Best source for genuine Honda Accessories

[erik]

I've been poking around the web looking for the best deal on all-season mats for the Fit. College Hills has them for about $110 shipped. There's an eBay auction currently going for about $103 shipped. Are these about as low as I'm going to find them? I've got an email into the salesman I'm working with (car not yet delivered), but have not heard back from him yet. Considering how much they've already come down on the price, I suspect they wont be willing to cut me much slack on the $130 retail price.

Thanks in advance!

Erik

[manxman]

I think that you're right about the two chances- slim and none.

[manxman]

erik,

I have been watching many different floor protection product vendors for sales because I have not been attracted to either of Honda's Fit floor mats. To me, there isn't enough quality to justify the price. I think that my next purchase will be the Weathertech Floor Liners that have been favorably discussed in several forums. They don't need to be mechanically hooked to the floor, stay put, last a lifetime, and cost about the same as the Honda All Season mats.

[erik]

erik,

I have been watching many different floor protection product vendors for sales because I have not been attracted to either of Honda's Fit floor mats. To me, there isn't enough quality to justify the price. I think that my next purchase will be the Weathertech Floor Liners that have been favorably discussed in several forums. They don't need to be mechanically hooked to the floor, stay put, last a lifetime, and cost about the same as the Honda All Season mats.

...http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g208/erikivy/run_away.gif off to Google Weathertech

:D

[erik]

Alright, I am now declaring a spending freeze. In the last 36 hours, I've ordered the Progress anti-sway bar, the billet grill and now the fancy Weathertech Digitalfit floor mats. I'm tapped. Hell, the car is still one or two weeks away at this point. :)

Manx, it's all your fault. I'm not talking to you any more.:D:D

[manxman]

That's why they call me "The Billy Mays of car forums". The nice thing is, you bought ultimately necessary stuff at great prices that you would eventually have bought anyway. I have had a LOT of practice "being influential". In fact, an hour ago I got an interesting phone call from Jeff Cheechov, CEO of The Progress Group. He thanked me for my help in generating the sales success of the original Rear Sway Bar for the GD3 Fit, and for helping to launch the new bar for the GE8.

The nice thing about my advice? It's always true, and always free.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave

[erik]

Hmmmm......did somebody say something? I thought I heard something, then, not so much.








Seriously though, Dave, thanks for all the guidance and insight. If you have an accounting emergency (you know, like if you need to add a column of numbers or something), let me know because I owe you one. :D:D



Erik, the accountant who can't control his own spending.:cool:

[manxman]

Hmmmm......did somebody say something? I thought I heard something, then, not so much.








Seriously though, Dave, thanks for all the guidance and insight. If you have an accounting emergency (you know, like if you need to add a column of numbers or something), let me know because I owe you one. :D:D



Erik, the accountant who can't control his own spending.:cool:
Thanks erik,
My only "accounting emergency" is that my bank account is always out of money. Why do you suppose that is?

[manxman]

Oh, crap erik!---

(No, don't do it now, read this first---)

I just read an email from bernardiparts.com (Honda dealer), advertising clearance sale price on '09 Fit all season mats for $89.00. You could cancel your Weathertech order, buy the Honda mats, and spend a year or two wearing them out. By then the Weathertechs may be cheaper. But by then your dollars will also be worth less, too. Life is sooooo complicated.

[erik]

Oh, crap erik!---

(No, don't do it now, read this first---)

I just read an email from bernardiparts.com (Honda dealer), advertising clearance sale price on '09 Fit all season mats for $89.00. You could cancel your Weathertech order, buy the Honda mats, and spend a year or two wearing them out. By then the Weathertechs may be cheaper. But by then your dollars will also be worth less, too. Life is sooooo complicated.

Alright Bro, you're fired! :)

Honestly, $89 is only $13 less than the College Hills price I found and probably pretty close to the eBay price after including shipping. When I decided to get the Weathertechs, I took into account the significantly higher price and decided it was worth it. I mean, just look at this thing! :)







http://www.weathertech.com/assets/homepage/home_new.jpg




Oh wait....wrong pic. I meant to save that one to my hard drive....uhhhh....for later. :)

Here's a really nice one.

http://throwdownperformance.com/images/450601accordtan.jpg

I got black, but was tempted to get the tan just for contrast.

