Since I just got my Fit I'm often looking around at auto supply places, and other places that have various supplies for stuff to keep it in good condition, make it more practical, keep it organized, etc... Basically I'm wondering is what are the best inexpensive alternatives are for accessories that you have found? I am primarily interested in hearing about ones that are cheaper alternatives for OEM accessories. It's especially helpful if the alternatives you suggest are commonly available in your local auto supply places (pep boys, autozone, etc.), or places like sears, kmart, home depot, etc.

And I know some of these topics are spread across multiple threads...
but not all up to date or easy to find... so I'd like to make a list and collect all the references in one place for people (like me) looking to quickly find easy, cheap, and commonly available sources for such things.

Now, I myself have a GE, but I assume some of these things may be usable for the GD, etc. and visa-versa since aftermarket items don't necessarily fit exactly.. unless you spend megabucks.

For example, while I might like the high-lipped form-fitted OEM cargo tray, and unless I find a better alternative I will probably want one in the future... I certainly do not feel like paying $80 (70+10 shipping) for it at the moment, however. So, today, I just found the Michelin MD909 Cargo-Utility Mat (folds in half, or bends in the center, too..) at Big Lots Real Life, Real Savings, Big Lots! The Real Deal for $15.00 It's actually made by Caminanti and you can see a product sheet at: http://caminanti.com/products/michel...9_metriclw.pdf It's 3ft x 2ft (91x60xm) so it's a little bit short... (it hits the plastic edges on either side but does not fully go side-to-side, and of course it leaves a couple inch gap where the curve/edge of the trunk is..) It's a nice rubbery mat with deep wells to catch dirt, etc.

I know that lots of people have cut plastic or carpeted mats to the right shape to line the cargo area as well as the seatbacks (and there are a few postings on it.) So far until I got the above I just was pulling out my floor mats and covering the cargo area and seatbacks when I needed to. Here's one example of someone cutting carpet to fit: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...iner-pics.html Cutting a thin rubber or plastic material would be basically the same thing. This is one example of a roll of rubber/plastic material that is commonly available in the auto supply places: Kraco Products (Where I saw it, pepboys? It was about $22. That's not enough to cover the floor and the back of the seat as far as I know.)
One problem with these DIY jobs so far, and even the JDM Honda Cargo and seatback liners is that they're flat... with no ridges or lips apart from a basic texture!

Someone else in another thread which I can't find at the moment mentioned another cargo tray which MIGHT have been this one: Amazon.com: Universal Cargo Trunk Spill Tray - Measures 28" x 34": Automotive but I couldn't find it in local stores anywhere. . . anyways, it's 2" bigger in one direction, but 2" shorter in the other than the Michelin one I just got.

I made a posting about the Alpena Innisbruck Interior Makeover Kit (seat covers) https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/gene...at-covers.html and also found that lots of inexpensive matching seatcovers in many different colors can be found online on ebay from 2Tone: eBay Store - 2Tone Auto Store: Black, L, XL for about $60.

Right now I'm really wondering about a bumper applique alternative... I mean $58 for a rubberized sticker?!!? If only the bumper was metal I could use some old sign magnets, but alas it isn't. Then I saw some bumper protectors in Pep Boys for real cheap ($2, being clearanced!!).. I haven't decided on them yet, but it's an idea.. the only problem I have is that they might keep things off the bumper on top if I put them there.. but they don't cover the edge like the bumper applique does.. so I might need to find a different solution, or use two solutions at once.. they might also be too tall. The last thread I found on bumper applique alternatives had a handful of broken links.

I'm not going to buy these myself, but I was thinking these might be a good across-the-hump floormat for the rear seats: Kraco Products I saw them in Pepboys and a few other auto supply parts places today. I'm just curious how they would fit. (They're made to be trimmed.) However, I think these are a rather thin/flat material and don't have high ridges, etc. for trapping dirt.

I was also thinking these MIGHT be a good over-the-hump rear seat floormat, but I think in actuality they're way too small, but I dunno. http://caminanti.com/products/michel...9_metriclw.pdf One thing is, is that they definitely have high ridges.

I'm thinking there's gotta be a cheaper alternative (DIY maybe?) to the $120 cargo cover.

Okay, so it's not a ready-made cheap item (but could be really cheap especially if you already have leftover supplies and tools..) but I gotta give props to these guys who did wood/bamboo floors/cargo areas in their vehicle(s): https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...-fit-what.html I just found that thread.. wish I had done that to my old taurus wagon.. the color scheme would have been awesome (it was a beige leather interior.) Heck, I wish I still had my old taurus.

 

Cheap 12-Volt Triple Adaptor:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...e-adaptor.html

Really Cheap Door Armrest Improvement:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...provement.html

Cheap Way to Keep Cheap Floor Mats from Sliding Around:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...tml#post730821

Oh, and I use cheap black terry cloth towels as cheap seat covers, clipped to the head restraint posts with cheap plastic clips. Nothing wrong with paying for good stuff (I bought a Fit, didn't I? - a Sport no less), but nothing wrong with cheap and simple either for us folks who are simple and .... cheap.

