Darker tailights on some Priuses

You are correct. It is based on model years. '04 & '05 models have the darker light housings (if that's what they're called).

 

Wow, since I've spotted more and more Prius on the road, I've noticed the darker tail lights on a few of them.
Thought it was just my eyes, the sun, color of the car.
Yeah, I too like the darker lens.

 

I think the clear really looks good on the light color cars...white, silver, and silver pine. Otherwise the dark ones look better.

 

There were some problems with the darker taillights. In some of the hot areas, they actually melted. I suspect that is why Toyota changed the lights, to deflect the heat.

 

You want my 2004's dark tail lights? Trade you. My '04 Prius for your '08

 

Whatever happened to regular red lights with amber signals? The thing I like LEAST on my Prius are the tail lights. That said, it must be a pretty good car, if the light style is my biggest problem. The clear tail light ricer look went out at least 5 years ago, but Toyota didn't seem to get the message.

 

Lol, I was going to say the exact opposite. Hill's Super White looks a lot better with the dark ones.

Maybe Toyota should give us two sets, and we can switch them out like watchbands, iPod covers and reversible jackets.

 

You may notice that some Prius with the darker tail lights do not have a rear wiper either. That was an option in 04 that became standard in 05.

 

That will make them a lot easier to spot, thanks for the tip!

 

My 2004 w/48K miles spent the first three years in Honolulu and now is in south OC, CA. When you look carefully at the individual cells, you can see that they curve up, like a Salvador Dali painting hung upside down.

 

I saw one today..been wanting to ask this question..now I know..I actually took a pic of one I saw today..it had a wiper too..so they are only available on the older models..that sux..I like them ALOT..makes the rear look alot cleaner..blends,if you will.

 

Me too! I was thinking it would look good on my classic silver, which is certainly light-colored.

 

Certainly there must be some application spray that can be applied to the inside of the lens, or tint applied inside, no?

I'm interested in this mod too, on a Super White.

ZC1

 

Anyone know if the 04/05 smoked taillights and 06-08 clear taillights are interchangeable? I don't see why they wouldn't be, unless Toyota keyed them or something to prevent it...

I personally prefer the clear style of my 06, but that's just my opinion.

 

I like my clear ones, they look good with the white car. Everyone keeps telling me to buy the film overlay for the head and taillights in 35% tint but i dont like the look and plus its illegal

 

Hmmm... been trying to work a trade since 3/30/08; my '08s for the '04-
'05 dark ones for my Barcelona red Amapola.

She tends towards the mysterious and darkly exotic, think traditional
flamenco dancer.

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/44811-gen-2-5-gen-2-tail-lights-wanna-trade.html

She has a very menacing look in her eye right now. She growled
something in Spanglo-Japanese. I think she said, "Amapola is not happy."