Redefined

Thanks Bigboomer. Yes, I want 20 years like these last ones 😆

Sorry to hear that about your Varta @Malc1 but you're right. Sometimes it's not worth the hassle.

Yuasa, especially the version with the 5 year warranty, is supposed to be some ofnthe very best batteries that money can buy. I've always been fairly happy (except for the one with a maunfacturers fauly which got replaced at year 3).

Oh, nice one @BigBoomer and that's really appreciated. I think I get confused between the bushings and the anti roll bar linkages.

Would it be worth going aftermarket or is that only gonna be a downgrade. Ta...

Here we go...

Advisory on the rear anti roll bar linkage ball joints on the rear too. So will probably keep an eye out for feel and get that booked in once I've recovered from this current bill.

To be fair, Dave did say that it didn't really need doing and it would just be the smell getting worse over the years. But I just didn't like the tiny drips of oil onto the exhaust, nor seeing a tiny bit of oil seepage during servicing. Reminds me, might just get that done today too whilst I'm home!

Yes, that old saying of 'old is cold' might apply here. Painfully cold, I've found that too. 

I meant KwikFit (blimmin dyslexia 😊... to confirm, Screwfix does not offer Aircon regas).

Oh yes. Had it done at Screwfix Birstall (near Leeds) who have both options of oil). Thankfully mine was the cheaper option (£70) but a pity they don't come with any extended warranty as the system can't pick up slow leaks.

It passed the test for any major leaks and is now nice and cold (though not as cold as the LS430 for some reason which almost feels like a freezer). Got the hybrid Battery filter and spark plugs ordered too so will get them sorted soon enough.

Just going down (on the ~75 mile round trip) to collect the old dear. Poor thing had her gaskets leaking and me being the 'excessive' that I am, thought I'd have em done. Gulp, wait for it!!

Borrowed £500 of my mate to ensure I have enough to pay the £900 bill (breakdown below as a guide, in case anyone else plans on having it done). On that price though, the bearing and 2 new Kumho tyres as well as MOT, have been done. Hoping I don't need to spend a penny now until next MOT InshaAllah (God Willing).

@Poundy I've already started contemplating selling the 430 and getting a ct200h for myself. Probably won't happen but at least I've thought over the idea. Actually been looking at the estate corolla hybrids with slightly more power nad newer hybrid tech.

Hope your wifes CT200h takes you both from strength to strength.

On 5/18/2024 at 2:20 AM, diabolik said:

SE-L comes with cruise control as standard according to Parkers. You sure you got sold SE-L?

Edit: also found an old uk 2011 spec sheet

Yes, if you look carefully mine sits right in the middle of the premier and the basic. Zoom in and can be seen that it came without CC 😊

A shame that Lexus didn't include as standard across the range!

1 hour ago, cruisermark said:

How does it drive compared to an LS430 - just curious

In a word. Annoying (the CT, not the 430). But I have hit close to 60mpg on the way down without trying too hard so I'll take the compromise Mark.

It actually feels almost like the Nissan Primera GTLE I used to have years ago. That thing was lovely to drive (and so is this)but the suspension was slightly stiffer. Hopefully I'll try and do a comparison review in YT at some point as they are both lovely things.

Pity about not have soft close doors or cruise control 😆 but I think I'll live.

Hello all and I hope your Lexi are doing well. Recently bought a new Lexus ct200h for the wife and have driven it on its first commute already: 250 miles to Portsmouth.

Now,  I'm a firm believer in selling a car in a better condition than how you bought it. Not sure if it always works out in reality, but one can try. Here's the new steed (can we use that term here!!) and whay might want doing/renewing.

Oh, and I asked Dave at Lex Tec how much it would cost to keep the oil/filter services going so I can maintain a fuller service history as I can afford. £50 for oil/filter seems spot on so I may take that option to keep some FSH stamps going!! We'll see..

In no particular order...

1. Air con, needs regassing. Got it booked in at Kwik Fit for Monday and it seems a good investment. Cos' Care Care Nut (CCN) mentions how the temp range in the hybrid Battery is so 'finicky'.

2. Wiper arms are a bit corroded. So at some point they'll need addressing with new uns and labour from a mech to get em slotted. Tried that on a Primera years ago and gave up.

3. Off side wing mirror has a little crack. Still works but could do with another shiny one.

4. Headlights look a little dull. My mate in Huddersfield who loves a bit of restoration of HLs will need to get booked in. Probably cost about £20 to £30 and outside the doorstep. Must remember to tell him to bring some 3M sealer and that I'll pay the extra!!

5. Learn how to do the filters. Especially cleaning the hybrid Battery filter as CCN asserts how critical this service is to keep the life of the hybrid Battery going.

6. Dunno... maybe lose the spare tyre/wheel if it has one and replace withtu a tubeless selant bottle from Halfords. I really want to maximise the range so it can pay for itself very soon...

7. Little bit of condensation in the rear light. I'm hoig it's just a vent that's blocked, but we shall see.

8. Add cruise control!!

9. The cat converter. It's a 2011 model so am hoping it's not as valuable. But coudl really do with make it less appealing to theives. Horble things that they are!!

