Any *must-have* accessories?

A visor or sun shade for the nav screen sounds like a great idea. Can someone post a picture of an installation? I'm somewhat concerned of how it would look.

TIA, Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JShorr\";p=\"60141)</div>

Let us not forget the window sticker depicting Calvin (of the late great comic strip) p***ing on Detroit. Some Prius owners have taken to mounting these stickers to placards hanging from their Coastal Bubba's Prius gun rack.

 

After Dr. Fusco showed his pics of the wheelskin cover I decided to buy one. It turns out they are made in Berkeley so I went to the factory to order one. They custom made it in about 15 minutes! I asked the woman who helped me if it was difficult to install? She replied that it was not hard at all. I asked how long it would take and she said about an hour since you haven't done it before. I asked how long it would take her, and she said about 15 min.

I started the installation at 11:30am, took a lunch break at 12:15pm and finished at 4:30pm. I guess I'm just too slow. But just think, now that I'm experienced it should only take 15 min next time!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(askreeger\";p=\"79853)</div>

I'd like to see anyone put one of those things on in 15 minutes. Every time I get a new car I put a leather steering wheel cover on it. Usually I get one from Pep Boys, but this time I ordered through Wheelskins because the ones at our local Pep Boys were all too small. It _always_ takes me a good two hours. I'm willing to admit the possibility, however, that I suffer from the same ailment as you when it comes to using needle and thread.

 

Hello and Congrats to both the new owner's.

You can see some of the things that I have done to my car on view in the Album section of PriusChat. I would highly recommend scanning that thread to get an idea of how any changes you may wish to make might look.

I have mudflaps that were custom painted to match the exterior of my car and they look and work great. I also went to PepBoys and bought a 25' roll of StyleGuard door edge trim for $12.99. It comes in silver, gold and black.

You barely see it on the car but it will protect the door edges from getting nicked and will also help to protect any car you may park next too from being dinged by your door. If you have kids or pets, I think this is a must. BTW, 25' is enough to do at least two four door cars so it is a pretty good deal and takes about 5 minutes to install. It is also removable without damaging your vehicle.

I also have a headrest mounted trash receptacle/tissue box holder that helps to keep my car neat and pretty. It was a whopping $4.99 at Target and comes in tan or black with dark grey accent.

I suggest that you take a trip to your local Target to check out all the little interior goodies they have available for mere pennies. Well made stuff too. I recently bought the cargo tote there for $10.00. This was the large size and it has pockets on all four sides as well as a zipper close top. It holds about 6 filled large paper grocery bags neatly and securely and folds small and flat for storage.

I also bought a sunshade there for the front window on sale for $4.99. Works great, folds small and is large enough for the entire front window. Get the Jumbo size for the Prius.

Target also has some very nice all weather floor mats for around $10.00 for the set of four. Costco is absolutely the place to go for good quality carpeted mats for a decent price. They also sell a very nice triple ply waterproof car cover there for $30 +/-.

You might also take a gander at ebay for other goodies. I bought my bumper guard there for $28 including shipping. Genuine Toyota part, although it was originally made for the Corolla it fits, looks and works good.

A container of touchup paint in your car's color might not be a bad idea just in case. And a microfiber towel is also a must for dusting off any part of the interior.

A bug deflector or car bra might also be a good idea as the low profile of the hood really does get coated with insect wreckage should you take a long drive. The bra will protect the area that is actually impacted.

Not an accessory in the strictest sense, but something that I think is a good idea is a diary to keep track of your gasoline consumption and cost. More for fun than for anything else.

A couple more things that fit into this catagory are: premoistened baby wipes. Great for preventing a temporay mess on a person from becoming a permanent part of your interior. A spray bottle with plain water and a clean white cloth for handling most smudges or spills. Water is the best thing to use on the upholstery.

Seat covers are also a very good idea. There is a company in Ventura, CA called Greatcovers that is selling a set of front and back seat covers including headrests which can be had with or without the provision for the seat mounted air bags for $150 on ebay. Make sure that if you decide to get seatcovers for the car you ensure that they are compatible and designed for the seat mounted airbags (if your car is so equipped).

A horizontal cargo net in addition to the factory made vertical one is also a good idea.

