Floormats won't stay put on a Subaru

Factual Questions
1

I have a Subaru Legacy ('02 station wagon). It is fully carpeted, but there are also separate “protective” mats that are meant to minimize wear and dirt on the “main” carpet (especially in the driver’s area). These mats are equipped with little rubbery “nubs” on the back (down) side of the mat, supposedly to keep them from sliding around, but these are pretty useless.

So I figured “No problem, I’ll just fasten some hook-side Velcro strips to the back of the mats and these will grip the carpet and help the mats stay in place.” Nice theory. It seems the carpet is some sort of cut pile, and the velcro won’t stick to it. :smack:

So here I am, seeking the collective wisdom of the Teeming Millions. Does anyone have any ideas that might help? Remember, I’m in Atlantic Canada, and we use a lot of salt on our roads, sidewalks, etc., so corrosion is a big problem. I’m hoping for a solution that won’t involve drilling or otherwise damaging the floor pan under the main carpet. Permanent installation is also a no-no; salt and spills that trickle in around the edges of the mats have to be cleaned up every spring, so “welding the suckers down” has to be avoided.

2

When I started driving my first car, I thought the problem as unique to my car. But, I soon learned all these mats do it. Frequently, you have to pull the mat back out from under the accelerator.

It’s annoying, but…

  • Jinx
3

Get a better mat. They have these thick heavy ones that stay in place pretty well.

4

I haven’t tried this, but I think it would work. It seems that mats always migrate towards the firewall. Put some laces or strings through the rear corners of the mats – either punch holes and install grommets, or if the edge binding is sturdy enough just cut slits – and tie them to the front of the seat rails.

5

I like Gary T’s idea. My wife’s car (97 Corolla) has mats with grommets in them and they go over a small hook protuding from the floor. These work great.
I think you could get the same effect by punching holes, grommet them, and then tying them to something under your seat.