Does anyone have experience with molded vinyl flooring for their Fiero as an alternative to carpet? Sounds good on paper however I'd like to hear some real world feedback.
Does anyone have experience with molded vinyl flooring for their Fiero as an alternative to carpet? Sounds good on paper however I'd like to hear some real world feedback.
From a work standpoint, that type of floor is great for muddy environments and for those in snow as long as you remove your floor mats. You can spray them down and simply wash the floor. The only bad part is that regular floor mats will slide all over the place. You'll have to find some way of making the floor mats "stick".
I have this type of flooring in my Ford Ranger, but I still wouldn't suggest hosing down the floor.
I did just that, and I found water trapped underneath the flooring.
For a more rugged floor, I'd rather smooth out the floorpan and put bedliner on it. This way water couldn't be trapped. But this is a high-effort solution (mostly the part about shaving the floorpan).
What type of wet work you planning to do with your Fiero that carpet won't allow?
With the entire floor being below the door sills, the wash out feature will just result in a puddle and trapped water. Works OK in trucks because the door sills are basically flush with the floor, so the water can run out and over the sills.
Carpet over your existing carpet i bought mine flat and it was easy i was told on this forum to keep my old carpet. Mine is actually good not worn i just wanted black carpet . The finish is way better i chose best carpet and feels more solid less noise. It cost way less than a molded carpet.
[This message has been edited by Australian (edited 03-13-2021).]
Here's the plot. The existing carpet is old, smelly and I don't care for the color. Therefore it's slotted to be replaced. If it's being replaced why not replace it with something superior to a carpet, if there's such a thing. That's when I ran across several molded vinyl floors. Vinyl, why not? Won't hold dirt, dust, lint and other undesirable stuff like a carpet would. Easy to clean and would probably outlast a traditional carpet. These were theoretical theories of course. I was hoping of something like those kitchen floor mats. The ones made from some type of rubber (or vinyl) with an anti-fatigue, semi-rigid gel/foam underneath. From my limited research it doesn't seem like vinyl floors are desirable in cars. However I figured I'd ask anyway.
[This message has been edited by Source (edited 03-13-2021).]
Flooring like this is mostly for work trucks or base model cars in the long past. Why did they use it? Because it was cheap.
Fleets of trucks did use it to hose out but I would not recommend that for the Fiero as the electronics are more open and abundant. You could much damage. Also the pan will rot much like the trucks.
In work trucks they often had limited lives.
The other issue is should you ever need to sell the car the at would turn about 99% of most buyers off. There is little appeal outside Jeep owners or guys off roading trucks.
Unless you have massive issue with mud for some reason I would recommend skipping this idea. But it is your car and you can do as you please.
For any new to me Fiero, I always pull the carpets and take them to the car wash and hose them down with the power spray until the water comes off them clean. This will remove all the dirt, dust, smoke and any other smelly debris from the fibers. I leave them on their side to dry as it helps the excess water run off the edge and speeds up the drying. Once they are clean, you can die them a different color if you want. .
Vinyl flooring in vehicles can cause excess moisture to build up, leading to floor pans rusting out. this is well known with work truck owners and technicians for decades. in a Fiero, it is possible it would not be as much of a concern. however. vinyl automotive floor coverings will split and crack in hot environments. carpets are more widely used as the generally last longer, are more effective for sound dampening, and do not cause condensation build up on floor pans like vinyl/rubber.
this information is not new.
I was tempted by the eBay vinyl/rubber option when it first popped up on the site several years ago, but knew it would likely cause more harm that I was willing to allow. I'd love a vinyl/rubber floor that doesn't absorb smells, but not if it will cause rust formation.
this is my experienced opinion, please make your own choice and enjoy it, what ever it may be and drive safely!
Vinyl flooring in vehicles can cause excess moisture to build up, leading to floor pans rusting out.
Sounds familiar.... My first car was a '71 Nova which was hiding a whole forest of rust. It had vinyl (or rubber?) flooring and I discovered after a couple years the floor pans were full of holes. One day after a storm I drove over some small branches which had come off a tree and the front tire kicked one up and it punched right through the floor! Fortunately no one was in the passenger's seat....
