Is it just me or are the plastics highly scratch prone?

Haven't noticed problems with my 06. Tomorrow's my 1 year Prius Anniversary, right on 25,000 miles. The drivers inside door panel has a few black shoe scuffs, but no problems otherwise, at all. I've had my bike in the back several times, with a few tire scuffs on the seat backs, but no problrms with the plastic surfaces.

 

46,000 miles on an 04 and no problem with scratches. The door sill has black marks from my shoes but they come off with plain water and a little scrubing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Jan 11 2007, 03:47 PM) [snapback]374310[/snapback]</div>

What about the panel where the seatbelt comes to rest? I think in the darker interiors, it's noticable. Anyone do anything about those?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SiliconAddict @ Jan 11 2007, 04:16 PM) [snapback]374290[/snapback]</div>

We've been loading boxes, a collapsable dolly, and other assorted school necessities in the back every day since mid Nov and haven't noticed any scratching problem (dark grey interior). Then again, we might just be too tired when we're loading/unloading the car to notice.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ravenlocks @ Jan 11 2007, 12:51 PM) [snapback]374315[/snapback]</div>

Haven't noticed it. I have the light beige interior (wanted gray). The console top shows some smudges, which come off with rug shampoo, floor mats too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Jan 11 2007, 04:07 PM) [snapback]374328[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I think the light fabrics are harder to hide smudges, but the darker plastics show scratches easier. I have the dark gray in mine.

 

My 2006 has only 4000 miles. Last weekend I had to transport some long pieces of sheet metal, which I foolishly rested on the dash without protection. I was horrified at the two big scratches left on the dash. I tried rubbing it out with a little vegitable oil, but no luck. I agree, the plastic seems pretty vulnerable. Anyone out there have any brilliant ideas?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rhonbo @ Jan 11 2007, 04:24 PM) [snapback]374347[/snapback]</div>

I don't know, I'd normally suggest trying to polish the plastic, but with the matte finish, that might make it worse. I have the tan interior, and the brown hard plastic window sill has not reacted kindly to resting my elbow on it, and has a near-dent worn spot in it. It's one of the few gripes I can make about the car. I haven't really scratched anything, though, but I try to be pretty careful, especially when I'm doing things like pulling an AC vent to install the aux box. The fabric, arm rests, and floor mats seem to be holding up well, even to the occasional red clay attack.

 

The '05 has painted plastic everywhere. It scratches and wears off easily. I can't believe they used painted plastic in so many places. Cheap crap is what it is.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Jan 11 2007, 03:38 PM) [snapback]374366[/snapback]</div>

Actually the harder plastic is cheaper. The thing about the softer plastics is that they are soft. Soft plastics are what every manufacturer is being asked to deliver thanks to BMW and Audi. The hard plastics which don't scratch very easily or fall apart in hotter climates are widely derided as being cheap. There's quite a bit of hard plastic left in the Prius. :angry: Anyone scratch the upper dash yet (not the lower, textured part)?

What's amusing is that Toyota uses similar painted plastics in the much more expensive Lexuses. I kind of prefer the softer plastic. I understand that I have to be more delicate with it though. Has anyone tried any of the commercial protectants to see if that helps? I do know that softer plastics are more susceptible to fading from the Sun.

That does suck that you guys scratched your interiors though. (I have a feeling that my days of scratches will come soon, too.)

 

It's not just Toyota- Honda is also using the same type of painted plastics in their Acura models.. I've never been a fan of painted plastic- paint always scratches or wears off, there's no way to repair the damage so then the thing looks like cr*p..

This is part of the reason I don't want to give up my Classic Prius- the interior plastics and the whole design is IMO far superior to the G2 dashboard..

 

The plastic scratches easily and the trunk upholstery is also quite cheap. <_<

 

YES

the inside of my door are all scratched up from shoes or something. additionally i tried to armor all the dash and now i have a streaky colored dash that wont go away.

more over i got the grey interior WHICH IS NOT DARK but didnt like the look of the leather and am having trouble with minor wear stains already.......

thoughts?

 

It's both, both you and the Prius interior are easy to scratch but the Prius tends not to bleed quite so much.
Amorall can help hide scratches on the Prius trim and a bandaid will help hide the scratches on you.

 

The top glove box door got scratched in the first week, rubbing it with a cloth. That and the top of dash plastic picks up lint from cloth, which is very hard to get off. Overall a difficult interior to keep looking clean. Also, in this part of the country (dry), static dust collects on black plastic on MFD, center dash and center cup holder covers.

 

I use a Swiffer Duster to keep the smooth black plastic clean. Takes the dust off and will not scratch the stuff. Note that most of that black plastic in the centre is transparent - if the sun shines on it you can see through it - particularly where the radio controls would be on a "normal" car, but also the CD cubby door.

For shoe scuffs, I use a "Magic Eraser" - dry. A brush will remove any of the eraser "droppings" left in the texture. I keep a toothbrush in the car for that and for cleaning the tiny crevasses around the controls. If you actually scratch the plastic, this will only remove the stain, not the scratch.

 

I second the vote for the 'Mr.Clean Magic Eraser'. It really works to remove minor scratches on the interior plastics because its a mild abrasive. Also I use it moist. Try it. It works.

Marvin

 

Anyone found a paint that matches the stock dash/armrest color? A whole panel repaint would look better than a scratch, even if it wasn't an absolutely perfect match.