Tip on Covering Cargo Floor Area

[reMarkable]

I discovered this today serendipitously moving some bicycles in the back of the Mz5:

An inexpensive light-duty solution to protecting the cargo area when the 3rd row is folded down - a fitted twin-sized bed sheet! It fits nicely over the tops of the folded seats - and then you tuck it in under the back cover of the rear tools tray. Seems to stay nice and flat. An extra half a Tip: A dark-colored sheet will hide stains for awhile longer than a traditional white one. Don't think it would stay in place for too long if there was a hyper Golden Retreiver back there - but for the two bicycles I transported today - it worked great!

 

[jeebusm3]

yup, I use a sheet too. It keeps the dog hair from getting out of hand.

 

[Wuster]

ditto here. Though it does making it a slight challenge to get the front two clips of the cargo net hooked on.

I've got some hideously ugly sheets in the back of mine.

 

[skyhawk]

blue tarp lives in the back. handy when impulse buying at the home depot.

 

[slvrsleeper]

^^^What he said^^^^

 

[5phreak]

i bought a plastic washing machine tray for $19 for wet hiking boots, gas cans etc. if anyone's looking for something more rigid than cloth, it works well.

 

[raspykart]

good Idea'r... any tips on protecting the side panels from scratchedness?

 

[Rivman]

. . . we talking 'Show Cars' here or everyday drivers ? (dunno)
It's nice to keep them new forever, but somehow, it just doesn't work that way.

 

[jeebusm3]

. . . we talking 'Show Cars' here or everyday drivers ? (dunno)
It's nice to keep them new forever, but somehow, it just doesn't work that way.

you keep em nice, they feel good to get into for years. Then they sell much easier and you get more money too.

 

[jandree22]

It's nice to keep them new forever, but somehow, it just doesn't work that way.

How is keeping the interior of your car clean and tidy, any less important than washing/waxing the outside? Just the other night I hauled 4 buckets of top soil back there and there are round dirt marks where the buckets sat. Now I gotta break out the vacuum where as with the bed sheet idea I could've just shaken it out

Anyhow, I'll probably try out the bed sheet idea... thanks for the tip.

 

[coolmazda5]

you keep em nice, they feel good to get into for years. Then they sell much easier and you get more money too.

+1. Resale value is not my priority but I like to keep them nice looking and clean. Regardless, I got a very good trade-in value for my old Honda ($1000 more than average), main reason: although it had minor life "scars", in general it was well taken care of and looked better than just "OK".

 

[jeebusm3]

+1. Resale value is not my priority but I like to keep them nice looking and clean. Regardless, I got a very good trade-in value for my old Honda ($1000 more than average), main reason: although it had minor life "scars", in general it was well taken care of and looked better than just "OK".

yeah. I totally USE my cars. I load them full of stuff. I take my dog all over the place. I eat in the car. But I try to prevent permanant damage and clean up everything with enough regularity that the car feels almost new, for years and years.

I've ridden in many cars that just don't get treated this way....I never feel all that comfy, wondering what that smell is, or what that stain is.

 

[jandree22]

...or what that stain is.

(boom01)

 

[skyhawk]

I like detailing the under-the-hood area. Making the engine and surroundings always looking new. Next is the exterior washing, waxing. Last priority is the interior area. I toss old towels on the floor area for the kids to step on.. old newspapers and fliers is also good 'wet shoes absorbent'.. Scarches on the plastic panels... I don't think it can be prevented. We keep a record on which child sractched which panel.. Or which child's puke is that stain in the corner.. Our 2006 MZ5 is a keeper.. but if we do need to sell I guess I'll have it professionally detailed.

 

[Rivman]

How is keeping the interior of your car clean and tidy, any less important than washing/waxing the outside? Just the other night I hauled 4 buckets of top soil back there and there are round dirt marks where the buckets sat. Now I gotta break out the vacuum where as with the bed sheet idea I could've just shaken it out

Anyhow, I'll probably try out the bed sheet idea... thanks for the tip.

It definetly is not any less important, the point I was trying to make was that over time, they just do not stay new with normal wear 'n use, and a well kept vehicle will command a better price, or trade-in value.
Doesn't Mazda offer a plastic cargoe tray accessory for the M5s ?
I have one in my M3 GT and it covers and protects the entire trunk carpet! (thumb)

 

[reMarkable]

good Idea'r... any tips on protecting the side panels from scratchedness?

I share your concern about the panels - so I figured rather than cover the panels - I'd cover the object with a sheet too. This was after discovering that my fitted sheet idea does protect the "floor" of the cargo area - but not much else. I'm often packing bicycles back there -the chains making contact with most anything can be yield for both scratches and very bad oil stains. I did this over the weekend for the first time - so far, so good.

 

[daan]

It's nice to have a car that's relatively new and not covered with someone
else's damage, so I'm gonna keep it as nice as I can. Having it be worth more $ down the road is just a bonus. Plus it was nice when people would see my Miata, and not be able to tell it was over 15 years old just because I took care of it. My wife always said she didn't care about cars but she seemed to always prefer to ride in my clean car instead of her rolling trash can.

 

[SparkyBhoy]

...erm, why not spend the few sheckles and get the cargo mat that Mazda have for the 5?

It works when the 3rd row down, and when it's split 50/50, wipes clean, fits to suit the actual shape, has nifty little holes for the kid seat anchor point and for the 3rd row collapse/raise pull thingies.

'tis a winner. Well worth the money.

 

[jeebusm3]

...erm, why not spend the few sheckles and get the cargo mat that Mazda have for the 5?

It works when the 3rd row down, and when it's split 50/50, wipes clean, fits to suit the actual shape, has nifty little holes for the kid seat anchor point and for the 3rd row collapse/raise pull thingies.

'tis a winner. Well worth the money.

hmmm...I heard a few people complain about the execution of it. I initially wanted it though.

 

[reMarkable]

...erm, why not spend the few sheckles and get the cargo mat that Mazda have for the 5?

It works when the 3rd row down, and when it's split 50/50, wipes clean, fits to suit the actual shape, has nifty little holes for the kid seat anchor point and for the 3rd row collapse/raise pull thingies.

'tis a winner. Well worth the money.

Hum, maybe I will get it - I also had recalled some complaints about it, but I've heard complaints about the cargo cover - and I know I like it very much, in spite of some issues it has. Thanks for the input.

UPDATE: SparkyBhoy had a lot of good points, so I checked it out on the MazdaUsa site. Seems real good - my only concern is that bike pedals (the bikes are often are their sides' in the back) may gouge or tear the vinyl - is that a legitimate concern? Maybe I put my old fitted sheet over the cover - but that seems nuts - covering the cover - no?