Rubber Floor Mats - Yeah or Nah

[zlcrazy]

Hi all,

A friend of mine went to purchase a set of rubber floor mats for her car today and was quickly sent on her way.

She wanted rubber mats as opposed to carpet mats because she does a fair amount of country driving and they would be easier to clean.

Explaining this to the store person, he replied "Yes they are easier to clean but the rubber compound will damage the carpet". When she asked why he then went on about friction ect and it was at this point she politely listened and said she would get back to him if required.

Could anyone please shed some light on this so I can set her straight, I am also interested if this is true or not.

Thanks in advance.

Zlcrazy

[joolz]

Yes rubber mats are easier to clean and ones with the sides are great if you do the beach often. As for damaging the carpet i dont think so apart from flattening it which a quick vac or brush would fix.

[mash85]

i personally dont like rubber mats and always get carpet.

that said, my mum has had rubber ones in her 1991 Nimbus since new. And the carpet under the mats looks like new. so no, i dont believe what that bloke told her about the rubber discolouring/damaging the carpet underneath.

[sneaky]

don't carpet mats usually have a rubber lining on the underside anyway? the few i've had had spikey rubber to stop them sliding on the carpet floors..

[TheInterceptor]

All mats have rubber on the underside. They all have lil spikes to grip. Ill informed sales staff...gotta love em..

[XR6Uteman]

Ive had rubber mats in my last 2 Utes and 1 sedan upon taking them out to trade them in carpet undamaged and looking just bout new. Had dimples on drivers side foot mat on carpet caused by dimples from underside of rubber mat but they came out after a couple of days.

[GULL]

lol most sales people live in rice bubble world,rubber matts are the best,had my set now for 12 years and carpets are 100%

[mik]

rubber mats rock imo.

[chrisfpv]

Stick to carpet imo.

[The Yeti]

depends on your use

I have rubber in my daliy as I have an unseald drive and drive all round our block and drag crap in to the cab

[zlcrazy]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

All mats have rubber on the underside. They all have lil spikes to grip. Ill informed sales staff...gotta love em..

Hi TheInterceptor,

Well not quite all mats, the set of Genuine Ford carpet mats that i bought for my BF Falcon SR actually have a foam backing. I hadn't seen them like that before these ones though.

Most mats i have had in my cars overtime yes have been like you describe.

Thanks

Zlcrazy

[atec77]

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

Hi all,

A friend of mine went to purchase a set of rubber floor mats for her car today and was quickly sent on her way.

She wanted rubber mats as opposed to carpet mats because she does a fair amount of country driving and they would be easier to clean.

Explaining this to the store person, he replied "Yes they are easier to clean but the rubber compound will damage the carpet". When she asked why he then went on about friction ect and it was at this point she politely listened and said she would get back to him if required.

Could anyone please shed some light on this so I can set her straight, I am also interested if this is true or not.

Thanks in advance.

Zlcrazy

A classic up-sell " We dont got no xxx what you want here buy this so I make commission " normally carpet mats have a backing which is made of "Rubberised material" and has the same wear factor of pure rubber , tell her to buy what she wants

[FgNewbie]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

All mats have rubber on the underside. They all have lil spikes to grip. Ill informed sales staff...gotta love em..

The rubber backed Cannon car mats I used to buy had no spikes.
The Cannon mats were (are?) a solid soft rubber, no sliding.

Never had an issue with carpet damage.

I've got some unused sets I'll possibly sell eventually.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

Explaining this to the store person, he replied "Yes they are easier to clean but the rubber compound will damage the carpet". When she asked why he then went on about friction ect and it was at this point she politely listened and said she would get back to him if required.

What the Salesman REALLY meant was .... "Our Carpet floor mats are dearer and we get a better mark up on them"

[FgNewbie]

GOL you can buy them 50% off... excuse me while I double the price ticket first

I used to put a towel on the floor if I was going to be particularly wet or messy. Cheaper and easier to clean than any mat too.

[TheInterceptor]

Points taken, i was feeling lazy so i just generalised it. Plus im yet to see mats with a foam underside or any other material.

Majority of mats have rubber and lil spikes

[kevino]

yeah get some -expensive ones.
My rubber mats-paid good bucks for them in 2000.
Since then..
2000 Nissan Maxima
2002 Fiat Stilo
2004 Ford Focus
2007 another Ford Focus
2009 another Ford Focus

They will go into my next car too.......now 11 years old.
Carpet damage-none.

[Giant Cranium]

had rubber ones im my ute and my boots wore a hole in them after 800km. ive had carpet in for 27000ks now and they are still going strong. also dont like the rubber smell.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by captain awesome

had rubber ones im my ute and my boots wore a hole in them after 800km. ive had carpet in for 27000ks now and they are still going strong. also dont like the rubber smell.

Thats what I dislike as well. Someone prior said the carpets are rubber backed anyway. I have 2 sets of carper mats, both cheap 'on special' jobs for around $10 a set. The backing is more plastic than rubber.

Anyway, the only criteria I need for my mats is that they have a plastic heel protector for the driver. If I get 5 years out of them I'm ahead as, like rubber, it doesn't damage the underlying carpet.

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Points taken, i was feeling lazy so i just generalised it. Plus im yet to see mats with a foam underside or any other material.

Majority of mats have rubber and lil spikes

Ford B series mats have foam backing. I have 2 sets of XR mats in my garage.

[FgNewbie]

The Ford mats in my FG are the crappiest mats I've even owned.
Dearest mats too... cost 40k... came with a car though

If I drive it more I'll be looking for new mats. My Cannon supplier has gone. If I'm not hi-jacking.. where do you get good rubber with carpet mats please?

[Big Bird 17]

Definitely yes,especially the enclosed ones.Makes cleaning so much easier.

[boss54]

year in my 4x4 nar in my xr8

[Jastel]

Rubber mats (or carpet mats) protect the original carpet so it doesnt get damaged.