Record Straight on Prius Convertible

[exproducer]

Prius Group:

To answer a few questions from emails etc.

Consideration was given to lose the window frames and reconstruct as true convertible a la 2 door look. The liability was too great though from the builder's perspective and they would not agree to this option. They would only consider this option if used exclusively for car shows. If it was done in this manner the insurance would also have had to go to collectors insurance at an extremely high premium and only driven 500 miles per year.

The warranty is not voided.

The decals were in fact purchased from a outside vendor but put on car by design specialist who made adjustments on placement, the decals trimming and where the placement would be positioned. They look better in person than in the pix.

The wheel covers were/are a major concern. Unfortunately, the options are to go to a larger tire rim to get a chrome wheel custom look that doesn't make the car look like Pimp My Ride wheels. Gas mileage will suffer on the conversion to a larger tire setup. The other option now is a plating company in Los Angles has given me a reasonable price on the exact look/size wheel covers now on the Prius to chrome an exact duplicate. It will get done this month.

The canvas top is custom made from Germany. The blue is as close a match after a number of choices were optioned and weeded out.

I had been asked to do the NY car show last month and others but turned down the offers. Driver captains who supply cars for films in Los Angeles as well have seen the car and made offers to use it for the star vehicle in a new TV series. I passed on this request as well. I'm not trying to snooty but I have to tell you with the top down, cruising up Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu, where the ocean is yards from the road, is much more satisfying than any offer to buy, show or display the car. I love my Prius convertible.

Best,

exproducer

[9G-man]

Absolutely Cool. Infinite thumbs up! I want to drive it.
Welcome and Thanks for the post. Those pics should go into the gallery.

[Bobbyb]

My last 3 Cars were a 01 miata ,a 03 s2000 and and a 06 mx-5 miata .I love a good soft top .I see this and it does look strange but i do know if i was in the drivers seat with the top down either in the streets of NYC,Upstate NY or on Ocean Parkway on Longisland I would be loving it .

Just maybe your efforts will push Toyota in that direction .Yet i have to think with the top down so goes the mpg down way down .Yet a rear cover may help that situation .The tonneau cover youhave i'm not really feeling .Also the extra weight and the increased drag has tobe more that 2 mpg just with the weight of the top alone

Your took a chance and it seem to have worked out .Most cars look real bad with the top up this one does not .I do understand the window fram
issue and having to keep them .

I do have a question has the windshield been reinforced? I do know the s2000 and other have been in case of rollover .

FYI I went with a sunroof of course the the price was alot less but
coming from the cars i had .I had to do something .

Good luck and enjoy enjoy enjoy .

[ForTheGlory]

Am I the only person who doesn't buy the posted FE numbers?

2 mpg decrease with the top down, 4 mpg increase with the top up?

-It seems to me like the enormous drag increase from removing the roof would hurt more than 2 mpg, especially because the the aerodynamics of the front of the car were not designed for the convertible application.

-How can making this mod possibly IMPROVE the fuel economy of the car? The roof itself does weigh less, but overall the car must be heavier than the stock model.

[NaptownPrius]

The decals were in fact purchased from a outside vendor but put on car by design specialist who made adjustments on placement, the decals trimming and where the placement would be positioned. They look better in person than in the pix.

Hmmmm.....nope, they look exactly like mine...put on by me in my driveway, bought here from this site.

[freshmtt]

Sorry, I just don't like the way it looks...
I would never spend that much money for a car anyway, defeats the purpose of being economical...

[ravenmaniac]

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, I guess...IMHO, it is different, but does not look good at all. The window frames and B-pillar are detracting from the look. If they could be gone, it would look much better, but I don't know that it would look that great. Kudos to you for trying something different.

[slair]

I <3 opinions, so here's mine
1. looks stupid with the window frames.
2. You win over any mod ever done
3. Stupid investment for that amount of money.

How much higher did your MPG go with the lost weight?
How much lower did your MPG go with the lost aerodynamics?

[BIGGDOGG]

I just am not feeling it. maybe if it was a 2 door minus those window frames, and it cost less.
I too don't believe the gas mileage reflections.
Props to having the best mod though, but it's one I wouldn't get.

[zenMachine]

Though I'm not crazy about its look (especially the plastic rings on the wheels), I must say this is the baddest mod of them all. And you deserve all the credit for having the passion (not to mention the wherewithal) to make such a bold statement.