[manxman]

Great! I didn't want to talk you into anything if there was a cheaper way to go. We seem to think alike- you never regret buying the best of anything, even if you have to wait a while to afford it. Cheaping out, though, is usually a big source of regret.

The tan example in their ad was a great photographic choice for sharp detail, but I'll bet that they never intended to sell many of that color (if any at all). Anything that is shiny and black in the interior usually shows as gray in photos (like the factory optional center arm rest). I will be buying black mats also.

Oh. I just mentioned another "must have". 'Scuse me.

Dave

[claymore]

And we recommend only stuff that WORKS no messing around with stuff that "someone" gets paid to talk about. We are the site that provides only reviews of stuff that members have actually bought with their own money and then reviewed with both the good and bad news posted. We are kinda like the "Consumer Reports" of the Fit/Jazz scene.

Stay tuned for more exclusives from the truthful Fit sight.

Big kudos go out to manxman and macbuddy for their tireless quest of correct info to pass on to our members.

[erik]

Anything that is shiny and black in the interior usually shows as gray in photos (like the factory optional center arm rest). I will be buying black mats also.

Oh. I just mentioned another "must have". 'Scuse me.

Dave

Ha! I had already read about that one and decided to drive the car a while before assessing the need for it. Do you have one installed? I hardly ever used the one in my Si and the Fit has about three times more cubby holes, cup holders, slots, trays and drawers than any other car I've ever seen. Perhaps I'll be able to live without the console. :)

[manxman]

Ha! I had already read about that one and decided to drive the car a while before assessing the need for it. Do you have one installed? I hardly ever used the one in my Si and the Fit has about three times more cubby holes, cup holders, slots, trays and drawers than any other car I've ever seen. Perhaps I'll be able to live without the console. :)
Yes, I do have it, but didn't buy it for the storage aspect. It only holds a microfiber cloth and a cell phone and then it's full. I use the arm rest on longer drives, and stash the cell phone there sometimes.

I did buy the entire JDM console/arm rest for my GD3, and it was a little roomier, but neither Honda arm rest holds as much stuff as the two versions (GD/GE) from Zeta Products, which are MUCH cheaper. As you said, there are already plenty of places to stash things, including the useless (IMO) storage hatch under the rear pass. seat bottom.

With all of that said, the folding driver's seat arm rest is better than nothing, but not as good as any of the available separate arm rests. The OEM Honda '09 arm rest is unbelievably strong, comfortable, and great looking, but it is no joy to install or take out. The Zeta arm rest looks good, performs well, and can be removed by just picking it up. In spirited drives, that adds to its value.

I almost mentioned the arm rest in our "must haves" discussion, but left it out because of my suggestion that you drive the car a while before buying more accessories. The ones that I influenced you to buy are TRUE necessities if you are not a person who considers driving to be just a means of getting from A to B.

EDIT: Correction- the Zeta GE arm rest is comparably priced to the OEM Honda one, but not as heavy duty. The Zeta rest for the GD is much cheaper than the JDM Honda console/arm rest.

[manxman]

I've been poking around the web looking for the best deal on all-season mats for the Fit. College Hills has them for about $110 shipped. There's an eBay auction currently going for about $103 shipped. Are these about as low as I'm going to find them? I've got an email into the salesman I'm working with (car not yet delivered), but have not heard back from him yet. Considering how much they've already come down on the price, I suspect they wont be willing to cut me much slack on the $130 retail price.

Thanks in advance!

Erik
Hey, erik,

Just to reassure you that I don't give advice that I don't follow myself, I just placed my order with McNeil for my 1st & 2nd row Weathertech Digital Fit Floor Liners in black. I visited their site again today, and realized that these mats define my style- "do it right the first time, and never worry about it again".

Based on some of the reviews, I expect to have to use a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the liners to remove any bowing along the sides cause by the packaging. Once formed to the car's contours, the mats will stay in the proper shape. I hope that you enjoy your floor liners, when you have a new Fit to put them in!

Oh yes!! Another Must Have--- get the Elemmat floor liner for the entire back floor. Here's a link:

http://hondafitforums.com/showthread.php?t=542&highlight=Elemmat

Some idiot on fitfreak deleted my DIY post on how to install the Elemmat to that you can raise one or both of the rear seat backs and have the Elemmat liner go up with the seats, or be able to lay the Elemmat over cargo, as a cover, in the trunk area. When/if you get this product, and you need to know the technique for the custom installation, let me know and I'll tell you.

