Prius four with spare tire from dealer

that's pretty cool, but also shows some desperation. or maybe just a really nice dealer, i wouldn't know.

 

jb,

Nice story!
I would like to have a spare rather than a inflator, but
at least I won't be more than an hour away from home.
Can't cross any State lines!

stt

 

This is so cool! It can open a new chapter in the whole 'spare' saga. Great info, and much better approach than cutting the Styrofoam! Will certainly go this way when (and if) I buy Prius 4. Thank you!

 

The significance of the story is not even a dealer, but the fact that the whole thing could be swapped from 3 to 4! This is real cool story.

 

You are just meaning levels, not generations? Not that big a deal. If enough potential customers asked for this, maybe Toyota would start listen? I kind of doubt it though.

 

i think the question was asked much earlier in gen 4 purchases, and dealer either said no, or price was prohibitive, iirc. so this is good news.

 

Would someone be willing to post a picture of the compartment where the spare tire is stored? Or post one of the styrofoam kit? I'm having trouble visualizing how that would work. Thanks!

 

there are a few threads with lots of pics in the gen 4 forums.

 

If we knew the thickness and dimensions of the inserts we could calc. the actual ft3 difference in cargo space. I have a theory that seat heights might be slightly different in 3 vs. 4 to make the floor level, but maybe not.

So the big question is: is the rear floor perfectly flat (with seats down) with the new insert? I am wondering if there could be a small offset.

EDIT-
BTW my thought is from studying cargo space, the rear seats might be a little higher the 3 with spare. So if true moving the 3 insert to the 4 there might be maybe up to 1-inch too high to make floor level. This is conjecture however,on the other it would be best if there was total 3=4 equalness except the insert. But if that were the case, why are we only hearing now the inserts can be switched like this? ( I guess one answer is the 4 EPA MPG might be slightly off design promise to EPA with the extra tire wt).

 

try 'compact spare for two eco' by krousdb, in the acc and mods forum. he has some nice pics.

 

This is a great news. I am still wondering about how it fits into 4. As I remember, the whole floor is a few inches lower in 4 compare to 3. I'd love to see a picture or two from folks who did the swap. I regards of 15" vs 17

Yes, levels. Not generations.

 

Yes, it would be nice to see the pictures. The floor in 4 is a few inches lower exactly because it does not have a spare. So the question is what happens with it? As 'bisco' mentioned, folks in modification forum did a great work fitting a spare into 2 and 4. But those pictures may not be relevant here. Very interested to see some pics. On the other hand the fact that more than one dealer is doing this means it is possible. To me it solves a bunch of problems.

Yes, it would be very nice to see some pictures. The floor on 4 is a few inches lower because there is no spare. As 'bisco' mentioned, folks did a great work on fitting a donut into 2 and 4, but those pictures may not be relevant as they were cutting the 'native' styrofoam.

 

check out thread in my post #13. very informative. there is also an old thread where someone lists all the necessary part numbers for the foam that accepts a spare.

 

That's interesting. Just 3 weeks ago I contacted my local dealer and was quoted over $1100 for the inserts (3 pieces) and wheel (no tire or sensor). Maybe I should call again.

 

i don't think you were the only one.

 

I still might just do what dalea did in these photos. Looks clean enough to me and will be covered up either way.