Prius Boat Tail For Sale - Increase Your MPG!

[john4mary]

Up for sale is a custom made “boat tail” for increasing gas mileage in a 2003 – 2009 Prius. As you can see from the pictures, it was designed to be functional (it ain’t pretty). My personal results will no doubt be different from yours, but driving 50/50 highway/surface road I saw an 18% increase in mileage.

Pros:
-Light weight, perhaps 40 pounds?
-Easily installed and removed, takes me about 6 minutes
-OEM brake lights, turn signals etc are not affected
-Foam pads protect the body of the car
-You will get a lot of attention. Most people are curious and supportive, although I have discovered that teenage daughters can be especially embarrassed by honking and waving at their friends.

Cons:
-Hatch is inoperable when tail is installed (but tail is easily removed if you need to haul something)
-License plate must be relocated if tail is removed (knurled thumb screws make it pretty easy)
-You will get a lot of attention. I have been pulled over by local, county and state police, none of which issued a ticket because they could not find anything illegal.

This is a bulky item that would be painful to ship, but I suppose nothing is impossible. I live in Michigan and will make reasonable accommodations to help you.

Asking $300.

[sheepdog 44]

Hey, I remember this car! I believe your neighbor who goes by "Wheatherspotter?" posted about it here. It inspired me to try to make my own. I don't own a prius though, but it would be helpful for potential buyers if you posted your average tank mpg before and after.

[MetroMPG]

john4mary - nice to see this project described here by the builder, even if it's to announce you're disposing of the tail.

Your celebrity preceeds you - we have indeed already seen your aeromodding ways: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ail-21455.html

So the big question on my mind: why are you selling it?

Also: I agree some before/after MPG numbers would be most welcome. They're all I want before posting this on the front page of the site.

[NeilBlanchard]

For safety, I would want to have some marker lights on the back and sides - it is sticking out far enough to surprise a driver.

How does it attach?

[MetroMPG]

Neil, there's a description of attachment in Weather Spotter's thread (link in the post above yours).

Hopefully john4mary chimes in with additional info.

[MetroMPG]

john4mary: I'm curious if you sold the tail.

[forums123]

I am very interested in this boat-tail but HOW does it attach to the car? Do I need to drill holes or screw into my body panels? If you could post some pictures of the mounting areas, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Dave

[aerohead]

So in rough figures,an 18% improvement in highway mpg would translate to a 36% drag reduction,or Cd 0.16.
Pretty sweet!