Carriage Return

30% I would expect

50% is difficult to stomach

100% is unacceptable

I think I can best you unfortunately.

I live in a rough part of London. My quote last year was £577. 2018 model, Fully comp, clean history 8 years no claims, single driver, over 40. This year they want £1042. No change in circumstances. I went to the vendor which rhymes with Bisect Lime and they wanted.... £1,372. Something is up. 

Thank you for your input. I did not take out the extended warranty at the time of purchase. I am undecided on the RELAX plan. 

I am unsighted on the quality or nature of Lexus servicing. Previously, I handed my vehicle to an independent garage (not a Lexus vehicle). The technician assessed the car for obvious issues, rectified them, then submitted the car to MOT (which, of course, it always passed). 

I would expect the same at least from Lexus, given the premium nature of the brand - however, I am relying on speculation as this is my first experience. 

The objective of the thread was to understand other people's experiences and approach and to learn from them. 

10 hours ago, #Sandy# said:

Lexus for service, independent for mot, that way you have two opinions. Works for me.

That's a very interesting approach. I have no experience of the MOT places around me and cannot vouch for their quality or reliability. 

Goodly members of the forum

A year has passed since I carefully sought out my ride - a beautiful 2018 Black CT200h

In that time I've done 7000 hassle free miles and not a peep from the car. It's been a great year. I think having a CATLOCK fitted in the first week of ownership made me sleep much better with her outside. 

Now, the time for MOT and servicing approaches. I've had a look on the forum for commentary around extended warranty and will consider that approach - but my question is a more prosaic one - should I get a combo service/MOT from the Lexus dealership or have the MOT done elsewhere? Any pitfalls or things I should look out for?

Thanks!

On 8/27/2021 at 4:39 PM, joelfigueira said:

All sorted was a bloody flying ant! Seen it pop out from the dash vents for the windscreen! 

Mrs Carriage Return and I were on holiday at a boutique hotel recently, popped out for dinner and when we returned we walked past our vehicle on the way into reception. We both jumped out of our skin as the alarm went off. We slunk up the stairs to our room. Our telephone rang a few moments later and the concierge rather sheepishly told us that the alarm had "been going off rather a lot this evening". Baffled I returned to the vehicle, drove it around for a few minutes and parked it in another section of the car park, perhaps wondering if rough ground, an errant stone, a slight tilt or other issue had caused the alarm. 

We'd been deep in the countryside earlier that day and the idea that a bug inside the vehicle could have set it off absolutely makes sense. Very useful. and thank you for this. 

On 4/12/2021 at 4:22 PM, SJT said:

Surely an obstruction such as some rolled mesh would help (or am I going down the chocolate teapot route again?)!

Personally I prefer the "life's too short" attitude but then I'm not so vulnerable as I'm a country chap.. 

Cable armouring or a grille of some form is the approach I have been toying with. The first challenge is how to affix such a grille in place. 

Cable armouring could be something as trivial as affixing a piece of pipe carefully over the cable in the vulnerable area. 

I would like to discuss options to protect the wiring loom which is visible by looking through the front grille of many CT200h models. This appears to be the signal/power wire for the horn / alarm system. It is visible by looking through the grille - to the left of the numberplate. 

On the facelift model the aperture of the grille is greatly reduced - perhaps a 1cm clearance, but still if you look carefully it is visible. Hooking and then pulling, or snipping this wire is a part of the process of alarm disablement and, ultimately, CAT theft. 

What armouring or rerouting options have others taken to prevent the snipping or damage to this cable?

How easy is access to this part for a non-mechanic to perform user-led protection?

Thanks

Corky

The photo I quoted was from the user "Celia" - thankfully mine has not (yet) been attacked. I would estimate the clearance in the grille to be about 1cm. 

a stiff wire or metal shaped hook and sufficient brute force would appear to be adequate - but there is no need for the wire to be accessible in the first place - that is what is so frustrating about this. 

21 hours ago, stormchaser said:

You can re route the wiring loom that goes to the horns.Now i,ve had my Catloc fitted i will be doing this also.

I find it extraordinarily poor design that this easily clippable wire is so readily accessible. The wire could be re-routed, or, a grille or armouring could be applied to the wire in its current location. I am pondering how to do that on mine. Rerouting sounds like a major PIA however adding a secondary grille to prevent the hooking and cutting of that wire through the grille, or armouring it somehow seems appealing. 

1 hour ago, Celia said:

Just had   CATLOC fitted to our Lexus CT after recent  theft of catalytic converter in SW London. The thieves disabled alarm by cutting lead to horn through grill..  see pic of lead poking out of grill .. Is there a  way to stop this - as alarm is the first first line of defence?

more shielding I would imagine

same for me, the combined lexus / toyota dealership where I got mine from indicated precisely the same thing

he did note somewhat dryly that they ignored the lexii* and only went for the toyotas

*what is the correct plural?

There does appear to be a difference in the way it is mounted - however - it doesn't appear to be an issue. Are you worried about it? Have you shared the photographs with the dealership?

Thank you for the varied range of replies, from the sublime to the mundane, I appreciate it. Pickup was supposed to be tomorrow but it will now be Friday, and indeed, the Catlock will be fitted the very next day. 

I collect my 2018 CT200h this week.  My first ever Lexus. Having been a long time Joseph Arthur fan, I will be taking this CD with me, and track two will absolutely be the first song I play in my new baby.  I had the pleasure of seeing Arthur in New York in 2007, I feel it's only fitting that this'll be the song I drive away from the dealership to....