colin79666

Was definitely Yokohamas on the courtesy car, which was registered in December.

Year 2 winter update. 12k miles since they were fitted and still going strong. Health check sheet from the recent service shows 4-5mm left on the fronts and about 5mm on the back so wearing fairly evenly all round (a bit more on the front to be expected from a FWD). Tracking was checked as part of the service and shows every adjustment within tolerance. Barring punctures these should last into the summer and I'll probably get a fresh set all round for next winter. Michelin have changed the compound slightly and the new Cross Climate+ promises less wear and improved performance through the life of the tyre. Not had much snow yet this season but that might change this week. On the few snowy days thus far they have performed well and got me out of where I live with no fuss unlike neighbours who struggled on summer tyres. I think they have become a bit noisier with wear and while driving the CT 200h F Sport courtesy car while mine was in for service I did notice the different. Initially the Cross Climates were quieter but the courtesy car on standard Yokohama DB70s seemed about the same or quieter depending on road surface. That said the courtesy car was near new so those tyres had little wear.

I just hope they see it as an alternative and not a replacement. I can see the appeal of the crossover for some but for me I don't like the sacrifice of poorer economy and handling that is the trade off for sitting higher off the road. The CT could have been bigger if it had the option of more power (CT 250h) to compete more with the BMW 1 series and Mercedes A class, instead it has a more limited appeal being a Prius in a smart jacket.

Quite smug yes but we are so far behind the times in this country/continent. The EU has had a thing about CO2 but kept quiet about diesel for years. Japan was banning some diesel commercial vehicles from Tokyo in 2000 but in the EU has done little (where big companies like VW and PSA would stand to lose out). Even after the VW scandal (and some not good finding about Mercedes and BMW also) very little action has been taken due to German government pressure - just look at the difference across the pond. Of course the UK government has dug a hole for itself by effectively promoting diesel for years by taxing based on CO2. Diesel still has its place for large commercial vehicles and those doing big motorway mileages but it never was a good solution for low and moderate mileages, especially in city scenarios. A euro 6 diesel is actually not that bad but they all get tarred with the same brush. The car industry complain but they only have themselves to blame for milking old technology for years and not investing enough in alternatives for the future.

Yes got it in odd places. Used a cotton bud to get it out.

Hmm. Certification mode sounds like something borrowed from VW...

Got to watch these outfits for their tricks. For the CT 200h, a set of Denso blades after discounts are currently: £22.54 at GST (they quoted £36.76 for the 26" blade alone before discount!) £21.40 at CP4L £21.16 at ECP

Improved yes but not that much. CVT is a bit more linear and ride is slight smoother owing to a stiffer chassis and less harsh suspension. Im very happy with the ride comfort but it wouldn’t suit someone who wanted to waft along. I’d suggest you see for yourself on a test drive. IS250 is quite a different beast. More refined but at the expense of poorer fuel economy and more maintenance costs.

Still appear to be excluding hybrids from the emission test. Not sure what to think about that as if you can force the car to run on the petrol engine then surely that component should meet certain rules for emissions/smoke?

Funny I came to Lexus from a Suzuki Swift Sport 63 plate Great fun on a B road and I miss it quite a bit. Wasn't very economical however and 9k mile service intervals (which weren't especially cheap) didn't make it suitable for longer commutes. Interior build quality was cheap feeling (lots of rattles) but nothing ever fell off, unlike my Fiats The key to any car negotiation is to be prepared to walk away. I was seriously interested in a VW Golf but the sales people were awful so I walked along the road to Lexus instead where the attitude was completely different.

Button on mine is just to the right of the heated seat controls, labelled "TRC OFF" (Telegraph photo). Appears they might have added it in the 2014 face lift as the pics in the Honest John review of the 2011 model don't feature it.

Looks good. Didn't quite have that much snow round our way last week but made it up hills with a couple of inches of fresh snow no problem with the Michelin Cross Climate tyres on the car. Someone else in an Audi A1 with summer tyres didn't fair so well. I have a traction control off button on mine?

Watch out for bait boxes. They can get the poison and then crawl off into a difficult to reach place to die. You then get the horrible smell of death but can’t get to the corpse. By cleaning out the nest the tennant may well get the message and relocate somewhere else (hopefully not in your property) without resorting to much pest control.

No agitation, just sprayed off with the pressure washer. Occasionally I’ll get the wheel brush out to get into all the corners, perhaps every 4th wash over winter.

