mud flap!

I've never had a car with mudflaps. Why would I want them? On any car, and on the Prius in particular. I'm asking for information - if I knew the advantages under different driving conditions and habits, I might add them to my 'wish list' of add-ons!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Jun 8 2006, 03:58 PM) [snapback]268310[/snapback]</div>

They help keep the front sides of the car clean, the front wheels have a bad habit of throwing mud on the side of the Prius. Many new cars have them as standard equipment..

 

I'm sorry they weren't available here when I bought mine, but I will say they do make a big difference in keeping the sides of my car clean. I begin and end every day's commute with a quarter mile of dirt road. I have one of the darker colors, so many of the times I've washed my car it was just to remove the dirt that gets kicked up from roads that are even just a little bit damp. They also seem to protect the areas that were the prime targets for those sticky little bits of tar I picked up from road patching asphalt. Since I'm one of those people who only hand washes their cars I have no doubt it's worth the money for the time it will save me. I also believe the less I have to wash my car the fewer opportunities there are for scratching it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(barbaram @ Jun 13 2006, 07:19 PM) [snapback]270880[/snapback]</div>

got mine, but now I'm rethining it...will they present an issue on the snow and ice?....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Jun 8 2006, 06:58 PM) [snapback]268310[/snapback]</div>

I bought mine primarily hoping they will protect against rocks from the quarter mile gravel driveway I drive everyday, and secondarily as mud protection. So far, so good for the rock protection; no rock chips yet on the lower side body panels. For mud protection they seem to do OK. But then I try to avoid mud and wash the car weekly, so it doesn't usually get very dirty anyway. As a side benefit, I like the way they look.

Jim

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(powrfuel @ Jun 18 2006, 10:03 PM) [snapback]273247[/snapback]</div>

I have them on the 2005 and went through a New England winter, albeit fairly mild one. They prevent a lot of crap from coming up onto the sides of the car and match the other lower black trim pieces and really look like they "belong" on the car. I definitely will be putting them on the 2006, in fact, I already have them ready and waiting to be installed at delivery. It's the only exterior modification I'm interested in.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AnOldHouse @ Jun 19 2006, 01:00 PM) [snapback]273461[/snapback]</div>

Do you guys go mud bogging in your Prius'?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(downsbs @ Jun 21 2006, 04:58 PM) [snapback]274852[/snapback]</div>

Have you seen my dirt driveway in the spring? :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AnOldHouse @ Jun 21 2006, 04:40 PM) [snapback]274877[/snapback]</div>

I also found that the mud flaps reduced road noise slightly at highway speeds.

 

I bought mine because of all the road construction we have in the area. I would rather have tar on the mud flaps and not on the car.

 

I'm a new prius owner...really enjoying this website and all of the work you all have done. I like the way the mudflaps look too but I'm wondering if anybody knows if they change (i.e. reduce) MPG?