Lexus CT200h Shifter in Prius...very tempting!

Looks nice, but I'm not sure it'll be worth the extra money - well to me anyway.

 

I think you will be shocked by what it would cost...

 

The angles wont line up with the dash. It will look wonky.

The CT is more Trek like, which is awesome.

 

i wonder how hot that chrome will get in the summer?

 

Quite interesting to see that it has cloth seats as well... Not sure when the last time Lexus offered cloth seats in their lineup, if ever at all.

I agree with 2k1, it does look a bit wonky and will probably look out of place in the Prius. I think the HS250 shifter would be the better "fit" in the Prius.

 

I think I might like it as a replacement for a Generation 2 shifter, but I don't think I'd like it as a replacement as a shifter for a Generation 3.

Just me, but I like the original shifter in the new Prius. Even though I like the shifter placement on Gen 2's....I think the physical shifter itself is kind of cut rate looking.

 

Not for me, plus good luck getting a valet to drive your car, since it doesn't show the shifting pattern.

 

There's no doubt that the CT200h will be a nice ride. Little touches like the console mouse control for the Nav (instead of touch screen) and the sunroof switch mounted on the console instead of the roof are really nice.

I'm curious as to whether the CT200h will get some sort of solar roof package/ATP combination. It would make sense in that market.

Whether all that will be worth suffering cardiac arrest when someone sees the price is another matter, entirely.

 

It's printed right under the shifter

 

The OP's question was about replacing the shifter in his Prius with this one. Unlike the Prius shifter, it doesn't have the shift pattern on it, and in my Prius it's not printed right under the shifter.

 

lol, there's a moral here for me isn't there!


GC Read the bloody thread in full before making sarcastic comments

 

But the shift pattern is displayed on the instrument panel... but I'm sure valets wouldn't take the time to look there or try to understand it.

 

FWIW - I test drove the HS250 for about 1/2 hour and spent 60 minutes at my LEXUS dealership. I have purchased my GX470 from them and I do all my scheduled services there (discount) with them so they know me pretty well. I HAD to test out the HS before deciding on the Prius and I will tell you right here & now, I fell in love with the HS!!!

Pros:
1st - No BRIDGE arm rest like on the Prius, why is there a BRIDGE in the middle of a beautiful car to begin with?!??? Wonderful SHIFTER as your original post at the top of the page!!! The shift stares straight at you, unlike the Prius which is pointed up at the roof! When it stares straight at you, it looks so cool like a lower case "h" for Hybrid!!! SCORE...

2nd - Gorgeous LEATHER trimmed and wood finish interior, soft aniline leather and wood trim made the car feel EXTREMELY luxurious!

I couldn't wait to drive it, I started the engine and "poof" the magic went away!!!!

Cons:
The engine was NOISY!!! It growled at me no matter how lightly I was pressing on the accelerator, no amount of sipping would make the engine whisper quiet. So much for adding 600lbs of sound deadening materials...

32~36 mpg - are you serious?!?? Rip out the 600lbs of sound dampening materials maybe we'll get back the Fuel economy?!??

Seats can't fold down!?? Dimunitive trunk space? Prius has much more storage capacity in comparison!

Price - At 40K+ just to get a similarly equipped Prius IV, with worse fuel economy?!?? Are you kidding me??!

Sorry, I don't know if your post was to purchase the "SHIFTER/KNOB" and retrofit it onto the Prius or if you were seriously considering the purchase of the new Lexus hybrid... If the latter then my post would be relevant...

Seriously though I truly think Toyota/Lexus made a mistake with the 2.4 inline 4 for the HS, I hope this is NOT the same engine for the CT but if so, better be prepared for the very UNLEXUS like sound when the car is moving... *SIGH* my GX470 V8 is even more quiet than the HS....

Easy decision for me and the proud new owner of a Blizzard White IV with Solar/Nav...


Good Luck!

PS. Mouse control with Haptic feedback was NICE, but IMHO faster/easier access to NAV funtions with touchscreen instead... The only reason why they had to use the mouse w/ haptic control is because the NAV is too far to reach via touchscreen... confirmed with one of the LEXUS techs that I know pretty well...

 

I have a close friend who is a part owner of a Lexus Dealership and I talked to him about getting the shifter from the HS250 which is very nice and he got back to me that even at his cost it would set me back a few hundred dollars as it only came with half the console attached. He is keeping an eye open for a wreck for me.