I just noticed today on my new to me 2004 Prius, that there seems to be a flat-black film that covers the interior metal part of the doors. There is a spot on the drivers door that started to peel off. The pant underneath seems to be a more shiny black.
Do all Prius' have this film? How do I stop it from peeling any more?
Thank you.
Robert
---------- "Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas." Virgil
The film is a soft matte finish on the door sills and some other surfaces on the '04 and '05 models. A similar finish is found on my IBM laptop and Motorola PEBL cell phone. It has a nice skin-like feel to it and designers seem to be in love with it. But it does not wear well and is eventually scuffed off. For the Prius, a frequent wear-through area is where the driver's elbow rubs when relaxing one's left arm on the sill.
It was a bad experiment, IMHO, and was replaced by more conventional (and much more durable) textured-plastic covers on 2006 models. (Of course, by "much more durable" I presume these covers won't warp like they did on my '75 VW Rabbit!)
I don't think there's anything that can be done about it, but ask your dealer and complain to Toyota. If enough people gripe about their one- or two-year-old Prii having shiny worn places like a thrift-store suit, maybe they'll offer a fix.
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