My first proper car was a Carina e (2, I think). 1.6L and twas amazing. The seats I conly assume were similar to the wool stuff they have in the Toyota Century and indeed it used to purr.

I'd grown up seeing it outside my mates house as it was his dad that owned it. Lasted me about 3 years or less untilt local mech told me the fuel tank had a hole. What a shame and a waste of luxury car!

Congrats on your new Camry 👏

Welcome Marius. That is indeed a lovely looking car. Have you wondered whether the reattle could be the pads not having been seated properly (or maybe a slightly inaccurate size) -  Long shot I know...

Not sure how a caliper pin could be sitting loose though as don't they have a seal to create a tiny vacuum. Enjoy the new steed...

Me first... Even found a broken bus stop which I doubt is in use.

Other day and trying to avoid the Bristol air charging zone (something remind you of them tiny windows with wooden shutters from the days gone by for daylight taxes!!), I ended up extensively on some country lanes.

Stopped for ablution and prayers on some grassy tracks and realised how scenic it all looked. So a thread was born (sorry if there's already one, and I'll delete). to basically do what it says on the tin.

Share a pic or two of you Lex in the gorgeous outdoors!!

NB. If we can use somw sort of hosting site to ensure the images aren't too big, nor too grainy for the thread. Clearer the better pls. Ive used Imgur but there's plenty others.

The wife doesn't actually like the colour (too much of a mans colour apparently and not a 'baby blue' as I tried to describe it). But I'm sure it'll grow on her God Willing.

Thanks to you all. Unfortunately the budget was/is tight so I went with the suggestion of getting the best we could afford. This little beauty with excellent service history (full) and no advisories as the owner would get everything done as soon as it was needed.

Turned out he was one of the local imams who we finally recognised after we went to the masjid where he leads the congregational prayers. He'd sat in a talk I'd done for the kids after my Everesting attempt (up and down a rocly path on my mountain bike until I reached the hieght of Everest... which I never did) last year and we finally cottoned on.

Anyway, he's giving it a full valet. Allowe me to knock him down to £6200 from the asking price of £6900. Well he knocked it down himself to £6500 after I asked politely and I think he realised I was genuine. Then the few niggles I brought to attention - wiper blade arms corroded and wing mirror slightly dinged - we agreed could cost me around £300 if I did the work myself.

To top it all off, after the sale was agreed he calls to let me know that for some reason they forgot to stamp the last service, so that was rebooked for another service and a stamp. He paid. Also, upon discussing spare keys he agreed to have a second key recoded for me for only £100 from a contact (so now I have 4 keys, 2 of which are new/newish). Yet to collect it but it's black leathers which won't need too much looking after.

To top it all off, he's owned it since 2014 before which it was a cimpany car. On 2011 plate so most definitely not a taxi and the interior is excellent...

Thanks all... Pics below (maybe once I've collected).

I've just used the paperclip method (slight variation from this) after turning off the EML with a diagnostics computer. Had me quite steessed for a bit. Only other difference was that all the lights in the dash didn't turn on when ignition on/car started and paper clip in.

Just had the ABS light flashing...

Glad it's all sorted now @Lex_utor

@MNMJ agreed. So lovely especially the estate. Used to use mine for sleeping between shifts. Alas, they never quite made the 200,000 mark (all 4 of them). But, I did put close to 150,000 on em in total probably. So lovely and lively to drive.

On Monday whilst getting to work in Machynlleth Wales, a road closure meant I took a mountain road. First car trying to pass me and me trying to tuck in, I almost never managed to continue the drive up. The Subaru never had that problem 😍

Why not go with 500ml (I assume on the 500h its about 6L on a full oil renewal with filter) and take for a drive. Then check the disptick is on the higher mark when oils hot. If not another 200ml until you reach it.

Flat surface obviously and hope the light stops doing that. I always think that slightly less oil is better than overfilled... Excess pressures and blown seals/gaskets and all that.

Hi Hatat...

Do you have access to your service book or manual. Under oil/top up there might be a small section explaining how much is acceptable to lose every 1000 miles.

I've had more than one car now (at least 2 were Subarus 3.0L Spec B petrol) that came with a little card explaining that I could lose x amount over 1000 miles. Hence a good idea keeping an eye on the levels and also investigating how much oil loss is acceptable.

Might be it's a few 100ml of oil short so at certain angles/times it's sending the low oil signals up. Hope you get it sorted (I know I'd be tempted to check the oil and if at the low mark/tolerance level when cold, to just top it up by a smidgen).

*Smidgen being 200 to 300ml.

Hello everyone and hopefully your CT200' are treating you well. Just thought I better inquire as to which is best to go for in terms of reliabilty and easy to service at home etc etc.

Sometimes in the LS430 it can become quite a chore getting to work and back without spending most of the earnings on fuel. Thankfully the wife passed last year and the odd occassion I've used her Honda 1.4 Civic it's been a pleasant exp at not spending so much at the fuel stations.

Now she's almost had a full years ownership of her first car we've agree to upgrade and a CT200H seems to tick all the boxes. Just don't wanna end up with one that's a problem mark/year!

Thanks again for your input which is always appreciated.