Weathertech mats: Their Achilles heel

"The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123" (mattp123) 01/12/2014 at 19:03 • Filed to: weathertech

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Weathertech mats... Laser measured to fit perfectly. One problem though...

Newer cars have clips and/or pedals that are attached to the floor to prevent absent minded folks from getting their floor mats all bunched up and cause unintended acceleration. Weathertech puts a hole in their mats to accommodate these clips/hooks. Now, I don't have any fancy degree in engineering, but I do have one in architecture, and a fair amount of common sense. And I know anytime you puncture something, no matter how you try to seal it, there is always the risk of a leak.

My mom has a new (US market) 2014 Passat 1.8 TSI. The front mats have these clips and the gas pedal goes down to the floor. Water runs down the pedal and underneath the mat. The clips do not seal well either. This is the result on the passenger side after 2 trips.

Why spend around $180 dollars on mats intended to protect your carpet when design flaws, (I'll give them a pass on having to work around the pedal) such as holes in what is effectively a small pool allow water to seep through and linger under your mat. Why even bother with the clips? The things are designed to fit precisely, and there really is no wiggle room. Just work around the clips, it would probably even be cheaper to make. Which could pay for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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Stupidru > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:15

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Why don't you take some seran wrap and epoxy, cut the seran wrap in a circle about 3" and then epoxy down the edge on the bottom side? I know it seems like more work than it should, but it's at least a start...

On the contrary, we have WeatherTech digital mats in our Forester and they work great on black carpeting

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Stupidru 01/12/2014 at 19:19

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The black clip you see in the pics above is two piece. I thought about trying to fit a rubber washer in there... We'll keep shopping. They said we can always return them if we're not completely happy.

Do the mats in your Forester have holes for clips/hooks? The generic Weathertech tan doesn't look so good against the VW light beige.

CPT Speedbump > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:19

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Also, they don't make mats for every car. I've heard you can have them measure for your car, but good look with that happening.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Stupidru 01/12/2014 at 19:20

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Also, those nubs that the clips hook on to would poke through the Saran.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:22

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Add silicone-greased o-ring to pins, tape pedal base to mat with rubber core sealing tape.
/degree in half-assed fixgineering

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 01/12/2014 at 19:24

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Yea, might do the trick. But $180 dollar plastic shouldn't require half-assed fixgineering.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:28

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Plasti dip on the bottom?

Roberto G. > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:30

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I'd rather buy $180 of Jack D., than a set of those "mats". My mats are the universal ones sold in the aftermarket car shit aisle at the mall (€7.95), and I replace them every 3 months. BTW, those cat litter holders are ugly as shit. And on a second thought, who else than a Caterpillar operator, would be afraid of some water on his pavement? If it's snow, just clap your feet before entrering the car. The little residual water is absorbed by a carpet mat, while those "things" will keep your shoes splashing in the water till you go home. And who's unclipping them each time, to pour the water? No one for sure. So you keep the water in your car: may be after a weekend, you'll find some mushrooms! On the contrary, if a carpet is wet it's enough to hang it near a heater, and the next morning it will be as dry as new. Those basins are moronic by definition: they are supposed to hold water, and have some holes in them!

Spaceball-Two > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:33

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I'm curious. How's the car? Is it fun to drive?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 01/12/2014 at 19:34

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Nope. Look at the last pic. The plastic clip nub sticking up out of the floor would poke through. Thought about adding a rubber washer, but I'll keep shopping. $180 dollars worth of plastic shouldn't require DIY mods to do their job.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:35

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The Jetta I often drive uses the OEM VW Monster mats, The clip is a bit different compared to this one, it has a rotating "lock" to secure the mats. I haven't had any issues with any "leakage" with it. I've had a leak coming from a disconnected sunroof drain into the rear, (wtf antirust..) and that's it.

thedevilinside > CPT Speedbump 01/12/2014 at 19:44

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They never replied about doing them for my GTO.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Spaceball-Two 01/12/2014 at 19:49

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Decent ride. Surprisingly roomy. The 1.8 TSI is plenty adequate and frugal. My mom is averaging 28mpg in suburban driving, she rarely gets it fast enough to keep it in 6th gear for any length of time. On a long stretch of highway it will get about 36mpg. Fit and finish is ok. Some materials feel cheap. They really "cost engineered" this one compared to the previous Passat and CC. Overall, a good car for the price. I would get a manual TDI though.

