All that said, I lovvvvve driving fun and fast cars. However, I am willing to give that up for a while to be practical. The car did nothing but cause my wife to be nervous whenever I drove it, and cause me to get pulled over more than I would like. It was really difficult to not hit 100mph when no one was on the road. You just couldn't tell you were doing it. Even my wife's first drive of the car, she was up to 125mph, not even realizing it.

With plans of a family ahead, I need to be practical for other people's sake.

Glad to have someone owning the CT after coming out of a much bigger, and much "badder" vehicle. And it's refreshing to hear the other side of the story as well. I can't imagine anyone would be interested in my story, but I came out of a "meagre" 250 hp American car which is now 13 years old and still going strong. Not any close to the power that others enjoy, but up until my last count, I had only 5 times in the last thirteen years that I floored the pedal, including twice that I did to feel its dragging limits. And even with that small power I have had numerous situations where I made manoeuvres that were close shaves; and when I think back, I can only imagine what would have happened, if things did not happen the way it did. The next thought that comes to mind is what was I thinking? I am not asking this but how many of us actually try the limits of a car's abilities in its lifetime. But most of the time, we just are happy to lug that reserve power around for "just in case". And should I say, even the most disciplined can get swayed by the power to abuse it once in a while, as we all have experienced.

The other philosophical thought is about the money spent vs power obtained. I think its in our genes to try and become as much powerful, as we are taught to respect and fear the powerful. As the car is an extension of our self, it is hard to disenchant our self from the need for power in our car. Almost everyone who owns a CT in this forum, has had and will always have the option of getting a lot more powerful car for the money spent, that's a fact. And believe me, sooner or later car makers or manufacturer of any technological innovations will succumb to the human need for more power to fulfil their baser instincts. And that is just why cars have continuously become bigger, badder all the while trying to fulfil the societal need to conserve. Imagine how much fuel would we have saved, if our vehicles had the same horses as in few decades ago.

Ok enough blathering. I think owning this "underpowered" car is somehow trying to tell your million year old genes to stop the power worship, and this will never be easy. I have found that the CT is more than enough for most people's "needs" (not wants) for whatever the speed governments regulate. Yes it is a "pussy" car, but it is also the most sensible vehicle, when you think with your brain and not the heart, which the car junkies (journalists) try to titillate. The car has given me a good balance of comfort and gas savings. I tend to see this car as an economy vehicle. In my next ten years, my CT will easily save me around $13,000 and that means this will cost me no more than an economy vehicle. Add the luxury, reliability and Lexus cache, I think it was a no brainer. Oh by the way, I am in Canada, and the gas prices are about a kiss away from $5 a gallon.

Parting thought, if you can't go to the track to test your car, play the Need For Speed in your Intel i7 computers. Do a 3 monitor setup and surround sounds and get the fun you need with the powerful vehicles. On the road, your pussy cars around me give me a sense of responsible mindedness when my fifteen month old baby is on my back seat. Happy March break everyone!

I have had many cars my last was a HPDE BSP 350z later with a 150 shot for fun and i will tell the the money i saved with the CT200h was amazing. I test drove all in the catagorey from Ford St to the Audi A3 and there all dogs...the imperical value of "fast" with anything in that catagorey is subjective to what "fast" means to you, but in my view there all very slow cars. But thats not why you by one of these in the first place. Honeslty the Ct200h was the best car i ever owned as far as practicality maintence and gas milage efficiency. And i love to drive it. I saved so much i bought a Prius for my girl because driven properly there extremly low maintaince effcient cars. I was actually in the market to get a Nissan Leaf to be honest but the range limitations right now dont fit my life style. But i look forward to one later as a 3rd commuter car.

I find it rather dubious that someone would buy any car in this market segment and say anything performance wise about anything thats a 5+ sec 0-50. Guys these cars at the most have great handeling for what they are andthere fun to drive and thats about it. Any one of them that claim gas effiency in this cat will get smoked by your moms old chevy impala in front like accelaration going to church. So .....lets just live in reality and enjoy this awesome car and great build quality and one of the best paint jobs and carbon foot print in the catagorey. Also excellent service and maintaince figures.

Coming from the C63 i can see you will enjoy the savings aswell , enjoy and kudos to your new purchase my sole emphasis on the Ct200h was maitaince savings and carbon footprint all that the car does with ease and with with very capable chassis handeling wise considering the factors.