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Mud Flaps Worth It?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by sparkie48, Jul 16, 2011.

  1. sparkie48

    sparkie48 Junior Member

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    The dealer says the factory confirmed the order so I started ordering a few accessories.

    Do mud flaps serve any purpose in protecting the finish around the wheel wells if I don't plan on driving on gravel? If so, are the wider European any better? Thanks.
     
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Hello sparkie welcome aboard.

    I have the euro type on myself. I believe they do help cut down on rock dings on the lower panels but certainly don't help keep the car "clean". See photo below.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    We've had mud flaps, front and back, on every vehicle we've owned for the past 30 years. The Prius is our first non-Honda, and also first vehicle without detachable mud flaps.

    I thought I'd give it a go without the mud flaps. The body panels go down quite far at the back, sort-of behave like a mud flap anyway. Can't say that I miss them.

    If anything, mud flaps will trap mud and grit, and also can accumulate snowcicles in winter.
     
  4. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    I see the spot below the drivers door where you wipe the sill off with your pant leg when you get in and out of the car.:D
     
  5. Bootjacker

    Bootjacker New Member

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    I have the Euro style and they help.
     
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Yup, you should see my paints after getting home from work! :eek: Winter sucks.
     
  7. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    You still got snow up there?

    Mike
     
  8. sparkie48

    sparkie48 Junior Member

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    Yes, but when we do we would leave the Prius III in the garage.
     
  9. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i've had mudflaps on my car since i purchased it... ok.. a few months after anyway...

    it was fun.. i hit the snow.. the mud.. and.. overall it really didn't help all that much. mud and snow cakes up on them.. they reduce mpg.. and eventually they become loose since they really need to be bolted on and not simply fastened with clips or sheet metal screws (that's what i did)

    once one fell off i took them all off.. it looks better with them but i'm really not missing them anymore.
     
  10. sparkie48

    sparkie48 Junior Member

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    Thanks--I'm more into making a practical decision regarding mud and snow (and cost) than caring about the cosmetics of the car so your advice was most helpful. Thanks, I think I'll "wait".
     
  11. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    Hey V8 there is and has been a great debate on the mud flaps decreasing MPG's if you have some MPG numbers could you post them please? You don't think that it was just the winter cold weather MPG hit and not the mud flaps? I want to get some but I don't know who to believe. Did you have the U.S. model or the Euro's?