Yesterday was good weather wise for car washing (i.e. above freezing) so I thought I'd share my cleaning routine that I follow every 2 or 3 weeks depending on weather. I do about 250 miles a week so this is a clean every 500-750 miles across mixed roads in southern Scotland. The aim of this isn't a super detail but something to keep the worst of the grim and road salt at bay and that can be completed in under an hour when the outside temperature isn't conducive to spending too long on the job! I prefer to do it with my own equipment as the stuff at the supermarket jet wash is rather harsh and can strip wax. A couple of pictures first to show the built up of winter grime. First up a good layer of snow foam to drag off the worst without risking scratching. After giving it 5 minutes to dwell and a light rinse with the pressure washer (nothing too fierce at this stage) about 90% of the dirt has been removed. Next up are the wheels. I give each a spray of cleaner, give it a couple of minutes and then wash off at about 80% pressure. Next up with the main wash. Speed is of the essence so I go with spraying on the wash/wax solution. I then wipe this over using 2 buckets and 2 wash mitts (one for the top and the other the lower parts). Finally the suds are rinsed off at 80% pressure and the windows cleaned. Results: Products used: Pressure washer - Karcher K4 Bog standard buckets, one with a Grit Guard Wash Mitts - Meguiar's Lambs Wool Foam lance - Elite Car Care Foam - Bilt Hamber Auto Foam Wheels - Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Cleaner Wash - Autoglym Pressure Wash Windscreen - Autoglym Fast Glass Other windows and mirrors - Rain X 2 in 1 I do a good clean in autumn including wax with Armour All Shield that lasts well into winter so the dirt doesn't stick too bad. Inside I apply Gtechniq I1 to rain/snow coming in doesn't soak the seats or carpet. Come late spring the clay bar will come out to remove the ingrained stuff like tar sports that have accumulated over winter and I'll spend a full day pouring over it.

Paintwork and wheels look like a really slick combination. I'm not such a fan of the IS300h facelift at the front, keeps reminding me of a hamsters cheeks! I know it is part of the design language across the range but for some reason it just doesn't sit right with me on the IS.

Worst - Fiat Grande Punto 1.2 This was my first car and while it had some plus points (economical and cheap to insure) it was horribly slow and had to go back to the dealer umpteen times due to electrical gremlins. Not owned but I have to drive at work sometimes is a 2006 Renault Clio diesel of which we have several in the fleet. Constantly having issues with engine management warning lights, rattling heat shields, faulty door locks and electrical issues like radio/wipers/heater fan randomly stops working. Absolute piles of junk and they haven't even done high mileages considering they are 10 years old - the faults have been since new. We are just running them into the ground now. Best - I'm a bit torn between my CT 200h or my last car which was a Suzuki Swift Sport. Very different animals and the Swift was a hoot to drive on B roads but not very economical. The CT 200h is where I want to be on a mixed road commute of 50 miles a day.

I saw more 4x4s in London than when on holiday to Iceland, Norway or Finland. The right tyres and the right driving technique are all you need unless going up really steep stuff or completely off road/into deep stuff. A 4x4 doesn't help with stopping either!

FWIW the CT200h on Michelin Cross Climates was a good combination today. In eco mode the throttle is smooth enough to avoid any wheelspin on ice/snow except when I got home and had to turn the traction control off as the computer said no to ascending the final incline of my drive.

Good honest review. While I can't refute your comments on road noise, ride and lights 2 out of 3 are improved with different tyres and upgraded bulbs. Ride is down to personal preference, I quite like it being on the firm side. I found pairing my phone to be quite easy and while I can work the sat nav, the general infotainment system is definitely not the best designed from a usability standpoint. As Rayaans has stated it is a 7 year old design and some aspects are beginning to show their age. My worry is they dump the CT as they have in the states which would be a shame as it is a good gateway car into the Lexus range and not everyone wants or can afford the NX/a SUV CT replacement.

Clips arrived today. Clearly Chinese copies but look the same to the untrained eye. 10x for £2.18 ain’t bad. Popped the replacement in and had a closer look at the panel while I was at it. Not idea why the manual says to remove it when changing the dipped beam as doing so really won’t give you anymore room. Osram Night Breaker Unlimited have been a good improvement over the standard Osram bulbs in before. Not much more distance on the road but brighter, clearer and also light up signs better.

OK I've taken a gamble on this set: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-X-BLACK-PLASTIC-PANEL-CLIPS-WHEEL-ARCH-TOP-ENGINE-COVER-TRIM-FOR-TOYOTA-LEXUS/152431572814?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649 If they don't turn out to be the right thing I'll probably just wait until the next service and ask the dealer to pop a replacement in.

Thanks. Was hoping just to buy the one or a small pack.

So went about trying to replace the H11 headlight bulbs today as the OEM ones were a bit dim for my liking on my commute these winter months. Step 1 according to the manual is to remove the cover above the radiator to get access to the bulbs. Easier said than done, probably in part due to the cold I managed to break the first clip I tried to pop out. Does anyone know the Lexus part number for these as I tried eBay but quite a lot of the clips there look slightly different? I could go to the dealer but it would probably cost me more in fuel than the clip costs. I quickly gave up on the idea of removing the cover and found I could get to the bulbs one handed and changed them both in about 5 minutes just by reaching in and doing it by feel!

The heat shield seems to be a weak point as there was reports of it rusting through in another thread here. A dealer can source one but it won’t be cheap. You might be able to get a salvage part but that would have to be off a fairly new car to be worth it otherwise it will probably have already started to go. Its probably not a vital part but I would feel comfortable having a hot exhaust below the fuel tank with no shielding on my own car...