My roommate in college had a denim couch that he absolutely loved, but the rest of us hated. It had a sickening dark sheen to it from plenty of pizza grease, cigarette ash and spilt beer. We nicknamed it "Deal Breaker" because its vile presence would horrify any woman that came to our apartment.
After a few weeks and 10k+ miles in the Mojave, the Prius has become the new "Deal Breaker." The combination of dirt and sunscreen has made the drivers side arm rest akin to that damned couch. When I drove the Prius, I made sure my skin and clothing did not touch the armrest.
I think it's time for a thorough cleaning.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer
maxedoutmax says:
12:51 PM, 09/23/10
That's just f'ing gross
bimmerjay says:
12:54 PM, 09/23/10
Ewwww!
carguy622 says:
12:58 PM, 09/23/10
My parents have a 1994 Jeep Cherokee with 200,000 miles on it. The interior looks 500 times better than this Prius. What do you guys do to these cars, even rental cars are in better shape.
johnnyturbo says:
12:58 PM, 09/23/10
Hahaha! "We nicknamed it "Deal Breaker" because its vile presence would horrify any woman that came to our apartment." Thanks Scott, that's one of the funniest posts I've yet read!
fuhteng says:
01:16 PM, 09/23/10
A good reason to have a black interior! Or maybe not. Ew. I don't want to think about it.
fastboss says:
01:31 PM, 09/23/10
How do you guys let it get that bad!? I'd hate to see the inside of some of the editors homes.
audisport says:
01:45 PM, 09/23/10
Can't you call any Toyota Prius a dealbreaker when it comes to gettin' the ladies??
stingray454 says:
02:17 PM, 09/23/10
Fabric is a poor choice of materials for an armrest. If it was made of vinyl or leather, it would be much easier to keep clean, and would wear better. The Japanese seem to love fabric armrests in cars, and I never understood it. Bad idea.
fuhteng says:
04:17 PM, 09/23/10
Very true stingray. Good point.
the_big_al says:
04:47 PM, 09/23/10
I think the issue is the fabric. The dirt soaks in and stays like a good stain on a t-shirt. Now if it were made of vinyl or leather or some other easier to clean (even rock hard plastic) this wouldn't be an issue. I say good luck to getting that to come clean.
felonious says:
05:06 PM, 09/23/10
Audisport +1. Any woman that's attracted to a Prius is no woman I'd want to be with. :)
hybris says:
05:14 PM, 09/23/10
It doesn't look that bad people. There are rentals that are leagues worse.
vt8919 says:
05:52 PM, 09/23/10
I betcha a Mr. Clean magic eraser would clean that without problem.
majin_ssj_eric says:
09:40 PM, 09/23/10
Just get a new door panel. Problem solved.
campi3ell says:
09:46 PM, 09/23/10
"After a few weeks and 10k+ miles in the Mojave..."
Huh!? 10k miles in a few weeks? Where the hell were you guys driving?
hybris says:
10:28 PM, 09/23/10
@campi3ell
Probably taking a ring to Mordor or something like that.
fastboss says:
11:20 PM, 09/23/10
To stingray454:
I had a mid 90's Mazda that had cloth arm rests, 180k+ miles on the car and the look way better than the Prius.
My guess is that the editors have very dirty elbows or Toyota is real cheap when it comes to arm rests.
1487 says:
05:34 AM, 09/24/10
"It doesn't look that bad people. There are rentals that are leagues worse."
I've never been in a rental that looked that bad. Its a poor choice of materials for an armest and its just one of many flaws in the cheap interior of the 2nd gen Prius. The Prius interior would make any recent Chrysler product proud. NOTHING inside that car is soft touch or high quality.
bodyblue says:
07:50 AM, 09/24/10
"The Prius interior would make any recent Chrysler product proud. NOTHING inside that car is soft touch or high quality. "
Really? My wife and I own one, do you? I, in fact, hate the cloth armrests but they do feel nice and soft. The rest of the interior has held up perfectly over 80,000 miles....rather good quality actually. So are you going to talk more about this car that you dont own? I dont like driving it but it has performed PERFECTLY over 80,000 miles....never had one problem, ever. All we have done is scheduled maint. Since you sold your Saturn what are you driving now?
1487 says:
11:42 AM, 09/24/10
"Really? My wife and I own one, do you?"
I've driven it as a fleet car numerous time. Owning it will make the plastics softer? Wow, AMAZING! Not sure how that is possible but its good to know.
Never said anything about the interior not holding up, it should hold up very well since its constructed of industrial grade plastics like an outdoor trash can.
"Since you sold your Saturn what are you driving now?"
Would you believe a Ford product? rest assured, its not up to your exacting standards. Since we arent allowed to comment about cars we dont own I guess I cant say much more until a post appears about my car.
bodyblue says:
03:54 PM, 09/24/10
"Never said anything about the interior not holding up, it should hold up very well since its constructed of industrial grade plastics like an outdoor trash can"
I dont see that at all.....they look smooth and well put together in ours.
"NOTHING inside that car is soft touch or high quality. ""
What you said was that NOTHING in the car is soft touch, which is BS and it is high quality if it wears well. Wrong on both counts. Anything you touch is soft...armrests and such. Do you wipe your face on the dash or something? I dont understand your obsession with how plastics on the dash should be soft.
"Would you believe a Ford product"
Good for you for turning from the Dark Side! Come on what did you get? I dont have exciting standards at all....I have owned exciting cars for sure but not now. Practical and smart is indeed exciting these days.
onramp says:
02:24 AM, 09/25/10
I wonder if you can run a steamcleaner wand over that (the kind that pulls dirt out of carpets)?