Spoiler

Justin30519 · 03-05-2008, 08:46 PM

My Camry has 187,000 miles on it. It needs a new catalytic convert that's going to cost me $575. The car is only worth $1700. It's time to buy a new car.

I have been interested in the Prius for some time now, so it's on my list of cars I'm considering. I've test driven a Prius before. There's one thing that bothers me. It really bothers me. That is the spoiler on the rear window. What bothers me about it is that when you look through the rearview mirror, you don't see a contiuous sheet of glass. You see some glass, then a "black line" where the spoiler is, and then the rest of the rear window. I should be able to have a clear, unobstructed view out my rear window.

My question is: can this be removed? I know this will hurt the gas mileage and aerodynamics. I don't care about one or two miles per gallon. I'm not sure if I can get used to the spoiler. This may be a deal breaker for me.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Justin

TheForce · 03-05-2008, 09:26 PM

It can be removed but you wont gain any viewable area. See the link below for a picture. That spoiler being there really helps block the lights of the cars behind you. I was able to get used to it and I think you can to. Good luck!

Touring B-Type Rear Spoiler Installation

hyo silver · 03-05-2008, 09:34 PM

I think you'd get used to it, Justin. It's really not that big a deal, and even has some advantages. You could remove it, but you wouldn't gain any glass area, because there's no glass under it. If you bought a Prius with a back-up camera, you likely wouldn't be looking out the back window much anyway.

Boo · 03-05-2008, 09:57 PM

Yes, like The Force said, you can remove it but will not gain visibility; because, among other things, there's an interior piece that's just as big, and which together with the exterior spoiler, houses the center brake light, wires, etc., and which I think is structural in nature.

True, rear visibility on the Prius does stink:

The spoiler part splits the rear window, and although you can see below the spoiler, the spoiler does block some things and at minimum, distracts the eye. In addition, there are effectively huge rear quarter panels/pillars which block your view of the rear corners.

However, I, and I think most others, have gotten used to the bad view. Relatedly, the back-up camera, proper adjustment of the rear-view mirror and side mirrors, and use of stick-on fish eye mirrors on the side mirrors all help.

birdsquared · 03-05-2008, 10:21 PM

I've only had my Prius for a little over a month. At first, it was very disconcerting to have the rear view partially blocked as it is, but you get used to it very quickly. When you think about it, there really isn't anything you need to worry about back there that is blocked by a horizontal line across the bottom 3rd fifth of your field of view.

JaviNOS · 03-05-2008, 10:58 PM

never really bothered me... I even think I get more visibility on my Prius than on my previous Toyota.

jiw395 · 03-05-2008, 11:28 PM

I guess it each to their own,or what ever trips your trigger.

It just seems like a lot of work and money { which I didn't see the priced posted} for such little difference. I had to stare at the pics, and man it was tough... but as long as your happy,so am I

sugar land dave · 03-06-2008, 12:18 AM

Really a non-issue. You would be surprised at what you quickly grow used too. I assure you no one can sneak up on me from behind, and if you use the internet to learn how to properly adjust your side mirrors, you will not have much in the way of blind spots on the rear sides of the car either.

Gadgetdad · 03-06-2008, 12:50 AM

The rear view takes a bit of getting used to, and yet has many positives. The middle band can block the tailgater headlights from blinding you!

One easy modification that helps is to rotate the rear-view mirror 180 degrees. The resulting shape more closely matches the viewing angles of the back window and you will see more in your field of view.

patsparks · 03-06-2008, 01:21 AM

If it bothers you get a different car.

I don't even notice it and it has never bothered me. there are 3 mirrors and nothing bigger than a small cat could be concealed by the spoiler. As the car moves what ever is concealed by the spoiler is revealed.

The Prius has the best rear vision of any car I have driven in the last 7 years except my 1968 Toyota Crown which hasn't got tint on the windows, the rear boot lid is very low and I had to add a door mirror as outside mirrors are not fitted standard.

