Something old, something new, something borrowed…and something black...

Bought a black 2011 Prius Two about 3 weeks ago. Previously, I drove a 2011 Kia Soul. I loved it, but the comfort of driving longer trips in it was non-existent and the gas mileage was, well, let's just say, "less than stellar" for a car that size. As far as the Prius goes, so far, I am loving it, would love it more if I could actually get out, tinker with it, and drive it, as I am not too keen on getting it (or any vehicle) out in the cold in Level 1 snow emergency conditions. Anyway, I am going to do some modest mods to it, as time and money allow for it. For starters, I pulled off the stock wheel skins and just added center caps to the alloy wheels…going to be working on concealing AUX and cell phone cables somehow. I have been reading throughout the different threads and getting inspiration for some of the things I want to do. I have pictures of it but seem to be having trouble uploading…so stay tuned!!

best,
Eddie F.
Hilliard, OH

more than one way to proverbially skin a cat…

 

I was dead set on NOT owning another black car…but it wasn't meant to be…got a good deal on the P-Two and a fair trade in on what we traded for it…and now, I am eating my words…because it looks wicked cool when it's clean…next expenditure: the lower door trims

 

My first black car was a 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE coupe…and keeping it clean was a daunting task when I owned it, as it never saw the inside of a garage. It was always parked on the street or in the driveway. At our place where we moved in 2013, I am spoiled by having a garage for the first time in 20 years. WOO HOO!! I can keep the Prius in the garage when it's not in motion. Since the Prius is around a foot longer than my Soul was, we had to do some creative rearranging in the garage, but we did it.

 

thank you…I really like it

 

So, today, after Mother Nature decided to go all Joan Crawford on us with the snow, ice and bitter cold weather this week…Darth Prudent got to spend some time out of the garage…

I must say, yes, black is a gorgeous color for this car, yes, black is a b*tch to keep clean, yes, black shows every speck of dust, dirt, mud, water spot, road salt residue, and no, I wouldn't trade it for the world. We have finally bonded (read: I know its little idiosyncrasies, limitations, quirks, handling).

I have the previously unannounced Smart key issue dealt with, without having to ask anyone here (in fact, what brought me to PriusChat was the Google search I did: "Prius smart key malfunctioning"…and I came to the conclusion that I won't carry the Camry key and Prius key on the same key ring)

As soon as the weather gets warmer, I have clear door edge guards, for, where else, the doors…and, if its groove is deep/wide enough that it will fit on the single grille edge in the upper grille, I will put a strip of chrome door edge guard on each side of the Toyota badge. (Won't know if it'll work until it warms up above 60 degrees, see previous statement about weather)

I have discovered some good ideas for different things I can do to jazz her look up, as well as some performance mods I can do (well, when the weather is warmer and drier, and I have the money)

Future little projects, some pretty, some practical, in no particular order, except for #1:
1: Bluetooth, and I am looking at this controller… Bluetooth

2: lower door moldings….these:

3: Perf + Pkg sway bar and such (as suggested by multiple friendly users here)

4: a mobile device holder that'll work in the narrow vents. Yes, I have seen the ProFit devices. Right now, I have retrofitted a Bracketron device to hold my iPhone where needed, but it's a wee bit wobbly. (the Bracketron came out of my Kia, but the vent clips are too short in length and too shallow in grip to fit the Prius vents)

5: a double line of 1/8" pin striping along the defined bevelled edge between tail light and headlight (silver gray and a shade of blue that matches the blue garnishing on the Toyota logo)…one color trim, a gap of equal depth, and the other color trim

6: black shark fin antenna, just because it's wicked cool

we'll see…the cheaper stuff will obviously get done first…

any suggestions welcome!

…to be continued…stay tuned!

 

come to the dark side, we drive a Prius, bake cookies, fight demons and have premonitions

(yes, I watch way too much science fiction and fantasy)

 

bahahaha, thank you, Bill!!