New Prius protection for the average (wo)man

I got my new 2008 Black "Canadian Base" (Touring w/ package #2+) Prius on Thursday.

I had the dealer install a 3M Clearbra so my hood and mirrors would have some stone protection from the start. I'm quite happy with it so far.

I'm planning to have Krown ( KROWN RUST CONTROL ) Corrosion Protection applied soon, and probably every 3 years or so. This is an oil based product that is the only corrosion protection recommended by APA and CAA (Canadian AAA). It works well here in Canada where salt is used in winter.

My old Stealth was never rust protected for over 12 years and I know some expensive repairs were needed due to this. So I think every 3 years is a good bet for saving money. I didn't rust protect the Stealth because every previous vehicle I had was written off by insurance or traded for very little and I don't think rust proofing made sense in those cases. I will try to do everything I can to keep my Prius 15+ years, if it makes economic sense.

I avoided the dealers overpriced 3 part protection packages for rust, interior and paint.

Is it worth it to get a spray can or two of interior protection to help with spills and other messes my kids or I might make ?

Anything special I should do about the paint ? I've heard to just wax it a few times a year and it should be fine. Sound right ?


I don't need a fully perfect, detailed car every weekend. I'm expecting to use the best carwashes I can find because I'm an "average busy modern family guy" with enough money to pay for carwashes every week, but not enough "spare time" to wash and wax myself.

Perhaps I should just get a detailing specialist to clean and wax at the "average guy level" every 3-6 months ?

I don't want to get into mechanical stuff in this thread. Only "mechanical protection" I have in mind is synthetic oil for the ICE. I know it's helped my winter performance and protection those winters we get -35 degrees, -45 with windchill.

I guess they are other forms of "protection" also, like skidplates (? To protect hybrid components ?), side moldings for doors, mudflaps (mudflaps are standard in Canada) and interior sun reflectors (whatever those are called). If you can think of any others, please mention along with whether or not you think it's worth it for the "average Prius owner".

Thanks for any and all protection and maintenance tips for the "average guy or gal who owns a Prius and wants it to stay nice looking and running for decades, but doesn't want to spend too much time or money".

 

OK, Scotchgard.

Applique protects against damage from luggage loading and removal ?

 

Thanks for the tips Chris.

"Average guy level" means I don't want to spend the money or time to get the Prius to the "show car level",
but I do like to see a clean car every once in a while.

My first priority is protection. If the car is dirty for a few weeks during winter or mud season, so be it, as long as it's washed and waxed often enough to protect everything worth protecting, including paint, body, mechanical and electrical parts etc.

Yes, there's a local guy who will come to your house and detail to your specs. Perhaps I can just have him come every 3 months or so, and hand-wash or car-wash every week or two.

I'll have to read up on the latest in "car wash technology". Local Petro-Canada seems to have a fancy new system that costs $12 for the "super deluxe most expensive" wash.

I wonder how good car-wash "wax" really is. I always got it on my Stealth and the clear coat looked wonderful for 14 years.

 

I've now owned 6 cars in 29 years and this is my first "new new" car. My last car was a 1994 Stealth Turbo (see avatar) purchased in 1996 and sold on Thursday.

Yes, I agree that modern factory rust protection, especially on high quality vehicles made in Japan, is much better than what we had until at least the 1980s.

We don't see body panels rusting so much the way they used to. BUT, undercarriage and various mechanical components DO rust, ESPECIALLY here in Canada where we salt the roads in winter.

My 94 Stealth still looks wonderful from the outside, but the insides have been damaged. The original exhaust system rusted prematurely IMO. So did some parts of a very expensive ABS pump/HU that I decided not to fix. My oil cooler lines rusted out twice within 4 years. As far as I can tell, rust has cost me time and money directly in repairs and indirectly in a somewhat reduced resale value.

The Krown process does not involve drilling holes. It's not a "goo", it's an oil based spray. With the backing and recommendation of two consumer advocacy type groups in Canada (CAA and APA) I feel quite confident that this is one of the few products out there that is not "snake oil".