 

Yeah I agree with you about that rear bumber applique...and it's ugly. I am hoping someone puts out something nicer looking....embossed, chrome accents, or maybe even the Scion-style clear film with the "SCION" watermarked across it. Which...a potential solution could be to buy some bulk 3M protective film and just put a strip of that over the bumper.

For the cargo liner, the OEM one is expensive, but it also has no protection for the seat backs when folded down. The more I thought about it, the more I realized...I've never had a liquid spill in my trunk in any car I've owned. Having complete coverage of the upholstery to protect against mud, sand, grease and tears is far more critical for me.

Be careful of cheat seap covers, as they may interfere with side airbags.

For the cargo area cover, at the moment I don't think there is any off-the-shelf solution that's as good as the OEM one at any price. In an older car, I cut a piece of plywood and covered it with automotive carpet. It got the job done, but it was heavy and didn't look all that nice, but it was certainly cheaper. A GD-style rollup cover would be pretty sweet.

 

I believe someone mentioned Zetaproducts was going to put out a metal bumper protector like they do with the door sills.. but I don't see it on their site and never saw a definite post about it. Personally while I like the idea of a metal one or a part-metal-part rubberized one.. I don't like the idea of vagrants and metal thieves in some of the areas I go into trying to pull it off, hence ruining my bumper's paint. I also am personally not too crazy about all these writing-embossed designs. I know I have a fit, I like my fit, but I don't need it plastered everywhere! It's like a guy who gets his own name tattooed on his body. Just give me nice, simple designs, please!

Oh, just as a note... there is a difference here between a cargo *liner* and a cargo *tray*. There *is* an OEM cargo liner available from the JDM market, apparently. It does have protection for the seatbacks, and is split. It appeared to be a flat rubber type fabric with snaps at the top for attaching to the seatbacks. It was mentioned (with pictures) in some of the posts I read recently. It's shown in this thread: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...eats-down.html However, like most OEM parts it is expensive.

Yeah, I'm not worried about liquids. I just have a tendency to cart a lot of stuff around. Some of it occasionally with a bit of dirt and dust.. and it's a lot easier to catch all the stuff when it falls into a washable tray rather than just on a flat cover where it's gonna find it's way falling into all the cracks and crevices.

Both the Alpena unit I posted about and the units available from 2tone on ebay are designed for the side airbags. Heck, the Alpena unit even comes with a registration form and all sorts of documents for many countries to prove that it is suitable for the side airbags. I don't know about the 2tone ones, but the Alpena ones use the Clix (sp?) system.

Yeah, I get the impression people like the hardness of the GE one because it is probably usable like a shelf like you would use the space behind the seats in non-hatchbacks. I haven't seen either in person, but I used to have ford station wagons that had roll-up ones.

 

LOL that might have been me but I was suggesting that Zeta should, not sayign that it was on the way I actually PM'ed their rep on FitFreak and he said that there is nothing currently planned. I agree that it doesn't need to be overly-ornate but that OEM one, I think it looks worse than than the paint will look when it's scratched!


It is pretty sturdy. I once left my 16-lb dog in the car while I ran into a shop and when I came back out not 10 min. later I found her sunning herself laying on top of the shelf!

It's a little expensive but I needed something to hide my stuff after there was a rash of early morning break-ins on cars parked along Kelly Drive while the occupants were out rowing/paddling/biking and it was worth it to lessen the chance of having my window smashed and my work laptop stolen.

But the nice thing about a roll-up one is that it takes up less space when stowed.

 

I figure the hard cargo cover is a lot like the magic seats. I can have it attached to the hatch, so it lifts open when the hatch is opened.

Or I can have it not attached to the hatch, so it's always down (but can be lifted manually).

Or remove it completely as needed.

When I have removed it, it was for larger cargo to slide in back hatch and through the back doors. I just tossed the cargo cover on the boxes.

It has grooves in it, that could be used for pens, pencils, screwdrivers, whatever. They won't roll around on that surface. They could slide side to side, I suppose.

The snaps are really hard for me to resnap. That part sucks. It's awkward. But as they are usually snapped with the cover in place, there isn't a need to constantly be removing it and resnapping it.

Yes, the cargo mat doesn't cover the seat backs when the seat is down, but it does a splendid job when the seats are up. And that is how *I* use my car. Groceries or supplies go in that little area without a problem. I have only needed to put the seats down a couple times. I usually leave the seats UP in the high mode, to use the Honda All-weather floor mats as additional places to put stuff. So that I NEVER use the back seats for cargo that COULD spill or stain.

I haven't tried anything other than what I bought, but found this site:
2009 Honda Fit Floor Mats

Lots of options, many prices. Maybe something there will appeal to you and be in the price range you want.

As far as the bumper applique, there's an older thread here:
https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/bern...tml#post394302

Yes, the link DOES work, and yes, someone else used the 07-08 applique on their 09, as mentioned in the review:
Honda Rear Bumper Applique (Fit) - Bernardi Honda Parts and Accessories

Check it out. Good price!