Scyoooose me!

Dave

[erik]

Some idiot on fitfreak deleted my DIY post on how to install the Elemmat to that you can raise one or both of the rear seat backs and have the Elemmat liner go up with the seats, or be able to lay the Elemmat over cargo, as a cover, in the trunk area. When/if you get this product, and you need to know the technique for the custom installation, let me know and I'll tell you.

Scyoooose me!

Dave


Is this it? :D



The mat does not stay up with the seatbacks up. It is too flexible to stand vertically on its own. I used Industrial Strength Velcro to make heavy duty sticky joints along the top bar of the rear seatbacks, and used a razor knife to slit the mat between the seats (leaving the lower 1/3 of the mat uncut). Now, with the seats folded flat, the entire back floor is covered, but if I need to raise one seat, the floor next to the open seat remains covered. When both seats are flat, I can detach the Velcro fasteners, and cover any cargo near the hatch with the Elemmat pulled backwards over the cargo.

I also cut little windows out of the mat to expose the tie-downs in the seat backs (normally used to secure child safety seats). This gives me two anchors for bungee cords to secure a big ice chest or other large cargo in the back that I don't want moving around on sharp turns.



Apparently some one else quoted you before they deleted it. I thought we agreed that I wasn't going to be spending anymore on the Fit in the immediate future? Now I have to go order this thing. :)

[manxman]

Is this it? :D




Apparently some one else quoted you before they deleted it. I thought we agreed that I wasn't going to be spending anymore on the Fit in the immediate future? Now I have to go order this thing. :)
No, you could wait until your cargo or your dog puts a stain in your "carpet", (note the quotation marks) and then install the Elemmat as a cover to hide the stain. If the '07 thru '09 Fits have a really objectionable weak point, it is the pretend "carpet".

Buying the Elemmat isn't an emergency, but it is a sure cure for the deficiency of the back floor carpet. I have two wolves (really) and one 75 lb. Siberian Husky, all of whom need regular rides to see the Veterinarian. They don't like car rides, and show their displeasure by salivating all over the place, and leave hair in every square inch of "carpet". I HAD to have the Elemmat. Your needs may differ. Clean-up after my wolf and dog taxi service is now done with a dampened paper towel, not a steam cleaner.

BTW, I agreed to nutting. There is no reason why your Fit should not suit every single one of your needs, as long as your budget holds out.

[erik]

Don't try to talk me out of it now, it's already ordered. :)

In other news, I have a new ETA on my Fit. It could be at the dealer as early as tomorrow. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to pick it up Monday or Tuesday. This means I might actually get the car BEFORE all the related loot shows up on my doorstep. :)

/hijack

[manxman]

Don't try to talk me out of it now, it's already ordered. :)

In other news, I have a new ETA on my Fit. It could be at the dealer as early as tomorrow. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to pick it up Monday or Tuesday. This means I might actually get the car BEFORE all the related loot shows up on my doorstep. :)

/hijack
Congratulations!! I must commend you on being among the most willing of my disciples! There y'go. Find a comment like that on freak-speak.

You will have the very best outfitted new Fit in your entire state!

P.s. I will try to post a new DIY on the custom installation. My photos should still be retrievable from imageshack.com.

[hogwylde]

I've been poking around the web looking for the best deal on all-season mats for the Fit. College Hills has them for about $110 shipped.

I got them for $99 at the dealership

[claymore]

One more vote for a mat or something for the hatch. I have one that is rubber like a truck bed liner with sides. I was coming back from getting groceries and a bottle of apple juice fell over and BROKE flooding the liner but not a drop on the carpet. Easy clean up just pull it out and wash it with the hose.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1135975/Mat1.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1135975/Mat.jpg

[erik]

Claymore, I like the look of that mat/liner. I think I'll stick with the elemmat though, because it protects the back of the rear seats as well. On the other hand, I suspect the Maxtray could be used in conjunction with the elemmat and the fit/Fit wouldn't suffer much. :D

Where can I get a closer look at that mat? Google turns up nothing so far. :(

Hogwylde, the dealer had originally agreed to sell them to me for about the same price ($103), but I have since then ordered front/rear mats from Weathertech. It's Dave's fault. :)

[claymore]

Sorry I don't know if they are sold in the states. Got it thrown in free when I bought my Jazz here in Thailand. They are a local brand of bedliners and all kinds of rubber products. It still looks as good as it did the day I got it 4 years ago.

