Last week, while on an out of state trip in my Gen 3 Prius, I spotted a white Gen 5 on the street. I don't recall which city I was in at the time, but it was in Kansas. There was no time to snap a photo of such a rare bird. Sorry.
My first was on the way to my dealer, on the way home from getting a hitch installed on the 4X. I noticed it coming from behind and wondered. Sure enough. That was quite a surprise. So I looked while at the dealer. There was one in the back lot, waiting for a photo-op.
Wait a minute... did I just completely miss the discussions about side molding application on the new Prius? Who does this? Why would anybody do this?
If you scroll up to the photo of white cars, you will see what I was talking about. I understand your concern! : )
Do you know what it's called? My new Prius should be delivered to me next week and I want to make sure I don't have those LOL!! All I see listed on my sticker is door edge guards and door sill protectors. I would effing rage if I saw body side molding on my baby. What a sacrilege!
ya, those look bad, although they will help protect from door dings i suppose. they might look better in darker colors, idk.
i have the Door Edge Guards and they are nice. I also have the Mud Guards and it looked good! Thank God it's not so big.
Yes…I was freaked about it when I was waiting for the 2022. From what I’ve read here assuming timing is right during build stage you can request that they are not put on. Otherwise they can be removed at delivery but I certainly don’t want to pay for molding and removal!
My LTD came with side moldings port installed. Although they definitely make the car uglier, I’m not sure I will bother removing them since: - they can potentially save me from door dings - i did technically paid for them - removing them might mess up the door paint
Oh my G... It will mess up the paint? Are you sure? You'll get used to them, but... If a solid paint shop can get them off without a trace, I would do it. Might save a door ding, but then you have a trim ding lol. Door dings can be popped out with magical precision today. It's like someone taking a spray paint can to a Picasso. If the person that put them on wasn't crying during, they aren't human.
If they're removed correctly, it won't mess up the paint. Lots of elbow grease, though. You use fishing line to cut through the adhesive, then you use a 3M Adhesive Eraser Wheel or Stripe Off Wheel to get the adhesive residue off. Wash and wax/seal a panel to see if you can see any difference in the paint. If so, hit the areas with a polish for fine scratches. If not, wash and wax/seal the rest of the car. Personally, I like the moldings on the white and silver; blue and red go either way; yellow, grey and black definitely not. With certain colors, I feel the wide vertical expanse of fender and door needs to be broken up with something. With other colors, the flare of the rear wheel arch and the body line running diagonally from the ground to the rear wheel arch are more prominent, or the other colors don't emphasize the expanse as much, and the molding isn't needed. But that all comes down to personal preferences.