Spaceball-Two > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:52

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Thanks for this. Kind of have a thing for ze Germans.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Spaceball-Two 01/12/2014 at 19:56

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It's barely German though.

Spaceball-Two > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 19:57

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This is true.

CPT Speedbump > thedevilinside 01/12/2014 at 19:57

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Same thing for my 350Z, just tried again, and am now trying with Husky floorliners.

KB Garage > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 20:05

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"I thought about trying to fit a rubber washer in there... "

You spend $180 bucks on something, and I just don't see why you should have to do anything. That just sucks.

GTCL > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 20:14

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Granted I live on Florida, so no snow or anything, but we have the weathertechs in our current odyssey and our prior odyssey. I have never had a problem with stuff getting through the hold down holds. With two kids we had to get them, and they have made such a huge difference. So easy to clean up no matter what gets in them. We got the black floor liners to go in the gray interior. They look really good.

cluelessk > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 20:43

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No mat will protect from someone being sloppy. Kick snow, mud or water off your feet before swinging your feet in.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > cluelessk 01/12/2014 at 20:49

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I do...

Putting a hole in something that should be water tight is just poor design.

cluelessk > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 20:55

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It's not a supposed to hold a tiny pond of water. There should be no reason that enough snow gets into the car and melts creating enough water to reach over the raised area. Also no reason for you snow filled shoes to be that far back to be directly over the mounting holes.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > cluelessk 01/12/2014 at 21:06

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Ever have water sit in a mat, then you park on a slope and then gravity does it's thing and now that water that was in the middle is now at the edge? Ever have to load stuff into a car during a downpour? Ever spent enough time outside in the cold where snow, not just water, actually sticks to the fabric of your clothing and parts of your shoes? Then melts when you get in the car? Ever spill a drink in your car? Shit happens. Why ruin an otherwise watertight tray with unnecessary holes. The mats are molded to fit the footwell pretty tight so there is no need for clips to hold them in place.

Also, I put my feet wherever the hell I deem comfortable, thank you very much.

cluelessk > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 21:10

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I'm almost positive they're there to cover themselves for insurance purposes.

Saying they're for a specific model unlike universal mats.

Sounds like you're just sloppy.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > cluelessk 01/12/2014 at 21:19

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Sloppy? See here . Also here . And here too. I'm pretty sure I'm not sloppy and know a think or two about keeping cars clean, even in their old age. I'm starting to think you have the most accurate username around.

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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 21:42

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Huh. I always figured their Achilles' Heel was their price.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/12/2014 at 21:43

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There's that, too...

WhiskeyGolf > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/12/2014 at 23:37

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Have you compared these against the VW Monster Mats?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > WhiskeyGolf 01/12/2014 at 23:48

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The car came with them. They seem ok, never gave them much of a chance in the winter though.

cluelessk > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/13/2014 at 01:56

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Nope I use small OEM GM mats that only collect a little snow and water. I don't have a problem with water all over my interior.

Stupidru > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/13/2014 at 09:10

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Yes, there is a hook for a hole in the mat closer toward the driver/passenger, closest to each person's respective door.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > cluelessk 01/13/2014 at 12:43

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Well since you are so great at removing snow and water from everything that enters your car, and you know how to sit properly, then why not drill two holes the diameter of a Sharpie in the seat side corners when you get a minute.

Stupidru > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/13/2014 at 13:10

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Not if you give the seran wrap enough extra "wiggle" room

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Stupidru 01/13/2014 at 13:14

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Eh, I still shouldn't have to do that to $180 dollar mats. I'll do some more research.

Stupidru > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/13/2014 at 15:27

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I completely agree that you shouldn't have to. Unfortunately, the reality is the $180 mats aren't cutting it. It might be one of the only solutions aside from rubber bushings that fit between the mat and the hooks