You might also wish to get some decals made to further identify the special nature of your car (I refer to this a stupid proofing). Not everyone recognizes these cars on sight (as they should) and may not allow you to partake of some of the incentives that are available for hybrid vehicle use. Please see my posting regarding Hybrid Parking in Los Angeles costing $35 here on PriusChat.

I will be installing the decals on my car as soon as they arrive so that you will know from whatever side you approach her that my car is a HYBRID and I am darn proud of it. Incidentally, I will be getting another custom license plate frame for the front plate so that I dont need to decal the front of the car.

Oh, and one other thing you might wish to throw into the cargo pit above where your spare tire lives is a "Neat Sheet" (available at most grocery stores) or an old bed sheet. It will come in very handy should you unexpectedly find yourself having to carry something dusty, dirty or with sharp corners in your car.

One last thing would be an eye glass or jeweler's screwdriver that will open your key fob should you need to replace the battery.

Hope this helps!

Take care,

Tisza

 

I was thinking about mud-flaps when I had my 'classic'. What is the MPG hit when the flaps are on? That was one of my concerns initially. I had a 'bra' for my 'classic'. I liked the protection against rocks/chips but it was kina a pain. Every time I washed the car (which was alot) I had to take it off (which took 5 mins), wash it, then let it dry before I could put it back on. Toyota warned against leaving it on and possibly trapping water under it which could fog the paint. With my '04 I deceided to just deal with the chips on the hood.

-Peter B

 

Hi Again,

I have not noticed a significant mileage hit from the mudflaps. I am sure it is a tenth of a mile or two but as I have had them on since the car was 3 weeks old and I still hover around the 50MPG point despite the flaps, driving with the lights always on and the use of either the windshield wipers or air I am not worried.

I think that for me, the protection is with the cost.

Take care,

Tisza

 

Do you have a source?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sailboss\";p=\"60401)</div>

Do you have a source for the invisible bra and headlight cover?

Mary

 

Hi All,

I was just cruising ebay and came upon this auction: TOYOTA PRIUS 3M PAINT PROTECTION FILM/CLEAR BRA Item number: 4541278559

It is listed at a $180.00 buy it now price. Judging by the ebayer's name I am sure that if this set sells you could get another. I don't know if the price is good or not but thought I would let you all know anyway. BTW the auction has 3 days to run.

Take care,

Tisza

 

I saw that.

I e-mailed the guy and he said it's only 8 mil thick. I thought I read somewhere that this sort of protection should be at least 15 mil thick. Anyone know?

 

I think she was optimistic

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanP\";p=\"79859)</div>

I'd like to see anyone put one of those things on in 15 minutes. Every time I get a new car I put a leather steering wheel cover on it. Usually I get one from Pep Boys, but this time I ordered through Wheelskins because the ones at our local Pep Boys were all too small. It _always_ takes me a good two hours. I'm willing to admit the possibility, however, that I suffer from the same ailment as you when it comes to using needle and thread.[/b][/quote]

I'm an experienced quilter and I'd like to see anyone put that on in 15 min. Mine arrived today and it took me a good hour. But not all at once. This is what I did. Put it on the wheel, positioned etc. I threaded the needle but I started at the top middle and only took the thread halfway. I worked from the center to the right to where the first arm is. Then put the needle at the other end and worked to the left to the arm. Then went inside to read e-mail and let the leather ease a bit.

Then I got a crochet hook and working from the middle out I pulled and stretched the stitching until there was no gap. I then worked around right and left until the stitching met at the bottom. Took another break to let the leather stretch a bit. Then went back and using the crochet hook pulled until there was no gap again. I haven't tied it off yet. I'm going to use the hook and give the whole thing one more last snugging up before I tie it off.

But already I am liking it. It does make the wheel a little thick, thicker than my Saturn, but it has the same feel. I got an all black Wheelskins with perforations top and bottom and smooth on the sides.

I'm waiting for my dashmat to arrive, then I'm going to sew Robin's leather screen shade to it and look at attachment options. Not keen on the velcro thing.

