Prius Plus Kit without Wheels and Tires - thoughts?

The car height is not going to change between the 15s and 17s in theory. In reality there may be a small change due to the actual diameter of each tire but that is specific to each model and brand of tire. Regardless it is not enough to worry about.

The Plus Package or other aftermarket springs and rear sway bar will definitely help even if you stick with the 15. I am running the same thing on my GenII right now. I regularly swap between 15s and 17s because of the mpg vs. looks/handling difference but the Mpg usually wins most often. The car will handle MUCH better on the 17s but if you want the highest mpg then stick with the 15s.

I would recommend looking at aftermarket alternatives for the springs and rear sway bar. There are great products available for much less money.

 

I think it does when compared to 17" or 18" wheels but you can't have it both ways. The 15s are uglier but give you max mpg and tires are half the price. 17s look and handle better but cause mpg to drop, cost more and tires are twice the price.

I hate the way my car looks with 15s but I lose so much mpg with the 17s that it really bothers me. Lowering makes the car look better regardless of wheel size.

 

I don't really know about tinting around here. I think you may have to go to the Bay for really good work. The Critic will see this thread soon and will give you a recommendation.

I think you'll love the way the springs and swar bay reduce body roll. We could always test fit my 17s so you can see what they drive like in case you still unsure later on.

 

Automall Tint Specialist in Fremont if you want Huper Optik Ceramic Tint ($500+), or Rocky Mountain Tint in Livermore for Formula 1 ceramic ($400). Or Premier Protective Films Int'l in Fremont. Those are the three best shops in Northern CA, period.

I have the TRD rear sway bar and it provides a minor improvement in stability around turns. The TRD parts for this car are priced very competitively with the aftermarket offerings, but obviously have undergone far more extensive R&D testing and have better fitment from my experience.

 

Mike, do any of the places you listed also apply 3M or other clear bra products? If I get a GenIII that is going to be my first mod unless you come over the same day with those lowering springs.....

 

I would even consider having the clear bra done before driving back up here.

Prestige Film Technologies' ClearGuardX is the film I have. Clarity is phenomenal. Premier was my installer and they are top-notch. They have a location in Orange as well as one in Fremont.

XPEL ultimate and Avery-Dennison NanoFusion are the only other films I would consider. 3M's film is older technology and lacks clarity. However it is probably has a slight edge compared to the others in terms of durability due to its dedicated clearcoat.

MB860 ?

 

Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride! The prius is fun to mod.

 

I installed Tanabe DF210's and love them. Along with the Cusco rear sway bar, she handles like a dream. I have a strut tower bar coming and can't wait. I will agree about window tint as it adds a really eye catching improvement. I've asked about adding a body kit here on the forums and its really just for looks. Then again if your going to lower your car there might not be enough room esp with those DF210's. Those springs lowered my car about 2.5''. That's from a level surface to the top of the rear wheel well. In tight turns I don't have any scraping with the wheel well and I am always careful going over stuff. Also I've changed out all of the interior leds. No I'm not talking about the ones for the dome, side door(even though I did those) I'm talking about the Nav unit, steering wheel and hvac unit.

 

Doing the Clear Bra was my first mod on my Prius III. I refused to drive it until I had it done 3 days later.

 

The spring install should be no more than $300 and maybe another $50-$75 for the sway bar. There are many places that charge that price in our area. Avoid the dealer if they are trying to yank you for $700+.

 

No, the work does not need to be performed by a dealership. You are unlikely to have any warranty issues since these are TRD parts.

The sway bar can be installed by anyone with an intermediate DIY skill set. I would consider doing it yourself.

Personally I am still on the fence on the springs since the Prius' front bumper barely clears most parking bars as-is. I can already picture myself ripping off the front bumper if I install the TRD springs.

Lastly, the rear sway bar helps but does not result in a significant improvement. The janky Tanabe strut tower bar actually provides a more noticeable improvement for less money.