Recommendations for New Owner

I like Weathertech products............. I have put on Side Window in-channel visors and Blind spot mirrors on so far.

 

I purchased WeatherTech floor mats for my wifes' Honda CR-V for Xmas. She loves them because she can remove them and clean them. The weather tech logo on the driver mat is sharp looking though it keeps unsticking to the mat.

Personally, their not has comfortable as std carpeted mats, you can see the skuffs and dirt & mud between cleans....and as you could imagine you could hear your shoes when you moves around on them in the car. I think their overrated due to their potential to be wipe down cleaned. Front and back cost @$190. The CR-V came with a cargo plastic mat similar to the weathertechs. I feel the cargo area is ideal for plastic mats as opposed to the passenger areas. The only knock for the cargo area are the sliding items on turns sometimes.

 

Tint and Rear Bumper guard.

Tint keeps are cool and less need for fan or AC.

Rear bumper easily gets scuffed up from use. Get the Toyota factory rear bumper guard. Though should have come with the car it's only $30 shipped from Ebay. The rear bumper is almost like a step. Applique may work too but this is more durable and less expensive.

Ebay item number 400514641546

 

Arggg,
Get the bumper cover right here from the PriusChat Shop!!!

 

I would have the 3M Clearbra installed professionally as soon as possible. I drive 18,000 miles a year and my last Prius had too many chips on the front. I waited 3 weeks to install it on my new car and spent an entire weekend filling seven chips before I had the Clearbra installed. My next car will have it on before I leave the dealership!

 

You're looking at around $600.00, installed, but when you go to sell the car, you'll easily make it back by avoiding all the chips... If you are as crazy as I am, you'll be happy you did! You'll have the car alot longer than your wife will be upset!

 

We also debated the WeatherTech or the Husky Weatherbeaters. Bought the Husky. SO PLEASED. The difference in price was pleasant, but the debate was won on two fronts. First, the WeatherTechs have an open hole over where the front driver side "Hooks" are to hold the mats in place, therefore allowing water to trickle onto the carpet underneath. The Husky has a raised place instead that cover the hooks. (The mats have spiky grips on the bottom to keep them in place. They stay put.) The second point was the Husky fits fairly far up behind the gas pedal, more so than the WeatherTech. Snow melting from the shoe will not drip down behind the mat this way. The Husky, in short was cheaper, covered more area, and fit perfectly. The lip on the side fits to the edges and they are not slippery at all. I also really like that the Husky covers the foot rest completely on the driver side. We actually ordered them from 4WheelParts and got a fantastic deal. Also the cargo mat fits like a glove. (I have the gray interior and got the mats in black. Looks great.)

We also bought a Heatshield Sunshade from Ebay. It fits to cover the entire monster of a front windshield and the two small side windows. We are having a hot summer and this is really making a difference. I'd thought I would tint the windows to keep things cool, but with this, I may skip the tint. The Sunshade is huge and a little awkward to roll up, but it's worth it if you are sitting in the hot sun during the day.

And finally, my husband took the hubcaps/wheel covers off my 2012 Prius IV as soon as we got home from the dealership, revealing the black alloy wheels underneath. We then added the Toyota center wheel caps to make it look more finished. I really like it. The Blizzard Pearl and the black wheels look good, or so my husband tells me...for a Prius. Supposedly, the hubcaps are designed for optimal mpg, but I am getting 53 to 57 routinely, so I can't imagine I'm taking a major hit there. (Also, to pull them off, he simply gave them a firm tug with his bare hands. Something tells me they aren't made for the long haul anyway.)

 

Welcome NoVA VicV. Re: tires not sure what they gave you OEM, but you will see here some of the tires folks use. Michelin Energy Saver A/S gets top marks for MPG as well as snow.ice traction. I am thinking those. See TireRack.com for ratings (and many threads here).