just got my 2009 option package 2 green . want to put seat covers on both seats and the back but with the air bags and side air bags and the way they deploy and their storage just regular covers will not work? is there a certain brand that are made for this? also how hard is it to put the side body molding's on and the shark fin? is the heat sheild worth having as just a dash cover? are the prices here on the forum good ? thank you for your help
I happened to go with the "Wet Okoles" covers. They are comfortable , look great, and well damn, I just like 'em!! Check this website out... Toyota Prius Seat Covers - Front They are made to take into account the airbag situation!
For a less expensive seat cover alternative, take a look at this. They still are holding up well in my car. At the time, they made versions for cars either with or without side air bags. As for side mouldings, here is where I describe how I installed mine.
I recently got my Pri, Package #2, and opted for the GTCovers. Got them installed with no hitches and they look and fit great. Have an '04 CRV which I put the GTCovers on 5 years ago and they're holding up fine. If you decide on the GTCovers, here's a few installation tips I learned from searching this site as well as talking to the people at GTCovers. #1-If you reach under the back of the front seats you can unclip the OEM seatback fabric (2 clips, each seat). You need to do this before you start. #2-Push the seatbacks as far back as you can get them. This makes it easier to stuff the GTCovers between the seat bottom and the seatback. #3-When you're ready to slip the GTCovers over the seatbacks, cut the bottom out of a large plastic bag (I used a garbage bag) and slip this bag over the seatbacks before putting on the GTCovers. This makes the covers slide down over the seatbacks MUCH, MUCH easier. When you've got the covers on the seatbacks, simply pull the plastic bag out. This was the biggest problem I had when I installed the CRV covers, since the fit is very tight and the fabric on the covers tends to "grab" the seat fabric. #4-The hardest part of the install was fishing the velcro straps under each seat so they would not interfere with the seat movement and would not put stress on any of the wiring under the seat. I found that it was easiest doing the straps that go from near the door toward the console first and then do the ones that go front to back. The passenger seat was harder to do than the driver's seat so do that one first, then the driver's seat will seem like a snap.
A couple of questions. What does neoprene feel like? What is it like in the summer? P S - they look great. Thanks FRED
Since were on the subject of seat covers, beware of some cheap, auto parts store seat covers. Took a while to figure it, but my $40 pair of covers, nice velour, had many seams on seat bottom. Those seams are annoying. Sometimes I'd sit in the car, it's ok. Other times, The stock seat seams are tucked inward, don't notice them like cheap seat cover seams.
The neoprene in Wet Okole covers is sandwiched between nylon. So the surface is a heavy fabric, almost like ballistic nylon, though not that rough, on a cushioned backing (the neoprene). Feels quite comfortable, though I don't know about driving in the nude.
I have had mine for 7 months now,they are soft, you do not slide around, and in summer they are not any hotter than just sitting on the seat. They just look and feel good.
cycledrum, Instead of using cheap seat covers to cover up the foam, you might consider the following: Getting a complete set of OEM seat covers from eBay. I got a complete brand new set for $50 (if I recall correctly), but I see that the eBay sellers have raised their prices so it may be hard to get a set for that price now. Here are the current listings on eBay (it changes frequently): Search results for prius oem seat covers in Car & Truck Parts & Accessories Because these are the OEM upholstery, you would normally remove the existing upholstery and install the new replacements with hog rings. This is typically best done by a professional auto upholsterer with hog rings for a skin tight OEM fit, which wouldn't be good for you because that would squish down the foam piece you're using. But for your purposes, you could take one of the front seat bottom covers, glue or tape your foam pieces to the underside, attach your own velcro straps to go under the seat, then install the whole seat bottom cover over the existing OEM cover so that it's smooth, but not too tight (don't want to squish and defeat the purpose of the foam pieces), and then just tuck in the sides behind the seat's plastic side pieces. I've done this on my driver's seat bottom (but without adding foam pieces) to cover up the damaged original upholstery because I didn't feel like paying a professional auto upholsterer and didn't think that I was up to the job of doing it myself properly. It looks pretty good -- not OEM because it's looser -- but pretty good nonetheless. I'm keeping the rest of the extra set of OEM cover pieces in my closet in case I need them in the future.
I ordered leather seats (covers) off ebay. They were really good quality and REALLY easy to put on.. Only cost me 299.00 and the prefectionist I am it took me 2 hours to do the whole interior! I got the hair dryer out on low heat and pulled the seats out 1 by 1! They have special stitching on the sides for the airbags, if you are looking for leather i would totally suggest them!
I stumbled across this posting and ended up buying the seat covers your recommended. Thank you so much! They were pretty cheap...[about $50 (with shipping) for the two front seats, headrests and console cover]...and they look and fit great!! Thanks again...forums like this are SO helpful and packed full of good info!!
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know which blue matches the spectra blue mica closest on the wet okoles? It's obviously between royal and cobalt, but the website's color samples are tiny and not too obvious on exactly what shades they are. Edit: I just noticed that I can order samples of the colors to be sent to me by mail. Woops!
GT seat covers - No Good If anyone is considering buying GT Seat Covers, DON'T do it! GT Seat Covers are a joke. I'd return mine but somehow I missed the fine print saying there is a significant restocking fee if you want to return them. Exact fit guarantee is a joke along with the 1.5 to 2 hour install. You might as well give it your entire weekend. The instructions are absolutely worthless - might as well not have any instructions. Wording like, "there are three ways to remove the rear seat If applicable." Huh? If it is an exact fit for my vehicle, surely they have instructions on how to install the covers. The three ways to remove the rear seat they listed didn't apply to my vehicle. You'll probably have to call for instructions on how to install the seat covers. Other fine examples of their ridiculous instructions include, "Remove back of seat (if necessary.)" "There are several types of front covers: Buckets w/adjustable Headrest or Molded Bench Split 60/40, 40/20/40 or Solid." Hey, I spent big bucks for a custom fit so I want the instructions on how to install them in MY vehicle, not someone else's vehicle that is built differently. "Do not use excessive force." Well, if you plan on installing GT Seat Covers yourself, expect on using some significant force. Expect to do a lot of cussing. "If long Velcro strap is present at side..." They made the seat covers, don't you think they would know if they put a velcro strap on it or not? "Be patient, there is an opening." (What they mean to say is, you are going to get really, really, really frustrated trying to install GT Seat Covers.) Then you got the problem of trying to figure out left from right. The front seat covers are different and there is no labeling. The instructions do not tell you which cover to put where, that's up to you to figure out. How about quality? I'm going to have to send back some of the covers because the seams are already coming apart (just installed them today.) Don't waste your money on GT Seat Covers...
Jimbok, this link isn't working anymore and i needed to get a seat cover for the backseat! do you remember what it was?? i've been trying to look all over for my receipt but i can't find it... let me know if you remember, thank you! -Cmmendes79
