Replacement Carpets

[vanbcguy]

Anyone find a good source for replacement carpets?  I'm doing an interior swap with another Jetta, but I can't really see it being worthwhile bringing the other "used" carpet over.  Mine is pretty gross though, so I would love to put something new in either way.  Whatever I do, the new interior is dark charcoal while the old one was light grey, so leaving the original will look pretty bad.

Any places that can be recommended?  Gotchas?

[ORCoaster]

I have looked around and found that there are few but I will have to dig out the bookmarks.  I have looked for carpets on CraigsList and in the junk yard and almost thought I had a good one last week but it turned out to be brown in person even though it looked gray in the picture.  Mine is stained all over on the passenger side and behind the seats from when the PO would just throw the lug wrench and chains on the wet carpet.  I even took the carpet to the power washer last weekend to try that as a means of getting it clean.  It smells nice but the stains are still there.

http://www.stockinteriors.com/items.asp?MakeId=29&ModelId=422&MainCatId=1&Desc=VW_Jetta_Carpet

these folks also have sound and heat proofing materials along with that Jute mat that OEM folks like to throw in our cars. 

A wee bit cheaper but the quality may be less as well.  Gotta watch the kind of pile carpet you are buying.  Several different types out there.
http://www.auto-interior.com/volkswagen3.htm#Jetta

[randylovepump]

you could try http://www.newtoncomm.co.uk/products/3181-products-3181/
hope this helps

[vanbcguy]

From the poking around I've done so far it appears that basically all the online carpet manufacturers are selling the exact same product - there is essentially only one big aftermarket automotive carpet manufacturer.  One of the giveaway ways of telling who's selling what is look at their color codes - you'll find about a half dozen online stores selling the same carpet at close to the same price with the same set of options and the same set of color codes. 

Other things I learned was that the "Mass Backing" option you see on a bunch of sites isn't really the best thing if you're doing the install yourself - most folks said they had a very hard time installing carpets that had this option, and that you'd be better off adding separate sound insulation.  Noted...

I haven't found anyone yet who bought a replacement carpet for a VW specifically, but most folks said the fit was "decent", though some cars had issues in some particular areas.  I guess I'll probably go ahead and give one a try!!

[ORCoaster]

I worked like crazy yesterday trying to rid the stock carpet of most of the stains it had accumulated.  Finally threw down the towel.  I will use that carpet as my template when the new one arrives from SC later this month.  I added some carpet by the yard to do the entire back part of my Rabbit.  I removed the seats and have a piece of plywood cut out around the wheel wells and such.  I will just pad and cover it with the matching color carpet.

I will let you know how it turns out.  I did not add the mass backing as I already have 1/4 inch thick rubber on the floors for sound deadening purposes.  If I throw more in there I will likely not be able to get the seats to move back and forth in their tracks. They have that piece that comes off pretty low and may foul up with a deep carpet. 

As you say it looks like most all come out of the same spot as the colors are all coded the same.  I did find 5% off on one site however that the others were not giving out yet.

[8v-of-fury]

I am currently rocking zero carpet in my 84 Jetty. Had a huge leak that left me with soaked carpets..

Lovin' it right now! It adds a few inches of leg room too by the pedals! SCORE!!

[ORCoaster]

I yanked the carpet but threw down some 1/4 thick rubber from the front to the back behind the seats.  I had some leftover carpet under the stairs from years ago when we did the house.  Cut a couple of them into the shapes on the floorboard just so it would look decent until I decided to do something with the old or order a new carpet for the entire car. 

Didn't notice any extra legroom there.  I can use all I can get.  Threw on a GTI four button steering wheel for better grip when driving.  Seems to be a very tiny bit more room under that wheel and the legs.  Better thickness of wheel will be better on the hands on the drives to and from home.

[bajacalal]

On the subject of carpets, do they interchange? I mean, would a 2 door carpet fit a 4 door car? Would a Jetta carpet fit a Golf? I'm talking about the front section only on a mk2. MK2 GTIs seem to turn up pretty regularly in the junkyards around here.

Speaking of which, I've found the best way to clean a well used carpet is to take it out of the car completely, spray it with a degreaser solution I use the Super Clean purple biodegradable stuff) a give it a good spraying with a garden hose. Lay it out on concrete to dry.

[vanbcguy]

Looking at the aftermarket suppliers - the 2 door and 4 door carpets have the same part number.  The Golf and Jetta ones have different numbers though - go figure.  So yeah looks like a good chance you can swap from a 2-door to a 4-door.

I just went ahead and ordered a new carpet for Jezzie - $116 plus shipping is too cheap to mess around trying to clean an old one as far as I'm concerned.  All told including shipping and taxes it was $179.  It'll get here probably next week so I'll update with my findings once it's here.

The next challenge I have is figuring out if I can swap the adjustable height seat base from one seat to another!

[ORCoaster]

My new carpets arrived today but I will have to wait till the weekend to get them in.  I have to let them relax to get the folds out of them anyway.

I swapped my seats around on my 81.  Took the backs off the seats and and then the cushions off the bottoms and changed driver for passenger sides.  That drivers seat was less than comfortable.  But now I am pretty much breaking in a new seat.  Which is OK by me.  My car is a 2 door and those back releases are now on the inside of the seats rather than on the door side.  I really don't care because I yanked the rear seat out and made it a little cargo hauler instead of a people hauler.  At times I transport lumber up to my son and that means the passenger seat comes out as well.  Vehicle for one please, no smoking section.  thanks.

[GEE-BEE]

Newton sucks as there based on the euro caddy / mk1

I did the stock int and had a shop make the kick panels as they werent included

for the price the shop could of just made custom with vinyl edge around the seat rails

GB

[vanbcguy]

New carpet arrived today - looks great!  25% chance I'll install it tomorrow, 75% chance I'll go ride my bike in the "above freezing sunshine" with my crew... More updates soon.

[chopper03]

Who did you end up getting your carpet from? Stock interiors?

[vanbcguy]

Yup, Stock Interiors. Same carpet as everyone else, better price.

[chopper03]

Thats what I thought too, I got a sample of the 801 black and it looks good.
I guess I am going to order monday.