Hybrid Test Drive
Discussion
Hi,
Further to my recent thread on company car choices, I test drove a Lexus CT200h yesterday.
My impressions overall were good, the driver seat was comfortable and cosseting with all the controls falling to hand. It had a quality feel, but in a Japanese rather than European way in that the layout of switches etc... isn't as well thought out as it could be.
Rear seat room was ok, on par with my Astra, one disappointing factor was that it lacked a central rearseat armrest which I found a little stingy on a car like this.
The boot while OK size wise lacks depth, this might be an issue for us carrying our dog, but we need to try he in one really.
Initially I was set to go for the SE-L which I suspect I might need to twist my bosses arm and budget for, however the main reason for this was to have leather. On viewing the car however I think I prefer the alcantara like cloth of the base SE-I and without leather I could live without the heated seats the SE-L would also include.
Onto the drive; firstly I'm not used to an auto, so I was expecting to find it odd. It was surprisingly easy to get used to though and being CVT I found it to be very smooth. The downside to CVT is when making progressing it is revvy but in a non-familiar way; the revs rise then stay roughly at the same level while you keep your foot it.
Essentially you get in and drive, but to get the most out of the car economy wise you need adapt your driving style to suit, easy on the throttle and using the electronic brake where possible to slow down so as to recharge the battery.
The steering was nice and direct, the ride was firm and it felt sure footed (although it felt a heavy car). Overall though it is a relaxing rather than inspiring car to drive, which suits me fine for what I want it for.
Performance wise the car has been criticised in the press, and I can sort of see why if you're comparing it to a more performance orientated diesel, but in comparison with the crop of diesels worked around the current emissions tax structure I think it fares well, especially if set in sport mode (the dash illumination also turns red in this mode which is neat).
I did also have a go at driving it in EV mode, which will operate upto 28mph. The downside is you need to be very gentle with the throttle to stop the petrol engine cutting in and in my opinion it is a bit of a gimick really which would be frustrating to use in the real world.
In conclusion I'm not sure if I would punt my own £24k on one, well actually I'm damn sure I wouldn't, but as a company lease car for 3 years I'm pretty sure I'll go for one. In solid black, black interior and with parking sensors. Providing of course my dog fits!
Anyone else have any experience of these cars?
Further to my recent thread on company car choices, I test drove a Lexus CT200h yesterday.
My impressions overall were good, the driver seat was comfortable and cosseting with all the controls falling to hand. It had a quality feel, but in a Japanese rather than European way in that the layout of switches etc... isn't as well thought out as it could be.
Rear seat room was ok, on par with my Astra, one disappointing factor was that it lacked a central rearseat armrest which I found a little stingy on a car like this.
The boot while OK size wise lacks depth, this might be an issue for us carrying our dog, but we need to try he in one really.
Initially I was set to go for the SE-L which I suspect I might need to twist my bosses arm and budget for, however the main reason for this was to have leather. On viewing the car however I think I prefer the alcantara like cloth of the base SE-I and without leather I could live without the heated seats the SE-L would also include.
Onto the drive; firstly I'm not used to an auto, so I was expecting to find it odd. It was surprisingly easy to get used to though and being CVT I found it to be very smooth. The downside to CVT is when making progressing it is revvy but in a non-familiar way; the revs rise then stay roughly at the same level while you keep your foot it.
Essentially you get in and drive, but to get the most out of the car economy wise you need adapt your driving style to suit, easy on the throttle and using the electronic brake where possible to slow down so as to recharge the battery.
The steering was nice and direct, the ride was firm and it felt sure footed (although it felt a heavy car). Overall though it is a relaxing rather than inspiring car to drive, which suits me fine for what I want it for.
Performance wise the car has been criticised in the press, and I can sort of see why if you're comparing it to a more performance orientated diesel, but in comparison with the crop of diesels worked around the current emissions tax structure I think it fares well, especially if set in sport mode (the dash illumination also turns red in this mode which is neat).
I did also have a go at driving it in EV mode, which will operate upto 28mph. The downside is you need to be very gentle with the throttle to stop the petrol engine cutting in and in my opinion it is a bit of a gimick really which would be frustrating to use in the real world.
In conclusion I'm not sure if I would punt my own £24k on one, well actually I'm damn sure I wouldn't, but as a company lease car for 3 years I'm pretty sure I'll go for one. In solid black, black interior and with parking sensors. Providing of course my dog fits!
Anyone else have any experience of these cars?
)kambites said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
D1bram said:
as a company lease car for 3 years I'm pretty sure I'll go for one.
Why? What makes it such a good choice?
k off. Lexus' should be wafty.Thanks for the replies so far.
As to why, well one of the poster pretty much hit the nail on the head.
-It's something different, 3 of my colleagues at the same level drive bluemotion passats, I want something different and why not try something like this at little risk to myself.
