Okay...this has been bugging me for years and I've finally gotten to the point where I can't ignore it anymore.

What is with these people that put rubber or darker colored carpeted mats on top of the existing carpeted mats and then say they do it to protect the originals? Really? I would think taking the carpeted ones out of the car and fitting the rubber ones would be a far superior method of protection. In fact, mats that have another set on top of them seem to get beat up even more than they usually would. I don't know why but this is just my observation.

Every car in our family has a set of rubber mats for the rainy winter months and for the summer, we put the carpeted ones back in. Some may find that a bit excessive but I like carpeted mats in the summer...that and it takes a mere minute and a half to switch out a car.

So...can anybody shed some light on this? And no...this has nothing to do with Toyota.

 

i couldn't explain that, but i have seen it done. laziness?

 

I have clear rubber floor mats on top of my original car mats. Does that count?

 

i do the same thing as you, rubber matts for the winter, and then the carpeted ones go back once spring starts. keeps the inside of the car much cleaner during the winter with the rubber matts

 

I just keep the oem mats in all the time. My driver's mat is getting a bald spot but who cares? When it gets bad enough I can always go pick up some new ones on ebay for cheap...

 

i need a new carpet..

 

My wife does this with the Odyssey-- clear plastic mats in front and some cheap aftermarket mats of the same gray color as the interior carpeting, all over the OEM floormats so "they don't get dirty."
I'd call her , but she would beat the heck out of me.

I've always only had the OEM mats-- but it's easier with black interiors.

 

I do this all the time in my trucks. I often have work boots on, and don't want to place them on the carpeted mats. I have deep vinyl mats that I keep over the carpeted mats. If I don't have my boots on, then I merely remove the vinyl mat and place it in the bed of the truck. Works great.


Terry

 

I do this too (clear rubber mats over OEM rugs). The reason why I do it is to protect the OEM mats from (what someone already mentioned) bald spots and oil-based grime. The reason I don't remove the OEM rugs is because if something does get spilled (like along the border where the plastic mats don't reach) then the carpet won't get damaged. Especially if it is a permenant stain.

I will say though, that I kinda think that doing this is kinda like the ole' days when my mom left the plastic on the couch. I always thought it took away from to look of the living room and the comfort of the couch, but boy did we have that furniture for a long time.

 

+1. They are for when it rains to protect my originals from getting from the shoes..

 

I have two sets of factory floormats...one for winter one for summer.

 

My dad does this and it drives me crazy. If you really wanna keep your carpets clean, then take them out outright and wear socks or something. They are meant to get worn, otherwise they wouldn't be there. I'll flick my ankle just to fling off any dirt or water before I get in my car, but I don't really see the need to have something cover my mats. Maybe if you live in snowy areas and drive your car in the snow.... in that case you should invest in a whole different set of mats.

 

Exactly. Why not use what is there to protect. Why not use the factory mats. If they get worn out replace them.

 

whenever i see a word "floor mat", i think about toyota.

that's all.

 

It's like buying a suitcase for a suitcase

 

I have rubbers in my Mini that I keep in all year round

I have Exactmats "X-Mats" in my wife's RDX that are over the carpeted mats. They are designed to go over the carpeted mats, and are relatively thin. I have those same mats in my '08 Sentra that didn't come with mats so I put those X Mats in by itself and they slide around like crazy. These mats adhere to the carpeted mats better than the carpeting alone, if that makes any sense at all.

 

Just in case you don't want the family to grow? (couldn't help it)

I used to have actual interior carpet over the factory stuff in my Volvo. Basically, it covered everywhere, and when I sold the car, the floor carpeting and mats looked brand new. So for $25, I got a lot more value when selling.

Currently I have some simple carpet mats over my factory mats in the Subaru. They take the wear abuse. I could just do a wholesale swap. That makes sense.

 

+1