Noticed a couple annoyances in my first week.<br><br>1. The first time I turn around and look out the back window to back up each day I think I left the trunk open for a few moments until I remember I'm looking at the spoiler. I guess I'll eventually get used to it and stop being surprised.<br><br>2. Experienced my first rain in my Prius yesterday. With the "mode selector" in D, it's hard to squeeze my hand between the mode selector and the steering wheel to turn on the windshield wipers. I don't think my hands are overly large.

Seeing the spoiler in the rear window is annoying, as you point out. It also partially blocks your view to the rear. The easy solution: remove the spoiler. See my previous posting about how to do this. Removing it does not seem to affect handling (and aerodynamics says it shouldn't) and it does not affect mileage (I tested).<br><br>"Spoilers" on most cars are a pure styling device, as were fins a few decades ago.

I don't mind looking over the spoiler, but I do think the car looks better without it.<br>About removing the spoiler, I cannot find your post anywhere, please show me the number.<br><br>also, if you do something like that wouldn't the dealer void the warantee<br><br>SML

"Priusman" claimed in an earlier post that the spoiler increases mileage by 2-3 mpg. With all due respect for your test, I'm inclined to put more credence on Toyota's claim at this point. (Aknowledging that "Priusman" has not been correct in everything he's told us.)<br><br>Sam Williams

Japanese models have no spoiler on them, I think they look better. I also like the turn signal on the side of the Japanese model, It makes the car look like a Saab or an Audi.

I like the side turn signals because every car I have seen overseas(Europe, Australia, New Zealand) have these little guys, and over here (BMW, Mercedes, Saab, VW, Audi, Volvo) all have them, and personaly I think these are the best designed and styled cars in the world, so when I saw the Prius for the first time, I saw a Japanese version and was excited about the European look, then when I went to the dealer and I saw the spoiler and the missing turn signals and I was sad. but it was a small detail and I like my Prius better than the German stuff.

I was given the Toyota University training manual by the dealer. It is the source of the rumor of better gas milage supplied by the spoiler. (I have trouble believing this as well, but I like the way it looks)<br><br>I keep catching glimpses of the rear seat headrests and thinking there is a grey car way too close.<br><br>Other issues - The arm rest is too low to be useful without lowering the steering wheel. I'm also seriously missing a center arm rest. The console needs about a 5 or 6 inch booster.<br><br>While the left foot rest is nice it limits the leg room as there is no space between it and the brake to stretch after a few hours behind the wheel.

I can't find my old message either, so I repeat it below. I have continued to test mileage, and the milage without the spoiler remains slightly better than it was with the spoiler. Current average is 44.7 mpg in mixed city/highway/hills driving.<br><br>Here is the old post:<br><br>Answers to spoiler questions.<br><br>1. To remove the spoiler, you remove the two bolts that you can get to from the inside of the trunk lid. That?s the easy part. After you?ve removed them, the spoiler seems as firmly attached as before. There are two plastic clips and some very sticky double-sided tape underneath. Using a thin, flexible blade (an artist?s pallet knife, which isn?t really a knife, works well) you cut the double sided-tape. I did not find it hard to do this. You can pop the plastic clips out, but this will pull up the edges around the holes a bit. A piece of wood to protect the finish and a few light taps of a hammer (on the wood) straightens it out. As you pull up on the spoiler, you can easily cut more and more of the tape without risking the finish. I am a do-it-yourself person who is comfortable doing this kind of thing, if you are not comfortable, don?t try it.<br><br>If you can get a thin pair of pliers to push in the tab on the plastic clip, they come out more easily.<br><br>I ended up with no scratches at all, and it will be easy to put the spoiler back on if I wish to. You are left with two rectangular holes and two round holes. I am using the round holes to mount ham antennas, and the rectangular holes are now covered with white plastic, held on by waterproof double-sided tape which makes them nearly invisible. If I make the change permanent, I will have a body shop fill and paint the rectangular holes.<br><br>2. I am asked how "scientific" my results are with regard to drag. Not very: I do the same kind of driving every day, kids to school (10 miles each way at mostly 65 mph) some driving in town or to nearby towns in the San Francisco area with lots of hills. I keep careful records of gas input and have found that the mpg registered by the car agrees almost exactly with my own calculations based on gallons added and miles driven. I have not calibrated the odometer.<br><br>However, a change of 2-3 mpg would show up readily, and it has not. My mpg has been essentially constant since I bought the car, showing only a slight improvement after I removed the spoiler, but that improvement might be illusory. What I can say with certainty is that removing the spoiler did not make a measurable decrease in the car?s fuel efficiency under my driving conditions.<br><br>3. Looks like an Echo.<br><br>I didn?t buy the car for looks. My first impetus to remove the spoiler came from seeing it in my rear view mirror while backing up in my driveway and wishing I could see lower, in case my 8 year old or her scooter were in the way.