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Lack of Storage

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by khartlein, Jul 28, 2009.

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  1. khartlein

    khartlein Junior Member

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    I want people to buy a Prius. I own two, but . . . my 2004 Prius has about 30% more accessible storage from the driver’s seat than my new 2010. The 2010 does not have the small drawer at bottom of console or the “slot†under the radio on the dash. In fact, there is no place within reach to put down anything like a cell phone, a CD, change, car key except the one cup holder, so don’t put a cup in it. You’ll need it for storage! The door storage slots are about a third smaller. My sunglasses (Bolle) which fit just fine in my ’04, do not fit at all in the 2010. It’s not deep enough. The rear two cup holders have been moved out of reach of the driver, and the second front seat cup holder has been embedded within the console storage box, further cramping storage. The console storage box itself is about a third smaller than the ’04, and the console tray . . . well, that design is flawed. It is fixed on a swivel and can’t be removed. What’s worse is the secondary charging outlet is underneath, making the tray unusable since it has to be flipped vertical (spilling any contents) to access the outlet (or the MP3 connection). This is a surprisingly bad design by Toyota. The other primary charging outlet is definitely inaccessible by the driver while driving (so you can no longer plug in your GPS, MP3 Player, cell phone, etc without pulling off the road). It’s located under the sweeping extended control panel that wraps around the driver’s right, flowing into the console. With my bad back, I don’t think I can even access the charger without getting out of the car entirely due to its low, under extended control panel location. While there is some storage under the sweeping extended control panel, my right leg blocks most access. You can’t put a trash bag/box here or anywhere else that’s accessible from the driver’s seat. Furthermore, this sweeping panel inhibits easy access to the glove box and makes accessing something like a cooler on the passenger floorboard almost impossible since it limits how far you can lean and reach toward the passenger floorboard. The dash and extended control panel have nice, attractive curves, but again – no place to put down a cell phone or GPS or anything one might have in hand. If anyone has developed any workarounds, please let me know, so I don’t have to denigrate my new 2010 with Velcro, baling wire, gum and Band-Aids, affixing tacky boxes and hooks for storage. Lot’s of things I do like, but it will take some getting used to the lack of storage in my new Prius!
     
    #1 khartlein, Jul 28, 2009
  2. rachaelseven

    rachaelseven New Member

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    We obviously travel with very different cargo. I just plug in my cell phone when I get in the car and toss it in the lower center tray (no need to actually touch it during travel, with hands free bluetooth). My sunglasses case goes down there as well, along with my wallet if I'm carrying one. And my house key and car fob usually just stay in my pocket. On any really long trips, my co-pilot takes care of any more serious stowage like coolers, glove box access, and so forth. So while your issues seem quite legitimate, my experience is definitely somewhat different. Crazy, plasticy, airplaney cockpit... no doubt. But workable for my needs.
     
    #2 rachaelseven, Jul 28, 2009
  3. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

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    I noticed this a bit too...I live in LA and we deal with parking at meters a LOT. I always keep a healthy stash of quarters in my car. I grabbed a bunch to stick in the car and then couldnt figure out where to put them. No coin specific holder, no ash trash, no small holder of any kind. Its pretty much throw them in the big center box, or in the tray under the control column thing...not the end of the world, but it'd be nice to have something akin to an ashtray for change...
     
    #3 MikeDS, Jul 28, 2009
  4. rachaelseven

    rachaelseven New Member

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    Lack of change storage (for NJ tolls) was the one thing I did notice. I put a ziplock baggie in the center console.
     
    #4 rachaelseven, Jul 28, 2009
  5. Radon

    Radon New Member

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    I use the tray under the armrest to hook up my phone to play music from it with the aux and bluetooth takes care of the calls. I leave my cables connected inside to plug the phone in easily. The 2nd cupholder under the armrest is where the coins live.

    There is a 12v outlet under the shift lever if you need to hook up a gps etc. I fling things down there to get filed when I park/stop lights etc cd case keys etc. I've not thought about where to mount said gps yet though that I agree might be a challenge.
     
    #5 Radon, Jul 28, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I agree that storage is an issue. There were so many cubby holes in the Gen 2 and those are now missing in the Gen 3.

    Btw, there is another cupholder in the front. It's under the sliding console lid. Accessibility to the centre console has been substantially reduced because the cupholder is in the way and so is the tray. The tray is designed for your iPod to rest on while it's plugged in. I'd rather it be hinged with the lid so that it slides up and away.

