2013 Prius Center Arm Rest Too Short - Any Solution Ideas?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by keymusic, May 25, 2013.

  1. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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    I saw a couple of posts about this from awhile back but no answers.

    I went from a 2011 to a 2013 Prius 2. The 2011 center console armrest extended farther forward and it was retractable to expose a second cup holder.

    The 2013 has a second cup holder that's now always exposed, and the armrest is now the same length as the 2011 one was when it was retracted, which is too short. When I try to use it, my elbow is basically in the cup holder, rendering the arm rest unusable for a driver. It's more or less ok for a passenger's left arm as long as the seat is back far enough.

    Does anyone know of a way to extend the arm rest to make it about the same size as the 2011 version? Is is possible to install the 2011 arm rest over the 2013 console? Any ideas would be most appreciated.
     
    #1 keymusic, May 25, 2013
  2. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    A perfect example of "Be careful what you ask for, you might get it," referring to the drove of complaints among 2010-11 owners regarding the permanently covered cupholders up front. In response, Toyota sacrificed the usability of the armrest in order to give us an exposed cupholder.

    The layout of the console appears to be the same so you should in theory be able to swap out the entire console for the 2010-11 version. It's bolted to the floor and removable. Rodney has pics of the console removed.
     
    #2 32kcolors, May 25, 2013
  3. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    I think there is a thread on a conversion one way or the other if you search. I personally don't have an issue. But I am 6' tall and sit fairly far back.
     
    #3 mrstop, May 25, 2013
  4. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

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    Lets swap center console assemblies ill send you my 2010 console and younsend me yours :)
     
    #4 peterjmc, May 25, 2013
  5. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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    Thanks for the offer. It doesn't seem that it would work because of the different electrical connections inside each console. Would it work? Also, my son has my old 2011 so if I do a swap, I'd just switch with that car so that I can switch back in the future if necessary.
     
    #5 keymusic, May 25, 2013
  6. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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    Do you know where the info is on conversion? I couldn't find it.
     
    #6 keymusic, May 25, 2013
  7. teamsc10190

    teamsc10190 Stereo Prii (2011 and 2006)

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    My 2011 center console is a rattling pile of plastic crap. Be very careful what you wish for.
     
    #7 teamsc10190, May 25, 2013
  8. keymusic

    keymusic Active Member

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    I agree the 2011 armrest creaks a lot but I'd live with that to have the 13 a little longer.
    I think it would fit, but the 13 has a USB port that the 11 doesn't, and the ports are in a different location in the console.
     
    #8 keymusic, May 26, 2013
  9. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    #9 mrstop, May 26, 2013
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