Custom TPE & Carpet Floor Mats and Bootliner

[GRP]

Thanks for the interest!

Will have a chat with @GRP once they are done to see if we can work something out. If not I'll do what I can to make shipping as reasonable as possible anyway.

Note im starting with the bootliners, will give me a chance to get feedback before going ahead with the floormats. Floormats are also more complicated with LHD, RHD and different fixing mechanisms etc.

Happy to help out and work with you here for customers here stateside!
We have plenty of room to stock the liners and key covers.

 

[Bancho]

Had some shipping delays but the initial sample is here!

Popped into my local dealer to give it a test. You can see managed to design it to mold around all of the bits in the boot pretty well! Has a good sized lip around the sides for any liquid spillages.

Welcome your thoughts and will be placing the order with the factory shortly!

 

[ADC]

Had some shipping delays but the initial sample is here!

Popped into my local dealer to give it a test. You can see managed to design it to mold around all of the bits in the boot pretty well! Has a good sized lip around the sides for any liquid spillages.

Welcome your thoughts and will be placing the order with the factory shortly!

This looks fab... sure beats the cardboard avocado tray I'm currently using

 

[Anothernimbus]

Had some shipping delays but the initial sample is here!

Popped into my local dealer to give it a test. You can see managed to design it to mold around all of the bits in the boot pretty well! Has a good sized lip around the sides for any liquid spillages.

Welcome your thoughts and will be placing the order with the factory shortly!

I’m in. Start production!

 

[crestima]

Hi Bancho,

Please don't take this the wrong way, as your effort is very much appreciated. I understand that it's difficult to please every taste and surely many other members will find your mats attractive, but I was vey much looking forward to finally get all weather rubber mats (not TPE) that resemble what I currently have in my 911 and MX-5 (pictured below for ease of reference), but IMO the ones the factory sent you seem to have a honeycomb texture which will get dirt trapped and make it more difficult to clean, and the border lip whilst adding the virtue of trapping liquids as you suggest, is quite pronounced giving them a hard core look, particularly as it pertains to the interior mats, like something more akin to a truck/SUV mat. Is the manufacturer open to produce other designs (similar to the ones in the pictures I've attached, or is this their final and only version?

 

[Bancho]

Hi Bancho,

Please don't take this the wrong way, as your effort is very much appreciated. I understand that it's difficult to please every taste and surely many other members will find your mats attractive, but I was vey much looking forward to finally get all weather rubber mats (not TPE) that resemble what I currently have in my 911 and MX-5 (pictured below for ease of reference), but IMO the ones the factory sent you seem to have a honeycomb texture which will get dirt trapped and make it more difficult to clean, and the border lip whilst adding the virtue of trapping liquids as you suggest, is quite pronounced giving them a hard core look, particularly as it pertains to the interior mats, like something more akin to a truck/SUV mat. Is the manufacturer open to produce other designs (similar to the ones in the pictures I've attached, or is this their final and only version?

View attachment 57638
View attachment 57639

Thanks for your feedback! Happy to receive positive and negative as that's what helps me make products people actually want to buy!

For the bootliner, i think TPE is definitely the way to go; I've got the exact same one for my Eletre and have been using it for months. It's very easy to clean, the lip stops dirt and liquids getting onto the carpet, doesn't move at all as moulded around the shape of the boot and does what I would expect for a bootliner. Also worth noting rubber is extremely heavy in comparison to TPE; more costly to make, ship etc. Also a lot less eco friendly.

For the floormats, when I get around to them will need some more thought. As I agree the TPE on its own may feel a bit utilitarian. My initial thought is the TPE with the carpet top layer, so the carpet provides the comfort but the TPE provides a barrier. Could include 2 sets of carpet in each set, so one set could be cleaned and swapped out for the other one. But that needs some more development to see what's best.

Hope that helps

 

[crestima]

Thanks for your feedback! Happy to receive positive and negative as that's what helps me make products people actually want to buy!

For the bootliner, i think TPE is definitely the way to go; I've got the exact same one for my Eletre and have been using it for months. It's very easy to clean, the lip stops dirt and liquids getting onto the carpet, doesn't move at all as moulded around the shape of the boot and does what I would expect for a bootliner. Also worth noting rubber is extremely heavy in comparison to TPE; more costly to make, ship etc. Also a lot less eco friendly.

For the floormats, when I get around to them will need some more thought. As I agree the TPE on its own may feel a bit utilitarian. My initial thought is the TPE with the carpet top layer, so the carpet provides the comfort but the TPE provides a barrier. Could include 2 sets of carpet in each set, so one set could be cleaned and swapped out for the other one. But that needs some more development to see what's best.

