Nearing 200 miles on the new Prius. My daughter mentioned this to me - the armrest is a fabric and she wondered how it would look from spilled coffee and beverages and arm staining over a relatively short period of time. Is there an aftermarket center armrest cover or has anyone else thought about this?
i have been looking around also ,and found nothing ,so i'm going to have my wife make up something out of leather or fabric
Prius Hoods used to sell a leather armrest cover for the Gen 2 (on ebay). Not sure if they're still around. This is one reason why I went with leather for the Gen 3.
We have a Prius II with the fabric. I find it ridiculous that I have to find an arm rest cover for a car with 500 miles on it. Why should you be forced to make this kind of modification on a brand new car?
Just get some scotch-guard and spray the fabric surfaces. Then use a light cleaner like griot's garage occasionally with a micro fiber towel and the dirt lifts right out. Automotive Interior Cleaner, 8 Ounces - Griot's Garage
Who says you do? Who says you have to? This seems to me to be something someone is thinking of doing for their car because they want to. I suppose you could remove the entire console if it bothers you so much. Life is too short to get aggravated about things like this, IMO. The old ladies doily seems appropriate.
I have 12 and 9 year old daughters I shuffle here and there during the week. The first night of ownership, I sprayed the center console fabric and all door fabric inserts with ScotchGard spray. No stains despite spills. Spray at night and let it dry and dissipate odor by morning. So far, so good.
Prius Hoods is still around. They make the MFD/Navigation sunscreen hoods that PriusChat Store sells. They also make leather center console covers for the Prius. Here's a photo of and link to the leather center console cover for the Gen 3 Prius: 2010 Toyota Prius Leather Center Console Cover : eBay Motors (item 120542365490 end time Apr-11-10 07:38:59 PDT) The cover comes in gray, tan or black. On the Gen 2, black looked best no matter what color your interior was, because there were so many black elements in the Gen 2 interior. The Gen 3 interiors are different, so I'm not sure if black would always be the best choice.
Hey Boo thanks for that link. Think I'll get me one. Been just using a black handtowel over it for quite a while. Have a few and wash them and change them around. Like your link much better. Got Wet Okoles on the seats though. That was the best money spent. I have only sat in a 2010 once and don't remember the left arm rest situation on the drivers door but on my 07 its that same fabric as the seats. Horrible stain catching place for that fabric. I usually put a microfiber over that armrest too if I have a dirty day at work. I ran a thin piece of velcro stuck right above that armrest and the microfiber natuarally sticks to it and covers that armrest. Works ok....
Yea, that is what I did. Got some Auto-Scotch guard from Walmart and sprayed on seats, floors, and middle armrest.
Ed, if you're getting a cover for your 2007, here's the link: Toyota Prius Center Console Leather Cover Fits 04 - 09 : eBay Motors (item 120541908690 end time Apr-10-10 08:45:38 PDT) Here are two pictures of the black leather center console cover in my 2007 Prius with dark gray interior: Prius Hoods also makes leather covers for the Gen II door armrests. But they don't look as good (no place to tuck the cover under) unless you take apart the door panel and essentially reupholster the door armrest with the cover. Note that Prius Hoods now only sells the door armrest covers as part of a package (center console cover and 4 door armrest covers): Toyota Prius Package Deal SAVE ! : eBay Motors (item 120552046060 end time May-02-10 18:31:03 PDT)
I used a white folded dish towel that I have laying on top of mine. BTW, It is nice when you laying your arm on the console all the time.
Very nice, tight fit. Looks much better than the leather armrest cover that "hang like sleeve of Wizard's robe."
Thanks for the pics. Can you provide more info on how difficult it was to do? Did you just unbolt the top panel and wrap it? Vinyl with a little extra padding would be way better than the current dirty rock hard elbow-bruiser.
I have looked at a cloth interior perhaps two or three years old. That arm rest get prity gross looking. I have leather and it is not a issue. I just wipe it down every time I wash the car. Perhaps you can have made something like an arm chair cover out of cotton washable towel. Maybe you can order the leather from the parts department or have your local custom shop cover it in leather of the same color and grain. Might be worth the investment.
Nice Interior, I too purchased a leather cover for my 2010 three months ago and love it; great fit and feel I see you have sheepskins seat covers too. I decided to go that way instead of leather. I like sitting on a warm surface in the winter and a cool one in the summer. I experience the opposite conditions while sitting on the leather seats in my Yukon!
I bought seat covers made out of neoprene (like a wetsuit) from Wetokayole in Costa Mesa CA. They also provided a neoprene cover for the center console.