'06 Vinyl Bra: Corrected Info-- Yes, The '05 WILL Work

I gave out BAD INFO on at least two different threads about the "official" Toyota black vinyl bra. I stated that the '05 bra will not work on the '06, and that someone wanting one should wait until a revised bra for the '06 comes out. I WAS WRONG, and I apologize.

The Prius for '06 has a small black plastic air dam added under the front bumper. When I first tried to install the '05 bra, which I bought used-but-new from a guy who decided he didn't want his, I tried to stretch the bottom of the bra over the slender air dam, slightly distorting the look and stretching the plastic hooks to their limit.

Now I've taken the time to get under the car and remove both the air dam and a very thin, molded piece of black plastic attached to it (the molded piece, about the thickness of a good-quality plastic picnic plate, looks like a small skid plate, extending about a foot rearward from where it's bolted---using the same holes as the air dam---to the bumper.)

If you unscrew about 11 screws and bolts, the bra can be attached to the bottom of the bumper the same as on an '05. Then the air dam and the other piece need to be bolted back on. There will be a tiny gap---less than 1/32"---between the bumper and the air dam due to the thickness of the stretchy material, to which the bra hooks are attached, passing between the bumper and the air dam in three places. But it's not even noticeable unless you get on the ground and look at it from a few inches away.

I suppose it's possible Toyota might even have a slightly revised '06 bra manufactured, that takes into account the increased difficulty of installing the former model. Then again, they may not. The bra fits perfectly in every other respect---it's just harder to put on.

Of course, that difficulty will be encountered repeatedly, as the user takes the bra off to clean underneath and puts it back on. In this instance, I'd suggest not removing the bra completely: remove all fasteners EXCEPT those bottom three hooks, and clean both the bottom of the bumper and the bra while the bra is still attached and hanging down.

I hope this isn't too difficult to understand without seeing it. If anyone was inconvenienced as a result of what I said earlier, again, I'm sorry,