What are the first accessories new owners buy?

Our T3 already has floor mats, so will get some seat covers.
Any type fit better than others?

Plus a bumper sticker
[url="http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+sneaky_prius_sticker_bumper,265508730"]http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+sneaky_prius_s...umper,265508730[/url]

And a boot liner for the top load bay (plus a bit of old carpet for the lower cubby hole).

What else while I'm in a buying spree?

[quote name='cootuk' post='943429' date='Nov 10 2009, 07:31 AM']What are the first accessories new owners buy?

Our T3 already has floor mats, so will get some seat covers.
Any type fit better than others?

Plus a bumper sticker
[url="http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+sneaky_prius_sticker_bumper,265508730"]http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+sneaky_prius_s...umper,265508730[/url]

And a boot liner for the top load bay (plus a bit of old carpet for the lower cubby hole).

What else while I'm in a buying spree?[/quote]

Like the sticker

How about an elasticated cargo-net to stop the contents of the boot from flying around? I keep threatening to buy one but haven't got around to it yet.... perhaps something for my Christmas List!

[quote name='cootuk' post='943429' date='Nov 10 2009, 07:31 AM']Plus a bumper sticker
[url="http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+sneaky_prius_sticker_bumper,265508730"]http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+sneaky_prius_s...umper,265508730[/url]

And a boot liner for the top load bay (plus a bit of old carpet for the lower cubby hole).

What else while I'm in a buying spree?[/quote]

I don't like the sticker, it perpetuates a myth and singles out the Prius as being the only quiet car, please search for "Bell the hybrid" if you want to know why.

For the seat covers, I vaguely recall reading that you need the sort that have slits or openings so that the side air-bags can deploy safely.

I'd be interested to hear what sort of boot-liner you get and a little review of whether it makes it difficult to access the under floor compartment. I'm currently using an old sheet as a boot liner!

Things I've bought for the Prius although mostly not really specific accessories :

Car mats.
New detailing products.
Ctek 12v battery charger.
Digital tyre pressure gauge.

and eventually a ScanGauge II.

Detailing stuff is a whole separate issue - I've got a tub of Carlack65 and a pot of insulator wax which will see me for years, though given some comments of soft paintwork I'm a bit loathe to use my orbital polisher.

In the Volvo we had a dog guard to stop stuff flying forwards in the event we ever had a crash or anchored on hard, though the Prius load cover should suffice for what we carry.

Oh, detailing wise, I'm strictly an amateur, I've moved to more expensive products, but it is still what's readily available from Halfords

My next purchase for the Prius will probably be some of that foam pipe lagging to block the upper grill - I haven't decided for certain but I think I am going to try that this Winter.

For the hidden boot compartment I've just lined that with some old carpet as only a few tools will go in there.

For the main boot I bought this
[url="http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/search.aspx?search=y&list=y&text=prius"]http://www.leisureshack.co.uk/search.aspx?...&text=prius[/url]
It has a raised edge all round to contain spills, and is plasticky rather than rubbery.
Fit is good, though it does mean you have to lift it up or remove it to get to the hidden compartment.


The sticker I put on was eventually this one in the passenger side triangular window in the boot - quite a nice angle for it.
[url="http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+i_brake_for_regenerative_energy_sticker_bumper,79264066"]http://www.cafepress.co.uk/+i_brake_for_re...bumper,79264066[/url]


Got some Halfords Ripspeed seat covers ordered.

For a custom fit boot liner that seems to be a very good price, they mostly seem to be at least double that.

For the seat covers I bought the Halfords Ripspeed grey/black for 30 quid.
These are side airbag compatible and have type approval as such.
The cover fit is via elasticated tabs and metal s-clips.
The rear seats have zips so you can still use the 60/40 split seat if you want.

[url="http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&partNumber=154024&langId=-1"]http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...4&langId=-1[/url]

I figured some of the cheaper ones would be rubbish, yet a fully tailored one isn't worth the extra cost...yet.


Fitting took me a couple of hours.
The oem front seat trim has two clips to hold the back trim onto the seat subframe so these can be clipped back on if you ever take the covers off.

Front seats went on ok. I didn't bother cutting slits for the seat adjustment.

The rear seat backs went on ok though you need to cut an extra hole for the seat belt holder at both corners.
The middle seat belt is zipped in and accessible by unzipping the cover.
I don't think you could cut holes for the middle seatbelt without unbolting one end to get the fit through the cover.

The rear seat base was a bit harder.
There's supposedly a couple of clips to release the rear base but I couldn't find them - maybe hidden by the floor carpet?
You can pull the rear edges up just enough to get your hands in and feel around for the elasticated tab in the middle section which appears bolted down. The base sides are easy to clip once the base is lifted slightly.

Headrest covers just slip on and could really do with a bit of velcro take up the slack.

Overall they look ok (not brilliant) and should protect the original seat trim.
For 30 quid they are ok.

x

A Gen 2 Prius looks like the photo below, the UK T-Spirit model has fog lights in the lower grille. I would guess the grille blocking would be that ugly, grey foam insulation

[img]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/Prius_Grill_Block.jpg[/img]

I'm still undecided about it, apparently the upper grille blocking can cause the ambient air temperature sensor to read high and that in turn affects the climate control.