I rather like the idea of a little trashcan with beanbags on the sides to keep it positioned on the hump. If they don't make them any more I don't see a problem with whipping something up. I'd probably use a velour as the nap will help it not to slide and then weight it with shot. It can be hotglued to the bottom of a plastic can or sewn to a nylon one. I haven't perused the auto parts department of Target or the parts stores to see what's available. But I'm not generating trash right now so it's not a problem yet.

Since I have to pay someone to install the side trim from Eddie, I'll see if they can do the invisible bra too.

 

I don't think leather fits into a Prius It is considered in a way to be a "green car". I also though at first about the leather upholstery (2500 euro in Finland) but gave up on the idea quite soon...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dontcheff\";p=\"81440)</div>

I have the alcantara/leather* option in my black Prius, and I think it was the right decision. I would surely regret now if I had chosen the very sensitive default light grey upholstery (cats and stuff in the car once in a while, it would be ruined by now). This alcantara is very durable and gives excellent support + looks totally posh.

*) My dealer checked info on this option, and at some point it was a mix of alcantara and leather, but now it's just all alcantara. Shouldn't be so bad green-wise.

 

Now you make me regret that I did not take the leather upholstery

 

I'd like to thank everyone and whoever.

I want to thank whoever recommended the GTseatcovers for the info. They just arrived and look great. Even better than I expected. I ordered the faux leather in buckskin. The color is a great match and they are leather-like enough. I am really pleased with them. They will do me fine for years. Then I'll either go back to the velour, buy another set or maybe even have the car redone in real leather. Plenty of years to decide.

What I ended up buying:

Dashmat
Wheelskins
GT seatcovers - front
3M invisible bra and light covers
side trim
bumper guard
black leather "visor",console cover and armrest covers (RobinRedBreast)
parking guide (Thanks, Arizona Charlie)
Hybrid Lightbulb antenna topper (Thanks, ToothYoda)
vertical net
horizontal net
cargo tote
Exactmats -front, back, cargo
screenguard
CD holders for visors (2) and for little drawer under radio
Decals from Rick (Prius- Gas Electric Hybrid)
bumperstickers ("Dog is my Copilot" and "Dogs Bless America")
Hybrid Synergy Keychain
"Start" T-shirt which I will wear for the Earth Day AFV parade
Preserve the Earth glass
Hybrid Synergy Tag keychain
Complete set of Priuschat heatshields
Little trashcan with side beanbags for over the hump.
Little wallet for insurance and registration

Mudguards which I'll have installed when the tires are rotated.

I've made a notebook of information printed out from links on Priuschat to use at the upcoming Earthday. And I've made two flags for the car for the parade. I re-used the window-poles from two old American Flags that got shredded.

BTW Rick- The salesmen at the dealership were really impressed with your decals when I stopped by last week. One was pointing them out to the other two. Gave me a chance to put in a plug for Priuschat.com

But I think the absolute best and most valuable thing I bought was the extended warranty. Thanks again, Troy. If I had to choose only one thing, *that* would be the thing.

 

How do those bras work? I bought one years ago for a car and they suggested not leaving it on for long as it could discolor the paint. Isnt that WHY we buy them to leave them on for protection?

 

Not the same bra. You're thinking of the black vinyl ones you can remove. This is 8mm 3M film which is applied to the car with an adhesive. It's pretty much invisible, more so on lighter colors than black. I've got 15mm on the headlights. This is to help protect against any damage from flying pebbles on the freeway.

 

Anything addded to the exterior of the car (mud flaps, side moldings, bug deflector, bicycle rack, window shades, etc.) will alter aerodynamics and reduce highway mpgs. Besides, all modifications reduce the car's trade-in value instead of increasing it.

 

personally getting mud flaps was the best thing i did, the aggravation of road tar, mud, and splashes was just too much for me. mileagewise, i didnt notice any noticeable change. still get 50-55mpg on freeway. same goes with the hood deflector and visors..

 

Tape adaptor for your IPOD with Belkin IPOD holder that fits in the cup holder. It's not as elegant a solution as some of the more integrated IPOD designs, but it's relatively cheap, sounds just fine, and it looks really fantastic sitting in the front cup holder. The dial interface is at perfect arms reach, and I found it adds a completey new dimension to the driving-listening experience. I bought both the tape adapter and belkin holder at the local apple store, and probably paid just about $50 for both.