I'm kind of a nut about my possessions. Not a collector, but my toys and stuff must be in new condition. Quality over quantity, you know? Thus, my beautiful '05 Driftwood Pearl Leather #3, and the frequently discussed low, aerodynamic and vulnerable front bumper. The other night, with 3800 miles on the clock, I pulled into a parking stall at an angle rather than head-on as usual. My blood pressure surged as I heard crunching of the right front bumper bottom as it ground against the concrete curb. The damage was barely visible but I was bugged all the same. I called three places for repair estimates, and went with the local Maaco shop for a next-day, perfect $146 procedure. So, what's my point? Somehow I dread that, no matter how carefully I try to glide this bomb, future similar incidents seem inevitable. I remember, back in the late fifties and sixties, the Old Folks often had wierd flexible metal "feelers" sticking out of various wheel wells. The purpose was to alert Grandad to potential hazards in his path. Does anyone out there sense the need for an updated system for the Prius? The '06 backup camera seems a good step forward but what about front? Thank you from Maaco's future Frequent Customer. Shimma The Hopeless Perfectionist
Sigma Auto has front post markers you can put on your bumper or license plate so you can see where your front end is. They make sense because the front of the Prius is harder to judge the front end distance than other cars and I don't have the best depth perception. I haven't bought any of these so I can't say how well they work.
Remember, it's just a car. There's an infinite number of more important things to worry about than a barely noticeable front bumper scratch.
Hello Shimma, My company has the perfect solution to your problem with bumper damage. We have a product, CURB GUARD, that will provide an audible alert when your bumper is 12-18 inches from a curb and another alert when the bumper is 6 inches from the curb. The CURB GUARD product is easily installed (about 1 hr.) and retails for $139. Contact me directly if you have interest. Best Regards, Bill
Well, I won't label you as "The Hopeless Perfectionist", but sometimes we DO make mistakes and screw-up. Treat it like a lesson learned, so you'll know how to judge the distance better to park in the future. It'll make you more skillful and careful to drive/own your Prius afterall.