-Cost - This will cost me £135/month in tax. To put that in perspective an Astra 1.7CDTi 130SE would cost around £42/month more. Overall costwise I'm also forfeiting a £5k allowance (a miserable £208/month take home), so fully fueled, taxed, insured for me and the wife and maintained this vehicle will be costing me £343/month.
-They're pretty well finished, comfortable, reliable, good Lexus service.
As to why as a company car and not my own, well basically I've no risk of it being worth zero when I come to change and it won't eat into my own cash so much that I can't also afford to run something more fun.
Worse case is the car does my head in, but then I am driving a 2003 diesel Astra day to day at the moment and that's fine tbh.
Hopefully I can get the car at a lease cost which fits with what my boss has in mind, then I'll be able to update what it's like to live with.
Oh, and as to prefering the Prius, I will definitely test drive one first, but I much prefer the look and interior of the CT. Your are correct though, it's a firm ride, but we'd just got out of the wifes Mini Cooper S so didn't notice so much
As to why, well one of the poster pretty much hit the nail on the head.
-It's something different, 3 of my colleagues at the same level drive bluemotion passats, I want something different and why not try something like this at little risk to myself.
-Cost - This will cost me £135/month in tax. To put that in perspective an Astra 1.7CDTi 130SE would cost around £42/month more. Overall costwise I'm also forfeiting a £5k allowance (a miserable £208/month take home), so fully fueled, taxed, insured for me and the wife and maintained this vehicle will be costing me £343/month.
-They're pretty well finished, comfortable, reliable, good Lexus service.
As to why as a company car and not my own, well basically I've no risk of it being worth zero when I come to change and it won't eat into my own cash so much that I can't also afford to run something more fun.
Worse case is the car does my head in, but then I am driving a 2003 diesel Astra day to day at the moment and that's fine tbh.
Hopefully I can get the car at a lease cost which fits with what my boss has in mind, then I'll be able to update what it's like to live with.
Oh, and as to prefering the Prius, I will definitely test drive one first, but I much prefer the look and interior of the CT. Your are correct though, it's a firm ride, but we'd just got out of the wifes Mini Cooper S so didn't notice so much
Ozzie Osmond said:
thHmmm, I prefer to have a better reason for acquiring a car than simply "it's cheap"!
Err.. I gave you several reasons why other than its cheap. This will be car number 4 for us, it mainly needs to be comfortable and practical, but mainly it needs to be cost effective. But if it was a crock I'd just be taking the money.
This one?
http://www.lexus.co.uk/range/ct/ct-200h/explore.as...
Surely there are three in the range lexus ct200h, auris hybrid and prius
http://www.lexus.co.uk/range/ct/ct-200h/explore.as...
Surely there are three in the range lexus ct200h, auris hybrid and prius
saaby93 said:
This one?
http://www.lexus.co.uk/range/ct/ct-200h/explore.as...
Surely there are three in the range lexus ct200h, auris hybrid and prius
You're right, the auris is too small though and the prius, well its a bit too prius tbh. I will test drive the prius before I completely dismiss it though.http://www.lexus.co.uk/range/ct/ct-200h/explore.as...
Surely there are three in the range lexus ct200h, auris hybrid and prius
theres a video review here
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrive...
comparing mpg of the auris in two modes
It doesn't say if it has a rear centre arm rest
yes I've heard theyve moved the rear seat back to give rear passengers acres of legroom but cut down on boot space
How big is your dog?
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrive...
comparing mpg of the auris in two modes
It doesn't say if it has a rear centre arm rest
yes I've heard theyve moved the rear seat back to give rear passengers acres of legroom but cut down on boot space
How big is your dog?
Ozzie Osmond said:
kambites said:
BiK tax band, I assume.
Hmmm, I prefer to have a better reason for acquiring a car than simply "it's cheap"!Unless you're a multi-millionaire, "it's cheap" is almost always ultimately a major reason for buying a car.
saaby93 said:
theres a video review here
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrive...
comparing mpg of the auris in two modes
It doesn't say if it has a rear centre arm rest
How big is your dog?
Cheers. On my phone at the moment so will check it out later. Tbh I'm not fussed about the armrest, just thought it was a bit cheap not having one considering my astra does! http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrive...
comparing mpg of the auris in two modes
It doesn't say if it has a rear centre arm rest
How big is your dog?
Our dog is German shepherd, in reality she'd fit in the auris as she fits in the cluman, but we want a bit more room for weekends away.
I think really i prefer the look of the Lexus too.
kambites said:
Well "it's cheap" is always part of the reason for buying any car for the vast majority of drivers. Perhaps a better way to put it would be to say that it's vastly better than anything else of the same cost, but it's the same answer in the end.
Unless you're a multi-millionaire, "it's cheap" is almost always ultimately a major reason for buying a car.
Well said. Unless you're a multi-millionaire, "it's cheap" is almost always ultimately a major reason for buying a car.
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