Toyota Prius: Black Film - 2004 Prius

Hello,

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
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"Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas."
Virgil

> Date: Wed, May 31 2006 6:22 pm 



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.

--Scott