New carpet kit from Vicks auto

[wizard124]

I am convinced; I will buy new carpet by the meter and make my own using the old ones as a template. This way I will get better quality.
Thank you all for your input it’s greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

I used Vitality Carpet Runner. It is an indoor/outdoor rubber backed carpet. Cuts easily with shears and molds well. I used the old carpet as a pattern but added width to the originals. I had the seats removed and went 1 piece front to rear.

I didn't sew in an edge, don't think it needs it.

[4uall]

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... lit=carpet

[DieselSpider]

I'd be a little hesitant with the rubber backed carpet as it may stay wet longer and promote premature rusting out of the floor pans on a daily driver.

[mscafide]

Rubber backed or not, water does not go away. If the car gets very wet (Rising water or top down in a storm) carpets must be removed to dry and any insulation under it replaced.

If it is not removed and everything dried, any electrical connectors under it will also rust and fail.

It takes days to dry out a wet car.

[RRoller123]

After pulling wet carpets, put a small dehumidifier in the car with the top up and windows closed and run for a few days on maximum.

[DieselSpider]

With the jute backed carpets an industrial water extraction unit that I have from when I use to clean and remediate carpets will usually be sufficient however on a carpet with a sponge rubber backing you won't get enough flow to evacuate the water sufficiently to finish off with just an air blower. With the right equipment you can dry out a carpet in a few hours even here in humid Florida where mildew is a constant problem on anything that stays damp too long. Otherwise its time to break out the DecTam Suites, Ammonium Chloride, Hepa filters and dehumidifiers.

[DieselSpider]

Had some water get in yesterday during a tropical downpour and I'll say this about the IAP jute backed carpet. 15 minutes after using my carpet extractor on them with the hand tool they along with the pad were dry despite it being a cloudy day. The right rear I did remove since it had the most water in it and by the time I had gone over the rest it was already dry.

[supplyguy]

Bought my carpet from Vick's and love it. Plush, perfect fit and a fine quality. And a very good price at $239 if I remember right. Bothers me a little bit here how much we bash Vicks. I've bought from every single vendor and all have bungled at least one order.

[spidernut]

I'm personally not bashing Vick's though I know others have had some bad experiences. I've only had one problem with them and that was over 4 years ago. I have purchased a lot from them since with no issues. They've treated me very well and I've been very happy with their service.

However, the carpet set I had was substandard in quality much like other aftermarket ones I've seen. I made my own out of marine carpeting and have a much better product. I recommend others make their own too. It isn't that hard and much cheaper.

[bradartigue]

You have two separate issues:

(1) The vendor question - there are all manner of love/hate relationships with vendors, Vick's is no exception.

(2) The carpet question - that stuff in those pictures is not automotive carpet. FIAT carpets lasted 20+ years from the factory, corn row wool, tough stuff. You can replace it with near original stuff, seek and ye shall find. Any auto upholstery shop can cut and bind it - most of the FIAT OEM wasn't bound and lots of it had rubber mats sewed into it. You can get the mats as well.

If you want good carpet expect to spend money on it - good auto carpet in the quantity you need from somewhere like GAHH (who I don't think cuts a FIAT carpet, but might) would be in the $450 range - the rubber mats from World Upholstery a few hundred themselves. And you should never have to buy any of it again.

[donaldhewitt66]

I had a heater control valve go bad and killed my carpet. I ordered the Newport carpet Kit and it was terrible. I sent it back . The Vicks kit was plush and perfect. Dont go anywhere else.