How's the spoiler holding up?

Carwash

Maybe touchless but nothing else

 

I do not get why they went with this approach. To me, it comes across as just plain cheap. It reminds me of the older GM cars, where the bumpers were left bare on the "base model", while the higher trim models would paint the bumpers to match the car.

 

I looked at mine briefly a day or so ago, and 10 weeks, a couple of hand washes, a couple of rainstorms, and about 3 touchless automatic washes, and so far so good.

 

So far so good here as well. I have put a good wax on the spoiler to hopefullt lessen any water spotting etc. But I suspect it has to be handled with some care...but no marks yet. One thing don't forget if your in a garage to be sure your door is down...I almost opened the hatch not thinking and that could have been a "MARKED" disaster!

But now that I almost did that once it won't happen again!

Keep you posted if the wearability changes.

 

I added some padding to my garage door to avoid any issues--see post #24 in this thread:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...62821-warning-rear-hatch-opens-very-high.html

 

Almost 3 months in, mine is fine, although I've only hand washed the car so far. I don't have high hopes for it after an extended period of time, though--it looks like a scratch & finger print magnet.

 

Thanks Stream for the info! Appreciate it. Plus the rubber is inside so you wouldn't see it outside. I caught myself thank god! Now I have a TPMS warning and the tires all seem up to snuff...So I guess I have to take it back tomorrow to have them check it...I don't know what it was set at when build...so they may have to recalibrate...All the tires on my V seem to be up there...at 38/40

I have to go check the door sticker to see if that's in line.

Thanks again!

 

You need to initialize the TPMS system, if you didn't already--see my response in the other thread.

 

There are two handlles on the inside of the hatch to pull the hatch shut. The first time I shut the hatch, I didn't know what to grap unto. The spoiler is very light weight don't think it was design to be a handle. Hopefully it doesn't fade.

 

Agreed--I always use those handles, and let go about 3/4 of the way down, and the momentum closes it perfectly. The fingerprint comment was related to telltale signs left when one of my kids clearly forgot about the handles.

 

Doesn't GenIII have color-coded (same paint as the rest of the car) spoiler, in contrast to GenII's spoiler? Why would it be any different from the rest of the car?

 

I stand corrected. I actually think it looks better that way on Blizzard Pearl with SR as the black color flows throughout.

It appears to be the same paint so why this concern about holding up? Would paint on plastic not hold up as well as metal (or plastic bumpers for that matter)?

 

It's not painted--it's a high gloss plastic.

 

The best thing is to wax it like the rest of the car, and be careful not to scratch it when drying it or dusting the car. The best strategy to minimize noticeable scratches/swirls is to wipe with straight back and forth (not circular) motions, from the front to rear of car. This makes any scratches (which will occur no matter what you do) less noticeable.