03-05-2008, 08:46 PM	#1
Justin30519 Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Spoiler My Camry has 187,000 miles on it. It needs a new catalytic convert that's going to cost me $575. The car is only worth $1700. It's time to buy a new car. I have been interested in the Prius for some time now, so it's on my list of cars I'm considering. I've test driven a Prius before. There's one thing that bothers me. It really bothers me. That is the spoiler on the rear window. What bothers me about it is that when you look through the rearview mirror, you don't see a contiuous sheet of glass. You see some glass, then a "black line" where the spoiler is, and then the rest of the rear window. I should be able to have a clear, unobstructed view out my rear window. My question is: can this be removed? I know this will hurt the gas mileage and aerodynamics. I don't care about one or two miles per gallon. I'm not sure if I can get used to the spoiler. This may be a deal breaker for me. Thanks in advance for your help. Justin

03-05-2008, 09:26 PM	#2
TheForce RonPaul For Liberty,not Empire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 1,975 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 7 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	Re: Spoiler It can be removed but you wont gain any viewable area. See the link below for a picture. That spoiler being there really helps block the lights of the cars behind you. I was able to get used to it and I think you can to. Good luck! Touring B-Type Rear Spoiler Installation

03-05-2008, 09:57 PM	#4
Boo Boola Boola Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,023 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Re: Spoiler Yes, like The Force said, you can remove it but will not gain visibility; because, among other things, there's an interior piece that's just as big, and which together with the exterior spoiler, houses the center brake light, wires, etc., and which I think is structural in nature. True, rear visibility on the Prius does stink: The spoiler part splits the rear window, and although you can see below the spoiler, the spoiler does block some things and at minimum, distracts the eye. In addition, there are effectively huge rear quarter panels/pillars which block your view of the rear corners. However, I, and I think most others, have gotten used to the bad view. Relatedly, the back-up camera, proper adjustment of the rear-view mirror and side mirrors, and use of stick-on fish eye mirrors on the side mirrors all help. __________________ Best regards, Tom 07 Pkg 2 Magnetic Gray - GY TripleTreds 195/60/15, BT Tech Stiffening Plate & Strut Tower Brace, Philips X-Treme Power Headlights 9003/H4/HB2, BumperDefender.com Bumper Guard Strips, PriusChat Body Side Moldings & Rear Bumper Protector, NoBump.com License Plate Screw Bumpers, Bumper Bully, Wheelskins Leather Steering Wheel Cover, PriusHoods.com Leather Center Console Cover, Rubber Queen Center-Hump Litter Basket, eBay Non-Slip Pads, Dalmatian Bobble Heads.

03-05-2008, 10:21 PM	#5
birdsquared Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Burnaby, B.C., Canada Posts: 42 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Spoiler I've only had my Prius for a little over a month. At first, it was very disconcerting to have the rear view partially blocked as it is, but you get used to it very quickly. When you think about it, there really isn't anything you need to worry about back there that is blocked by a horizontal line across the bottom 3rd fifth of your field of view.

03-05-2008, 10:58 PM	#6
JaviNOS Mod Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 150 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Spoiler never really bothered me... I even think I get more visibility on my Prius than on my previous Toyota.

03-05-2008, 09:34 PM	#3
hyo silver and awaaay! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 6,237 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	I think you'd get used to it, Justin. It's really not that big a deal, and even has some advantages. You could remove it, but you wouldn't gain any glass area, because there's no glass under it. If you bought a Prius with a back-up camera, you likely wouldn't be looking out the back window much anyway.

03-05-2008, 11:28 PM	#7
jiw395 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NORTH WEST INDIANA Posts: 108 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Spoiler I guess it each to their own,or what ever trips your trigger. It just seems like a lot of work and money { which I didn't see the priced posted} for such little difference. I had to stare at the pics, and man it was tough... but as long as your happy,so am I

03-06-2008, 12:18 AM	#8
sugar land dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: houston Posts: 115 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Spoiler Really a non-issue. You would be surprised at what you quickly grow used too. I assure you no one can sneak up on me from behind, and if you use the internet to learn how to properly adjust your side mirrors, you will not have much in the way of blind spots on the rear sides of the car either.

03-06-2008, 12:50 AM	#9
Gadgetdad Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto, California Posts: 294 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Spoiler The rear view takes a bit of getting used to, and yet has many positives. The middle band can block the tailgater headlights from blinding you! One easy modification that helps is to rotate the rear-view mirror 180 degrees. The resulting shape more closely matches the viewing angles of the back window and you will see more in your field of view.

03-06-2008, 01:21 AM	#10
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,425 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Re: Spoiler If it bothers you get a different car. I don't even notice it and it has never bothered me. there are 3 mirrors and nothing bigger than a small cat could be concealed by the spoiler. As the car moves what ever is concealed by the spoiler is revealed. The Prius has the best rear vision of any car I have driven in the last 7 years except my 1968 Toyota Crown which hasn't got tint on the windows, the rear boot lid is very low and I had to add a door mirror as outside mirrors are not fitted standard. __________________ All the warranty I need. And for thrills -> Still averaging 4.4L/100km across town 2004 silver base model Prius Shark fin, genuine mudflaps, colour matched side mouldings, rear bumper scuff guard, sheepskin seats, BT Plate. I love it!