Hope that helps

Agreed regarding the boot (trunk) liner since it's the least visible and where liquid spills can occur more frequently. The only concern there is if, over time, the TPE material used can withstand high temperatures generated in the Emira's boot given its proximity to the engine, but I presume this was considered and tested.

As for the floor mats, I would still prefer a rubber version with the more subtle border lip vs the TPE look, although your suggested carpet inlay to the TPE mats could indeed improve the look. The rubber ones I referred to in my former post, are actually light, and the MX-5's, not surprisingly, are very light. Their cost at the respective dealers, when I purchased the cars, were also surprisingly reasonable at $180.00 for the 911 and $135.00 for the MX-5. I do agree however with your point on TPE being lighter still, and shipping rubber versions, particularly to overseas, would add somewhat to the cost, but perhaps not to the point of being a deal breaker. Just a thought, if your manufacturer were able to design a thin rubber mat following the design theme of the 911 mat with an subtle 1/4" to 1/2" border lip and an embedded Emira silhouette, IMO, we'd have a winner. Thanks again.

 

[B r I a n]

For what it is worth, I never understood carpet in cars. You do not stand in a car and most people do not drive barefoot. So the benefit of a "soft" surface for your feet are lost. Carpet is hard to clean and wears quickly when compressed and twisted (which is what you do when in a car).

 

[Nova]

Hi Bancho,

Please don't take this the wrong way, as your effort is very much appreciated. I understand that it's difficult to please every taste and surely many other members will find your mats attractive, but I was vey much looking forward to finally get all weather rubber mats (not TPE) that resemble what I currently have in my 911 and MX-5 (pictured below for ease of reference), but IMO the ones the factory sent you seem to have a honeycomb texture which will get dirt trapped and make it more difficult to clean, and the border lip whilst adding the virtue of trapping liquids as you suggest, is quite pronounced giving them a hard core look, particularly as it pertains to the interior mats, like something more akin to a truck/SUV mat. Is the manufacturer open to produce other designs (similar to the ones in the pictures I've attached, or is this their final and only version?

View attachment 57638
View attachment 57639

The "honeycomb" texture are so called "3D Mats". They are a new style that's recently been popularized. They actually wear really well and looks better than the molded rubber/vinyl mats after use. This is because they don't show scoff marks or become hazy as they are used. All you have to do is hose it out every now and then and it looks new.

Having owned a variety of all-weather mats, I prefer these newer "3D Mats".

 

[Nova]

For what it is worth, I never understood carpet in cars. You do not stand in a car and most people do not drive barefoot. So the benefit of a "soft" surface for your feet are lost. Carpet is hard to clean and wears quickly when compressed and twisted (which is what you do when in a car).

Agree. I get all weather mats immediately after purchasing any new car.

 

[netsinah]

Not that this was a factor in car manufacturers choosing carpet: I notice my dressier leather shoes suffer at the back of the shoe (above the heel) by rubbing on a harder mat surface. Like others, my habit is to immediately swap out the OEM carpet for something that traps the water/mud/grime and is more easily cleaned, when I can find that type of mat (almost always but not yet for the Emira). I daily drive my sport cars in the non-winter months so drive to/from the office each day. I’ve discarded shoes before that get too worn in that area, when shoe polish no longer helps. I know I can wear a different type shoe in the car and put dress shoes on in the office, but never do.

On a related note: I’ve got one pair of dress shoes with a wider sole. It’s the only shoe I‘ve ever found challenging to use in any vehicle: due to the Emira brake/gas pedal placement.

Sorry if I’ve hi-jacked this thread, but you know the old expression amongst shoe fans: “Shoes are the answer. Who cares what the question is.” (lol)

 

[ADC]

Not that this was a factor in car manufacturers choosing carpet: I notice my dressier leather shoes suffer at the back of the shoe (above the heel) by rubbing on a harder mat surface. Like others, my habit is to immediately swap out the OEM carpet for something that traps the water/mud/grime and is more easily cleaned, when I can find that type of mat (almost always but not yet for the Emira). I daily drive my sport cars in the non-winter months so drive to/from the office each day. I’ve discarded shoes before that get too worn in that area, when shoe polish no longer helps. I know I can wear a different type shoe in the car and put dress shoes on in the office, but never do.

On a related note: I’ve got one pair of dress shoes with a wider sole. It’s the only shoe I‘ve ever found challenging to use in any vehicle: due to the Emira brake/gas pedal placement.

Sorry if I’ve hi-jacked this thread, but you know the old expression amongst shoe fans: “Shoes are the answer. Who cares what the question is.” (lol)

Put a sock in it.