Re: Don't Blame Floor Mats for Toyota (Lexus) Runaways

There's a couple things here. For one, there is a clip to hold the mat in place. Every time I sent a car out, the mats were clipped like they were supposed to be. Other people in the set-up shop didn't care.

Also, some people don't want the floor to get dirty, so they buy mats. Then they see the mats cost $120 or more, so they buy mats for the mats! THIS can definitely cause problems esp since the secondary mats don't have the clips and can move freely about the cabin...

Toyota is smart to be hiding a computer reflash to the floormat recall. They are adding progamming that closes the throttle upon brake activation. BMW and others are already doing this. If the public thinks the problem can be easily remedied by something simple (floormats), Toyota's image wont be sullied as much. Ben

Don't they offer heavy rubber "winter" mats at the dealership? That was the first thing I bought for my GTI, and they are great, much heavier than anything you can buy at your FLAPS with deep ridges to hold melting slush, inadvertant coffee incidents, etc.

I never understood the use of carpet in a car in the first place, it's gonna look like hell unless you cover it up with rubber. Now even pickup trucks have carpet - WTF? And my company car came with TAN colored carpets - and they expect me to visit construction sites in it? I bought heavy rubber mats for that one too, although I had to go aftermarket for that car, GM is apparently not as sensible as the Krauts.

nate

No trail braking?

nate

I know that you have old Studebakers, right? My 40 Chrysler had all rubber floor mats, and my 41 Windsor has the "fancy" carpeting, still looks like new, it has the rubber floor mats from the factory to protect the carpet!

Nate man,

Where have you been? Pick Up Trucks have had carpet since the 1960's. My dads first truck was a 1962 Chevy with a rubber covering on the sheetmetal floor. No insulation under it. A lot of road noise came through the floor, plus the floor was freezing cold in the winter. Water would freeze on the rubber floor covering and stay there for days if it was under 32 degrees.

My dad had a machine shop from 1955 until his death in 2001 and all the trucks after he got rid of the 62 had carpet. 1968 (maybe had rubber ?), 74, 84 Chevy and a 91 Ford. They stayed reasonable clean. Brushing off the metal chips and dirt, Vacuum and the occasional spraying of carpet cleaner helped.

The Ford was the first and only one with carpeted floormats, but when they got too dirty or worn they were thrown out & replaced.

harryface

My '93 F*rd has a rubber floor mat... *with* insulation underneath, thankfully. Friend of mine had a '94 F*rd that appeared identical.

I believe some of the couple year old Ch*vy shop trucks at work still have rubber floor mats as well.

nate