(Part 3) Best products from r/prius

Congratulations! Here's a few products I've found essential to my driving experience. If you haven't already, consider:

• A Phone Mount - If you use your phone as a GPS, this is a must! There are magnetic mounts available that are super convenient and not expensive at all.
  
• Dashcam - Never a bad idea. Lots of types out there, but if you've got the cash to spare, a model that records front and back would be best. Some insurance companies even offer a discount for using one, so check and see!
  
• Seat covers - Obvious reasons! Cover King sells custom ones that fit front and back; I was able to get a discount on a set a few years ago by emailing a representative.
  
• Weather Proof Floor mats - Honestly, these are even more useful than the seat covers. The floor will always get dirty, and having these keeps your floor in much better shape. Toyota makes custom fitted ones, but other companies do too. I got a set from Husky Liners a few years back. See if you can find a used set!
  
• USB Car Charger - a must, especially in older models with no USB charging. Wirecutter recommends a few good ones.
  
• First Aid Kit - better to have it and not need it.
  
• Water - having bottled water in your car comes in handy more often than you might think!
  
• Ice Scraper Mitten - Best thing ever in the winter.
  
• EZ Pass - Tolls suck, but getting through them faster makes it a hell of a lot better.
  
• Towels - You never know.
  
  Sure there are more, but that's all I can think of for now. Good luck, drive safe, and enjoy!

I can’t help with headlights info, but I have a 2015 3 and did the LED Interior, reverse, license plate and parking lights upgrade. Really pretty easy and much better light all around. I used these and they all are still working great:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AHVND32/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DE7UC6C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NPIYDWU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also bought this toolkit for removing interior the light covers and panels:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUC8LTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It’s not hard to do and there are very good videos on youtube to guide you, like this one:

https://youtu.be/Hdm9wUFgl18

I am currently looking at these for the turn signals too:

https://www.amazon.com/SiriusLED-resistor-Extremely-Upgrade-Version/dp/B0774HQC8Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8#customerReviews


Good luck!

I got the 2011, same color, package two, a few months after starting my first job out of college. I love it. You're going to love it. Perfect for commutes, perfect for weekend trips, perfect for toting people around (the back seats are surprisingly roomy!), perfect for hiding things in that little section underneath the trunk (I hide smelly gym stuff in there, and it contains the smell!).

this interior spray has become a favorite product of mine. Once a week, just spray it on a lint free rag and wipe the dash, wheel, and all the plastic areas up front to keep the car feeling super nice.

>Best seat covers?

Get permaplate option, this will cover external and interior. Enjoy the seats without seat covers, I did put a seat cover so the baby car seat was on the cover.

>Best dash cams?

I really want this dash cam Blackvue DR590, saving up for one.

>Charging cable ok in weather?

I have been doing research on Chargepoint level 2 home charger. Its weather proof and if you install the 220v 32A version you can charge your car in 2 hours.

>Battery efficiency on the highway?

I only had my Prius Prime for a week now, hybrid works well. Drive in B mode and plan out your trips so you can charge at your destination. For example, we started to go to Target because they have a Chargepoint station. We shop for about 2 hours and by the time we get back to the car is fully charged. We can do all of our shopping using EV only.

>Toyota service centers only?

I got the extended maintenance plan so yes for me only Toyota service.

>Get that extended warranty or no?

I got the 7 year extended maintenance because I already know how much the dealer ship will charge for normal maintenance. I just want to have the peace of mind knowing everything is covered and did not want to deal is any issues. Plus if you get it during purchase I believe its at a bigger discount. Because I sign up for it the dealer ship gave me LoJack for free and 72 month financing 0 APR.

>Any reassurance that I made the right choice not waiting for the 2018?

I was thinking the something, at the moment you have a big advantage because they are trying to sell off the rest of the 2017 to make room for the 2018 models. I want to say you have more power to haggle, for example I was able to get 72 month 0 APR financing, free LoJack and $3000 off the asking price because I mention the local special and because I was prior military.

Additional accessories:
Black License Plate Frame
Auto Document Case
Neck Pillow
No Rinse Wash & Wax

Congratulation on the new car!

I've had a 2015 Prius C, purchased new, since roughly July of last year. Definitely test drive it-- my dad has back problems, and can't stand being driven around in my car for more than two hours or so. Something about the seats just wrecks him.

Get the model with cruise control if at all possible, it's not necessary by any means but it is very nice to have on long trips. And there's a little noise going up past around 70, which has never bothered me since my previous car was road noisy as well. You can also feel most/all bumps in the road, so if you like to feel the road, great. If not, maybe look into a different car.

Cargo space is adequate for my needs, but I am coming from a position as the previous owner of a very tiny car-- as in, I had room for my backpack or a passenger, but not both. The Prius C feels like a palace to me. I do know that it can haul at least four 40-pound bags of kitty litter in the hatchback/trunk area nicely.

EDIT: The center console cannot fit tissue boxes. That's really my only issue. I purchased this thing to resolve the problem, since I like having tissues and a couple of books in my car.

So. IMHO You are balking at spending your money in the wrong place. You're considering $300 for a tiny TV to play on, but not okay with an inverter to run things?

Consider another approach. Get a good Sine Wave Inverter. Go to a radio installation store and they can install it in the fold up space over your spare tire for about an hours labor (or you can DIY it). You'll have pleanty of power for any TV you've got (or used on Craigs List or whatever) and the PS4.

Leave the prius running while you play (AC Off, headlights off, radio off, etc...) and it will almost never run. You will be able to play for hours.

Mine is a 2011 prius and this setup works great! Even though I'm more of an XBox guy myself... Enjoy RDR2!

Edit: Updated Link to one that includes fuse, remote switch, etc...

