Tail light mod

I haven't been satisfied with the tail lights from the moment I saw them. In my opinion they are too large and have way too much chrome (especially when on a dark car.) In fact, I don't really care for altezza type tails.

I've played around with vinyl overlays and plasti-dip and not been pleased with the results. I finally took a sort of permanent step and arrived at a mixture of oem paint and vinyl. I won't be undoing the paint, but still have options for the vinyl. From a safety standpoint I used a lighter smoked vinyl rather than a darker which would probably look even better.

Don't be shy about criticism, tastes vary. Like? Don't like?

Looks 100 times better. I have hated altezza's from the day they first started showing up on every honda in existence. Then Toyota started doing clear tails on everything - they are hideous, especially the ones on the PriusC.

I dont know why a car company would want to maul the image of their vehicle with a huge gaudy patch of chrome.

I am about ready to finally pull the trigger and do my tails, I will be going about it differently than you did, but same basic idea. I am just nervous since it involves baking and opening the lens.

Anyways - awesome work - your tails look way better than the OEM ones.

People can have different opinion that's for sure, but the only thing which can not be neglected is that your job is well done. They look even better than those on ebay for a couple hundred dollars. Great job!!!

I can only say one thing GREAT JOB!

I like, but would never attempt on my own car. Maybe some tail light tints..

Check out this guys tinted tail lights
Painted crappy hubcaps black

I'm pretty apathetic about the look of the regular taillights, but your mod does look really great. Nicely done.

I like the look of it, also gives me an idea what it'd look like on my car since it's the same color good job!

Now that the chrome-reduction projects are slowly coming to fruition, I re-thought the hubcaps and have temporarily replaced the stainless steel with the original hubcaps painted black. (I am going to exhaust the oem tires before replacing tires/rims.) Front headlights seem too bright now as well.

There ought to be an international law against letting the Japanese style cars or motorcycles. Exhibit 1 for the prosecution is the hideous taillight assy on prii. This proves the Japanese have no sense of style, taste, or proportion.

Congratulations to the OP for hiding much of the ugliness.

I like the blacked out wheel covers better than the chrome . Looks sick!

Yeah, looks good and a clean job as well. Can't beat that.


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I appreciate the compliment but I think your indictment of Japanese design may be too sweeping. There have been some pretty good looking designs. Here's just one. While I might quibble with the grille, the rest is pretty pleasing to my eye.

OP, how much/where did you get your OEM paint?

Automotivetouchup.com Touch Up Paint, Aerosol Spray Paint and Touchup Paint Accessories | AutomotiveTouchup | 888-710-5192


12 oz.spraycan basecoat $19.95 + shipping

I already had 2500 grit wet/dry sandpaper, tack cloth, polishing compound (Megauir's 105), adhesion promoter, and clear coat from previous projects. It took the better part of 5 hours to remove the lights (the manual shows how), mask and do everything but final sand and polish. I did that next day. The paint matched well.

ufourya, that is one of the best looking Prius mods I have seen and your workmanship is beautiful too.

I did prefer your pizza pan hub caps to the painted ones. They gave a nice clean contrast to the dark color of your car.

Thank you. I kinda like them both and can go back and forth or have the two sides of the car set up differently until I get some alloys.

I really like the look of your lightly smoked taillights. To me, it's more classy than the darker ones I've seen. What "tint percentage" did you use?

35

OUTSTANDING !
The stock light makes me think of a chrome wart on Audrey Hepburn.

I would be very interested in something like this.
Actually, my silver "C" II is on the water and should be stateside within two weeks.

Donald