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Secret Compartment in 3rd Gen Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by bweston, Nov 30, 2013.

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  1. bweston

    bweston Junior Member

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    I just took delivery of a 2013 after 9 years with my 2005, which I loved and am passing on to a family member. In the 2nd Gen, there was a secret compartment (I call it secret only because I didn't know it was there until after owning the car for 3 years) in the center console at the floor level. The 3rd Gen doesn't seem to have any such compartment.

    The curious thing is that the arm rest in the center console seems to have a hollow lid, but I can't figure out any way to get into it. Is there such a way?
     
    #1 bweston, Nov 30, 2013
  2. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Congrats on the new car
     
    #2 JMD, Nov 30, 2013
  3. PriusJedi77

    PriusJedi77 Junior Member

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    I know exactly what you're talking about and I didn't find it until a few years after owning the car.. I haven't found anything 'hidden' on my 2014, but I hope one day I do.
     
    #3 PriusJedi77, Dec 1, 2013
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Funny how posted questions seldom get answered. ;)

    The answer is "no".
     
    #4 David Beale, Dec 1, 2013
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i cut a slot in the bottom of the arm rest to hide valuables. it's hollow inside and a typical toyota waste of space. think how much space could be had in the flying bridge if the shifter were not there, it's practically empty inside.
     
    #5 bisco, Dec 1, 2013
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  6. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    As mentioned, the Gen III does not have the pull out tray the Gen II did. The Prius v does, but not the liftback.

    As for you mentioning something about a 'hollow lid', the lid opens up like any other center console lid to reveal storage inside but there is no 'extra' storage in the 'hollow lid' as you described.
     
    #6 Paradox, Dec 1, 2013
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    but the lid is thick enough for a double opening tray like the old camry's from back in the day when toy understood the techniques of living in a small house.
     
    #7 bisco, Dec 1, 2013
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  8. Steve terry

    Steve terry Member

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    I wish they had a hidden compartment for a hand gun. Should replace the ashtray.
     
    #8 Steve terry, Dec 1, 2013
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you got an ashtray? is it hidden?
     
    #9 bisco, Dec 1, 2013
  10. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    And we've had many thread about this topic, and based upon how they end up, keep further discussion about it in the pancakes forum. ;)
     
    #10 Paradox, Dec 1, 2013
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  11. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    OEM ashtray's just pop into a cup holder (pic is in a v, but same for the liftback): [​IMG]
     
    #11 Paradox, Dec 1, 2013
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    derringer?
     
    #12 bisco, Dec 1, 2013
  13. Steve terry

    Steve terry Member

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    Sorry
     
    #13 Steve terry, Dec 1, 2013
  14. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Ashtray's are good for storing change :)

    Mike [​IMG]
     
    #14 WE0H, Dec 1, 2013
  15. Charles K.

    Charles K. Junior Member

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    The hidden compartment is in your trunk. :)

    I was pleasantly surprised at the "extra" space when I took shipment of my car.
     
    #15 Charles K., Dec 2, 2013
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  16. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    3rd Gen holds a ton of stuff when you stash it everywhere possible inside. We drive rental Prii when we go out surplus shopping and load 'em from the floor pan to the ceiling front to back leaving room for the driver and passenger.

    Mike [​IMG]
     
    #16 WE0H, Dec 2, 2013
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  17. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Couple pics of a loaded Prius we drove around the country.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    Lots of room under both front seats too ;)

    Mike
     
    #17 WE0H, Dec 2, 2013
  18. S.Bell

    S.Bell Junior Member

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    Y'all gotta check out Jeep stuff for all kinds of ideas on storage and organization of stuff.

    I've considered and have saved gun safes for under my seats but I want them as large as possible fitting there for non-gun items.

    Trucks have an option for a false bottom of the back bench seat for storage galore and or guns/rifels. Not to mention also a cool bumper w storage, water hose, and even a hidden kitchen.

    Hint to Toyota, come pay me in creative ways for brain picking ideas.



    SM-N910V ?
     
    #18 S.Bell, Aug 18, 2017
  19. S.Bell

    S.Bell Junior Member

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    If you look at the mechanic manual for our prii, you can figure out where can has unused, hidden, wasted space. Now, one does need to take into consideration how much weight and mass is being added to where and whether or not it provides any type or level of insulation to have any kind of guess on whether or not it will lower ones mpg or possibly cause other problems. Think about wires and buttons that could be effected.

    From what I can tell, removing the inside cover of the top of the console storage section isn't worth the hassle, IMO. Now, if one turns into included fridge, then maybe worth it afterall.

    hope this helps.

    YMMV

    SM-N910V ?
     
    #19 S.Bell, Aug 22, 2017
  20. bobzchemist

    bobzchemist Active Member

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    If you change out your shifter for an electronic version, there's plenty of space under it to fab a secret compartment.
     
    #20 bobzchemist, Aug 22, 2017
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