[erik]

Ah, I didn't know your were in another country. :o Sorry about that.

[manxman]

Your tray does look like great quality, and custom molded for the GD3 Fit. Too bad that we can't get them here. The advantage of the tray is the raised borders that keep spills trapped. Very nice.

[claymore]

Erik no problem I sometimes forget that not everybody knows or remembers my history. I'm not quite as notorious here as I was on the freak site.:p

[manxman]

Hey John, If you have the time and you feel like it, maybe you could talk to your Honda dealer and find out who makes your tray. If you can get the factory name and location, then send a PM to Angelo at Zeta, he might be interested in approaching the manufacturer to get a U.S. dealership like he did with the hood deflectors from Canada.

By comparison with your tray, the Honda one sure does not seem worth the price. If I had a source for your tray, I would buy it.

[ekonetics]

The OEM tray is so thin compared to that picture Claymore that I would sell mine to someone else and consider it an upgrade. I might just do that for my floor mats since I want something thicker.

[manxman]

The OEM tray is so thin compared to that picture Claymore that I would sell mine to someone else and consider it an upgrade. I might just do that for my floor mats since I want something thicker.
Take a look at Weathertech Digital Floor Liners. Erik and I are both waiting for our sets to be delivered. I have been thinking about ordering these mats ever since they were first released on the market (6-8 months ago) and just ordered a few days ago. Lifetime guarantee.

[ekonetics]

Take a look at Weathertech Digital Floor Liners. Erik and I are both waiting for our sets to be delivered. I have been thinking about ordering these mats ever since they were first released on the market (6-8 months ago) and just ordered a few days ago. Lifetime guarantee.

I ordered my OEM mats the day I bought my car and I've heard great reviews about Weathertech products for years now. I wanted to wait but the carpet was so thin I ordered OEM ones, but I'm still thinking about it and selling my old ones to someone else.

[claymore]

I tried everything to find the company that makes and distributes the maxtray hatch floor with no luck. Maybe a pickup bedliner company in the states would offer the same thing?

[manxman]

I tried everything to find the company that makes and distributes the maxtray hatch floor with no luck. Maybe a pickup bedliner company in the states would offer the same thing?
Good thought John, but probably no dice. In your part of the world, pickup trucks are much more rare than in the U.S., and U.S. trucks are generally much larger than Asian ones. Bed liner makers here probably would not bother custom making cargo trays for hatchback cars, because business is great for big truck liners.

[manxman]

I ordered my OEM mats the day I bought my car and I've heard great reviews about Weathertech products for years now. I wanted to wait but the carpet was so thin I ordered OEM ones, but I'm still thinking about it and selling my old ones to someone else.
I have seen a lot of F.S. ads for factory mats on the freak site, but don't know how successful the sales were. For you, no big deal. If/when you wear the Honda mats out, just replace them with something better. When I drove my new '09 home, I stopped at a parts store on the way and bought an overpriced set of mats and then cut them for a custom fit.

I don't have snow to contend with on a regular basis- it snows here maybe once every 2-3 years, and it melts the same day. I just hate filling up the floor of my car with wet leaves. The smooth bottom and high borders of the Weathertech mats just appeal to me, so I bought 'em. This was easy because I had not invested over $100.00 for "fancy Honda mats".

[dannydonqui]

I tried everything to find the company that makes and distributes the maxtray hatch floor with no luck. Maybe a pickup bedliner company in the states would offer the same thing?

I found the manufacturer and sent them an e-mail. Awaiting reply now...
http://www.thailandbizlist.com/companyprofile.php?id=1448

That really looks like a good mat.

[manxman]

I found the manufacturer and sent them an e-mail. Awaiting reply now...
http://www.thailandbizlist.com/companyprofile.php?id=1448

That really looks like a good mat.
Nice work, Danny- let us know if you get any info. from them. Thanks for your efforts.

[claymore]

Works good mine is 5 years old and looks like new. The good part is it's semi flexible so you can just sort of fold it in half to take it out to hose off with water and the edges fit up against the walls of the hatch very nicely and they prevent any overflow if a bottle of apple juice breaks back there..... I know it happened to me.

[dannydonqui]

E-mail came back as undeliverable. Apparently that was a dead end. It was the only hit I could get.:mad: