11/22/07

Modifications

1. Dynamat Extreme Sound Dampening

2. Huper Optik Ceramic Tinting

3. Dice iPod Integration Unit

4. Yakima Permanent Rack System

5. Saris Rack System

6. XM MyFi Radio

7. Exact Cargo Mats

8. Dashmats

9. MFD Visor

10.  "Smug" Decals

11.  Sun Shades

Sun Shades

I have the sun shades for all the windows (front, back, side triangles, and side windows).  This comes in handy from preventing the car from getting too hot as well as hide anything valuable.  I have even used them at a tailgate so we can hang out in back of the car without the sun heating up the front.  They basically attach to the windows with suction cups.

"Smug" Decals

These have absolutely no benefit other than to advertise I have a hybrid. :)  Since getting them I do get stopped a lot more and asked questions about how I like the Prius and how fuel efficient it is.  I especially like driving up next to a Hummer at the gas station and filling up at around $25 to get 600+ miles.

Dashmats

We got these for the dashes of our Prius to protect it from the harsh sun.  I figured it would be easier to replace this than to replace a crack dash. 

MFD Visor (Sun Hood)

I got this on Ebay.  The glare on the MFD is really bad making it difficult to see the GPS navigation screen on sunny days.  Basically, it is a leather visor that attaches to the top of the MFD using velcro strips.

Exact Cargo Mats

I got these for both of our Prius.  It is not cupped to hold any spillage but does protect the back carpet from stains.  It has a spiked underside to prevent slipping.

XM MyFi Radio

I got this when I first got my Prius.  Now they have Prius that are XM ready.  I prefer this so I can pull the unit out and listen to it like an MP3 player or at home.  It has built in FM modulations which works very well, but I also have the AUX jack on my Dice unit.  I had the radio mounted in the center hump wall so the passenger can easily access it and the sun glare is blocked.

Yakima Permanent Rack System

I started this project when I realized that I will need extra moving capacity the next time I PCS (Permanent Change of Station).  This will also allow me to attach some bike racks to carry some bikes on family outings since I will not be able to drop the back seat with two kids in the back seat.  The system can support up to 100 lbs.

I do not hear any of the wind noise (whistle) that some talk about with crossbars.  I even tried driving at highway speeds with the windows open.  Hopefully, that will continue with the cargo box and mountain bike mounted.

You will need the following items which I got from ORS Racks Direct.  They have excellent service and even called me to verify the order and correct a mistake.  Darell  helped me immensely both with emails and his web page documenting his install even though I had it professionally installed this was their first time and significantly sped up the process.  You can use his web page if you want to install it yourself.

1.  2 Yakima Landing Pad #7s.  These are made for metal roofs and come in pairs.  You do not even have to mess around with the headliner to install.  When you order them the order process will ask for your make, model, and year of your car to ensure you get the right pads.

2.  1 Yakima 38" Fairing.  This is suppose to cut down on wind noise.  You could probably get away with a 44" if you wanted to.

3.  1 Yakima 58" Crossbars.  They come in pairs.  Darell cut these down to 51" but I find the 58" fits nicely and will give me extra room for bike racks and the cargo boxes.  These are round bars.

4.  1 Yakima Control towers.  Comes in a 4 pack.

5.  1 Yakima Same Key System.  Get the 6 or 8  pk so you have the same locks for either spare or in case you get a bike racks.

Prius without the racks mounted.	The dirt is more obtrusive than the landing pads. :p	Close up of the landing pads with caps on.	Prius with the racks mounted

I ended up getting the Thule Spirit Box 689s which is a 16 cu ft cargo box.  Its dimensions are 90.5in(l) x 32.7in(w) x 14.2in(h).  It seemed more aerodynamic than the Yakima and more narrow (81in(l) x 36in(w) x 15in(h)).  This will not allow the bike rack and the cargo box.

This also allowed me to get the Yakima King Cobra Bike Rack.

Since the OEM antenna on the Prius sticks so far up it may interfere with the cargo box so I got the Shark Fin antenna to avoid this.  However, I have heard that it does not get as strong as a signal as the OEM antenna.

Saris Clip-on Rack System

I actually bought this from Darell after reading about it on the Priuschat forums.  Unfortunately, Saris has decided to discontinue their rack systems and concentrate on their bike racks instead.  They do continue to support those racks that are out there.  The nice thing about this is they can be quickly put on and taken off.  The bars are elliptical shaped and may require special attachments.  The Thule cargo box will fit these.  These are for Vern's car and give us the ability to use it on another car if necessary.  I also plan on getting the Thule Cargo Box for Vern's Prius also.

We noticed a 3-5 MPG drop when we have the Saris Crossbars mounted with nothing on them.  They also tend to have a slight whistle from the wind, although you can barely hear it especially if the radio is on and windows are up.  It starts around 35 mph.

Dice iPod Integration Unit

This modification let me control my iPod through my stereo/steering wheel controls, as well as, listen to the iPod without a FM modulator.  The installation was fairly simple, unfortunately installation directions are lacking in the Dice manual.  So I used the Vais AIC-100i installation instructions that someone had created.  I have not found them again on the forums so I will post the pertinent pictures.

Dynamat Extreme Modification

I also had the entire cabin insulated with Dynamat Extereme.  I had the installation done at Best Buy.  It took a total of 96 sq ft (~45 lbs). 

This varies a little depending on the road surface.  I used a $40 Radio Shack noise meter to take the measurements.  The biggest bang for the buck is to just insulate the doors and get better tires.  The Dynamat will also help insulate the cabin against heat and cold which will also reduce the stress on the A/C.

Huper Optik Modification

I also installed Huper Optik ceramic tinting.  It is more expensive than the usual tinting but will not interfere with GPS, RF, or cell phones and is guaranteed for life.  It has a 61% solar energy reflectance.  Using a heat gun and a heat sensor on Plexiglas:

Notice that anything less than 25% is illegal in most states.  I also use Canvasworks Heat Shields to keep the car as cool (keeps temps from 170+ down to about 100 deg).  This is important since cabin air is used to keep the battery cool.  Otherwise, the car uses more energy to cool the battery.

Here are some articles why the Prius is so much more efficient than your normal car: Car and Driver and  Forum Thread.  If you are getting bad fuel economy in the hybrid it is going to be worse in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.  I also use top tier gas to keep the engine cleaner.

Some answers to common questions I get are: no I do not have to plug it in and I can drive faster than 45 mph (105 mph is the max).  I can get around 600+ miles on a tank of gas.  It is safe to drive through car washes and EMT crews have had training on how to safely deal with hybrids.  Also, the reason it is so safe is that the Prius is the first to use High Strength Steel in the frame.  Prius is Latin for "To Go Before" basically meaning the first one.  Your fuel economy with a hybrid will depend on your driving style, terrain, weather, and length of trips.  Short trips are bad for fuel economy.  Expect a 5% drop in fuel economy for every 5 mph over 55 mph (in any car).  I just found this interesting history of the Prius (it is 10-yr old technology).