I've been waiting for my Prius a long time, we wanted a Black on gray package #8. The dealer in Bellingham/Blaine called me last week because he came across a Black / Gray package #7. He offered to redo the interior to leather for the same price we would have paid for the upgrade to package #8. This was very interesting for us because we really wanted black leather interior. So now the car is in the works and I have questions for the board; 1) To make her look schnazzy I wanted to put on a set of 17" black spoke rims. Has anyone had any ride quality issues with 17" rims, should I stick with 16" instead? 2) Anyone redone the interior of their Prius and have any suggestions for us as to which materials to use and what to touch/not touch 3) Is the only difference between package #7 and package #8 leather seats and steering wheel - or is there anything else? Thanks Guys! Josh
1) No issue with ride quality. It IS a bit firmer, but the increase in handling outweighs it. 2) Sorry, no answer. 3) That's it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ecojosh @ Jun 14 2006, 12:00 PM) [snapback]271186[/snapback]</div> After a test drive yesterday traveling at 70 mph with stong 35mph winds the car just did not track well enough. I would like to upgrade to 16"/17", not increase unspung wieght and stay under $1000,00. Can it be done?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ Jun 14 2006, 01:21 PM) [snapback]271201[/snapback]</div> Good luck finding that combo. I added about 40 lbs. unsprung weight and still get over 40MPG, and my ride looks schweeet! That is so worth 10MPG. I did spend $1500 for the wheels and tires.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mike_m @ Jun 14 2006, 01:57 PM) [snapback]271264[/snapback]</div> I totally agree that your car so oh-so sweet (cool,bitchen,bad-depending on ones age) but 10 mpg would cost me another $1500.00 a year in fuel. I may have to stick to the ungly little wheels........But there must be something in between????????
I added Scion 17" rims including tires for $400.00 (bought them off of Priuschat). I've only dropped about 4 mpg on average. The handling is so much better and the car looks clean....
I just got aftermarket grey leather seats in my 2006 Prius. I've been told that the leather seats in package 8 don't include a console cover and armrest covers - my aftermarket package did. So talk to your dealer - he's almost certainly using an aftermarket 3rd party shop, and they are probably going to be giving you Katskin seats - and find out about any options for the seat package. If you look at www.katskin.com, you'll see they offer both smooth and perforated leather, and it's possible to get a combination of two types of leather (I've seen pictures on this site of two-toned gray seats - charcoal around the edges, lighter grey in the center), and Katskin also offers an option for heated/cooled seats. Here's there site - check out the middle option on that page to get an idea of different 'combinatons' KATZKIN (I hadn't known about all the combo and color choices - I just dealt with my dealer over the phone and said I wanted 'gray', and I'm happy with what I got. They did ask me about solid or perforated and about heated seats - I just wanted plain grey - I'm conservative in design, not politics.) And if you want back support, the third-party installer can almost certainly do that, as well. I've also seen postings on this site saying the quality of the Katskin leather seats is better than the factory-installed or port-installed leather seats.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ Jun 14 2006, 03:09 PM) [snapback]271271[/snapback]</div> I'm sure I could do better on mileage if I didn't drive it like my CTS. I still get over 40 MPG. On my way home tonight, I averaged 50 just pokin' along. You know the saying, "drive it like ya stole it"? That's me. I came from 18 mpg avg, so I'm stoked. If you drive that many miles, I'd stick with the stockers. I know I'll never get 60MPG, like others here do, but it's all good! BTW, do a search for "Wedsport" wheels and you will see Escalade_on_22's, (not sure about the user name spelling). He went with 15 or 16" Weds that are lighter than the stock wheels and his car looks really tight. I might buy a set of tires and wheels like that if I get in a "fuel economy state of mind". I believe he has like 1500 bucks in that set. You can get them from tirerack.com.
To not add any unsprung weight you are going tohave to spend at LEAST $1500 on the wheels alone if you want to move up to 17" rims. Tires are actually pretty cheap, about $78 each for the lightest (I found) 17" tires.
