How much carpet is too much carpet?

[toml]

Hi All.

In my 1963 230SL, I replaced the trashed carpeting. The kit I got (a few years ago, but I think it was from worlduph.) was the flooring (one piece carpet going over the tranny and up the side walls etc). PLUS the carpetted floor mats that snap on (for both front foot wells). But it still seems wrong to jump in with muddy shoes or let leaves and debris on it. (it's solid red, and doesn't hide anything, and looks like it would get trashed again within a couple years if i don't put anything on it).

SO: I know some of you recommend cocomats. Now I wonder if that is ON TOP of the carpetted floor mat or instead of?

Also, I am not sure (I haven't seen pics of it in a pagoda with red carpet) how the black (w/ a spots of red) integrated aesthetically. It strikes me as a mismatch, but maybe others can attest to it's looks? If you got pics, post em please.

Finally, has anyone used the sisal mats (they come in solid red) and wonder if those are a better integrated look? Are they durable or is coco the way to go?

Sorry that was 3 questions:
1. mats on mats?
2. post pics if you got cocomats on red upholstery
3. does anyone use sisal and how does it compare/look?

I'll settle for an answer to any one of those 3

Thanks!
Tom.

[RickM]

In the past I've used cocomats with good results. I did not have the original mats under them.....there's no reason to.

You may want to also consider Scotchguarding the new carpet to protect against other staining as well.

[hauser]

Here's the website for coco mats.  Lots of info an pics.

http://www.cocomats.com/

[J. Huber]

Hey Tom. I went with cocomats on top of replacement German Squareweave floor-mats (on top of some dynamat-type insulation)... I like the fact that the cocos are kind of heavy and hold all in place. The only drawback for me is that with certain shoes the shoe tip hits something as I pivot from gas pedal to brake. I avoid those shoes and all is great.... (size 11 for reference).

[Jonny B]

I have an early 250 SL with the rubber mats on the floors. I also have the coco mats over those. If you have the proper rubber mats, you may want to consider asking for the smooth bottoms on the coca mats instead of the nubs (which work better for going over a carpeted floor).

[SL113fan]

The Coco's are so thick they may interfere with full clutch and gas pedal travel, depending upon the overall cutout dimensions.

[toml]

So nobody here using the Sisal mats (also available from cocomat.com)? They are one solid color which appeals to me being that my carpets are red, and there are no red coco mats -- the closest is BLACK with red "dots". Trouble is, i am having difficulty imaging a sliver car (a very light color all in all) with red interior, then heavy black mats on the floor. It doesn't feel right, but if i saw this exact color combo in a picture, i'd know if it felt good at a glance.

So if nobody has pics of that and/or if nobody is using sisal mats, I guess I'll have to take my chances.

The other possibility (what do you guys think) is to simply scotchgard the hell out of the replacement mats I have in there now (carpet material that is... but carpetted mats sitting on top of the one-piece floor carpetting if you follow). and use those til i trash them, then try to get replacements of those. Thoughts? comments? pics? share em if you got em, and as always a big THANK YOU!

Tom.

[Mike Hughes]

My wife has an old english white MGB-GT with an all red interior.  Red carpet, red seats, red door panels.  It is period correct but almost seems like too much red!  I got her a set of the "black with red dots" Coco Mats at the same time I got my multi brown mats for the Pagoda (now there's one way to get stuff for your car without hearing about it!)  They even had a pattern for the rear cargo deck in the GT.  The black/red dot mats look great in there - tones down the red so it looks just right.   Don't worry, they'll look good in a silver exterior/red interior car, too!

[GTMSJ]

Tom -- I have red German square-weave carpet, with solid red sisal mats over them. I didn't like the look of the coco mats as I couldn't get them in a solid color. The company sent me a sample before I ordered the mats, just to be certain of the color match. They aren't exact, but I still prefer them to the coco mats. If you have AC, make certain you tell them so that they will notch the passenger-side mats when they are made.

Gary

[Ulf]

I have red square weave on top of...red square weave! Don't know whether the entire carpeting was replaced at some point and the previous owner opted to keep the footwell mats for this purpose. Ask your supplier whether carpets are only sold as complete sets or whether you can get an extra pair of footwell mats...

best regards

Ulf