Foam panels under trunk?

I've considered removing the foam on my C (and SO's Accent, considering there isn't even a spare tire in there) to make room for luggage on trips.

The only potential problem I recently thought of: is there a structural reason to leave the foam in place? Does it help protect the traction battery and back seat in rear-end collisions?

 

Nope, no structural issues by removing it. Did you take your spare tire out?

 

My impression is that it simply fills the space left by the fact that you have a "spacesaver" spare whereas other markets (*ahem*) get a full size spare. I assume our luggage area deck board is at the same height... but I have no foam.

 

You have a full size spare?

 

Correctomondo. Now I look at it, it seems you guys don't get the little under-deck storage trays either side of the wheel either.

 

OK, no reason to rub salt on the wound

 

No, I haven't taken the spare tire out. GF's Accent has more trunk space and is the road trip car. If I do take something out, it'd only be the foam unless I was feeling particularly risky. I feel like the spare might also provide some sort of accident protection, though, even without the foam.

 

ah, gotcha. read it as your C didn't have the spare, not the accent.

 

Wish I could post photos but I can't right now. Basically we used 6 or 8 1" and 2" deep plastic 'boxes each carrying specific tools - metric sets wrenches, screwdrivers, gages, calipers, specialties, etc ' The boxes have lock clasps and are light enough to be reomoved easilty as needed. There is also a air pump and numbers of metrics from 4mm to 28mm. I called it our rolling machine shop and several of the locals have done the same.

 

these must be part items available from Toyota.

 

i feel like im missing out, since other places are getting the full spare.
anybody think of mounting like an amp in that location or something?

 

Heck I thought it was cool that we got a spare at all.. Other small sized cars don't even go that far.. I was looking at a Chevy Cruze and all that was there was a can of Fix-a-Flat.. It's not like our "full size" tires are really "full size" anyway

 

Can u post the pics pls. Thx!

 

The Hyundai Elantra gives you a "Tire Mobility Kit" - can of sealant and a DC air pump. No jack, tools or tire.

 

That's too funny. People don't realize that using sealant in the tire pretty much renders it useless outside of getting you to a gas station or tire shop to replace it.. Good luck getting that sucker to balance.. The fact that the Prius C actually has a spare tire was one of the (many) reasons I opted for this over competition.

 

TIP:
Cutting styrofoam make a mess that will continue to make a mess. But if you heat a knife over a flame, and then cut through foam, it melts the remainder in place.
About to pick up a '16 four with no spare. Hoping to add a donut spare and modify the foam accordingly.