    I still miss the coin holder that was on our '02 Camry. It's located to the left of the steering wheel. It slides out (as opposed to drop down like it does on Corollas and RAV4s)
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jul 28, 2009
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Coming from cars much older than the G2 -- the departing car was built before the cupholder era -- I don't know what I'm missing, so it isn't much of a problem.

    When looking for homebrew solutions, watch out for airbag deployment paths. Anything in the way will get launched into someone's face or chest at lethal speed, defeating the purpose of the airbag.
     
    #7 fuzzy1, Jul 29, 2009
    3 people like this.
  8. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Couldn't disagree with you more on the cell phone comment. The new shelf under the console is fantastic! I love having that. It gets used way more than I would have ever anticipated.

    The cupholders on the doors (deeper & wider, rather than long) are a wonderful change too. I've got glasses in the driver door and a bottle of water and bottle of sunscreen in the other.

    Can't please all the people...
    .
     
    #8 john1701a, Jul 29, 2009
    2 people like this.
  9. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    The cup holder lifts right out if you need the room.
     
    #9 DavidA, Jul 29, 2009
  10. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    I'm happy with the amount of storage in the 2010, especially compared with the ancient 1995 Honda Accord it replaced. My only gripe (with respect to storage) is the lack of a lockable glove box.
     
    #10 cpatch, Jul 29, 2009
  11. khartlein

    khartlein Junior Member

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    Thanks. I only have a 150 miles on my 2010 and was unaware of the outlet under the shift lever. Unfortunately my Treo Bluetooth does not seem to be compatible with the Prius System. Oh well, it's time to upgrade anyway. WRT GPS, my GPS mount in my 2004 does not obstruct the instrument panel. With all the info moved into the dash under the window, I am searching for a place to mount it that will not block the gages.
     
    #11 khartlein, Jul 29, 2009
  12. dogllama

    dogllama New Member

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    I wish there were more places for small items like change and gate cards. I find myself using cupholders for these things, and thing having to move everything when i have a drink in the car. I am thinking about buying some sort of organizer for the space under the center console.
     
    #12 dogllama, Jul 29, 2009
  13. turapeach

    turapeach Member

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    Why not get something like this?
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001XPC7C/ref=asc_df_B0001XPC7C866624?smid=A1SV1BYDTUK2Z5&tag=dealt406544-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B0001XPC7C

    We don't have our car yet, but I'd be surprised if there isn't someplace for a coin organizer to be mounted...

    Edit - looks like the same thing a lot cheaper here:
    http://www.5starshine.com/info-auto-coin-holder.html
     
    #13 turapeach, Jul 29, 2009
    3 people like this.
  14. dogllama

    dogllama New Member

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    turapeach- thanks for the link. unfortunately i do not have the patience to sort my change out. it got me started on looking for other console organizers though. case logic makes one that I think may work for me.

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B0001Q2DKS?tag=priuschatcom-20 have to check that the dimensions fit.
     
    #14 dogllama, Jul 29, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  15. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    I suspect it won't be long before someone (if not Toyota itself) offers an organizer designed specifically to fit in the area under the shift lever.
     
    #15 cpatch, Jul 29, 2009
  16. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

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    Seems like the perfect spot for a very flexible storage unit...though I like having a bit place to through my wallet and phone...
     
    #16 MikeDS, Jul 29, 2009
  17. grahamy

    grahamy New Member

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    It takes just a little adaptation. I use the upper glove department for a bag of coins when traveling with a partner or a tray on the shelf below the shift lever when alone. It works. And I really appreciate the increased luggage space.
     
    #17 grahamy, Jul 29, 2009
  18. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

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    The glove department you find in a department store. The glove compartment you find in an automobile. Holdover from when people wore driving gloves or gloves when refueling the vehicle, I guess. :p
     
    #18 jay_man2, Jul 29, 2009
  19. Star gazer

    Star gazer Junior Member

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    Sorry if I accidentally sent this twice, new to posting. I have a Treo 755 and wanted to ask you about the bluetooth problem. Does it not work at all with the Treo or does the bluetooth work, but not download the contacts into the Prius?
    Thanks
     
    #19 Star gazer, Jul 29, 2009
  20. khartlein

    khartlein Junior Member

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    IV
    I tried a trick tht I read somewhere on this website (priuschat) and it worked for my Treo 680. While the car was seaching for my Treo, I made a call, and it found it and connected. Yours should work also using this technique! :mod:
     
    #20 khartlein, Aug 2, 2009
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