Best (expensive) or affordable and works great?

I can only say what I did, similar to others here: [Curt hitch (self-install, under $100 shipped from Amazon)] (https://smile.amazon.com/CURT-11276-Class-Trailer-Hitch/dp/B007D5480S) and a Swagman XC Cross-country 2 bike rack for $130 on Amazon. This rack is easier than most because you can just load the wheels of the bikes into the rack itself.

A cheaper rack where the wheels just hang get the Pro-Series Eclipse for $73. This is what I have, works great!

If installing the rack yourself get a torque wrench to make sure it won't be falling off. Otherwise take it to a U-Haul where they'll install it for less than $100.

I've been happy with these: AERO

I change mine every 6 months on average because we get horrible weather where I live (Nebraska).

These are so inexpensive that I bought 4 pairs in one order after I tried them for the first time. I can never be sure that what I want will be available cheaply and I love to save a buck if I can. Yes, I am definitely a Prius person, ha ha!

I've done the same using the 3m kit, which includes a drill attachment. Super easy and effective. Hardest part was masking the painted areas first. Most people recommend putting some sort of wax, so I picked a wipe on product too.

Headlight restoration kit
https://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headlight-Restoration-System/dp/B001AIZ5HY?th=1&psc=1

Clear coat
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B079QL8BYK?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

> I've been doing it from last 6-7 yrs without any bad results

FYI, this is not a "good source". it's fallacy to expect rhetorical experience like this to provide meaningful data.

I expect that you won't find anything definitive, because Sea Foam Sales Company will claim libel. I will tell you this, any product that claims to be as effective at so many different applications that isn't also peer-reviewed, is hokum.

If you want to clean your engine, change out your oil and coolant more often.

If you want to clean your fuel injectors, then use the product your OEM recommends. https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyota-Fluid-00289-EFI00-Cleaner/dp/B00C392U1S#productDetails

if you want to read discussion, this is a decent one. https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=265339

I don't have a V, rather a Gen3 2013. I had a JVC KWAV61BT put in. Purchased on Amazon for $200 a year ago. Also got from Amazon: Steering Wheel Control Wire, Dash Kit, and Wiring Harness. Had a local shop install it for $100. I probably could have done it myself, but wanted it to look professional. Total cost of the stereo and parts was $275. Looks like Amazon has the DDX-372 for under $300.

Hi there,
I have an 04 and used the [chicken dance] (http://priuschat.com/threads/how-to-program-a-new-key-fob-for-full-sks-functionality.133877/) from Prius chat to program a key I bought on Amazon. It's worth noting that I understand it has to be a brand new key. It took me about three tries to program the car as things have to be done fairly quickly. Good luck:)

here is the key with good instructions and additional information in the description

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Smart-Key-Backup-Remote-Prius-Silver-and-Black-Logo-2004-to-2009/192448228022?fits=Model%3APrius&hash=item2cceceeab6:g:AvMAAOSwLnBX8aER&vxp=mtr

here is an OEM key fob at $160
https://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Remote-System-Factory-Original/dp/B0089KNGNQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1524084581&sr=8-4&keywords=prius+key+fob

You might be able to replace the case with something like this https://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Prius-Cover-Replacment-2004-2009/dp/B015KEW8QO and have it work, you just swap your electronics over.

​

As for the second key, I would find a new OEM Toyota key, I heard that the only way a used key will work is if you do an immobilizer reset, and that requires a trip to the dealer, even if you have one of the Techstream cables from Amazon, as the reset requires a code that's only available to master techs.

I put a Pioneer 4100 NEX in my 2011 Prius II. It can use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Here are the parts I used to install it.

• [Scosche Dash Kit for 2010 Toyota Prius Din with Pocket and Double Din] (http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Toyota-Prius-Pocket-Double/dp/B003KZJXVE?ie=UTF8)
  
• [Scosche Radio Wiring Harness for 1987-Up Toyota Power/4 Speaker Connector] (http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Harness-1987-Up-Speaker-Connector/dp/B00009UHKW?ie=UTF8)
  
• [Posi-Products Car Stereo Connectors] (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-MQKJZ6iyN7I/p_669PP500/Posi-Products-Car-Stereo-Connectors.html) to install the wiring harness
  
• [Metra AX-USB-35EXT 3.5mm iPod to USB Extension Cable - 27-Inch - Black] (http://www.amazon.com/Metra-AX-USB-35EXT-3-5mm-Extension-Cable/dp/B00L2SF64E?ie=UTF8) (Used to extend the USB from head unit to the unused ports in my car)
  
• [Scosche Axt12 12-Inch Antenna Extension Cable] (http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Axt12-12-Inch-Antenna-Extension/dp/B000NWHVU2?ie=UTF8) (optional, but made it easier)
  
  
  For the steering wheel controls
  
  
• [Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface] (http://www.amazon.com/Axxess-ASWC-1-Universal-Steering-Interface/dp/B00B4PJC9K?ie=UTF8)
  
• [Metra 70-8114 Steering Wheel Control Wire Harness with RCA for 2003-Up Select Toyota/Scion/Lexus Vehicles] (http://www.amazon.com/Metra-70-8114-Steering-Control-Vehicles/dp/B0064J4LOM?ie=UTF8)
  
  
  I also installed the [OttoNavi Prius Backup Camera] (http://www.ottonavi.com/Toyota-Prius-2009-2013-Back-Up-Camera-p/ty0913pr-kdcmrcxx.htm) but is out of stock now.

https://priuschat.com/threads/how-to-program-a-new-key-fob-for-full-sks-functionality.133877/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089KNGNQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did this combo about 18 months ago, it works.

[Amazon?] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089KNGNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0hzPzbV8VCJPF)