I tested an '08, '09, and '12 yesterday (all sport). The older two felt a bit cheap to me (compared to my dad's '06 Civic), but the thing that bothered me was that the spare tire cover in the back was just a free sitting rectangle of felted cardboard(?). In the '12, it was custom shaped and secured to the rest of the car and felt quite nice. Was that just the condition of the two used ones or are they all like that? If so, when was the better cover introduced?

Thanks for your help.

 

My 2010 Sport has what you described for the 2009.

Note that if it's custom-shaped and you opt for a full-sized spare, it probably won't fit. Same goes for, say, keeping jumper cables, a better tire iron, air pump or anything else in the spare tire well.

I've had a couple of cars with just cardboard or plywood and they've all been fine. I did cut a piece of left-over indoor-outdoor carpeting to fit in the hatch to cover everything.

 

I haven't seen the tire cover since we bought the car. We didn't leave the dealer without a cargo mat. That is a simple and cost effective solution to your complaint.

 

When I built the new speaker enclosure for my 08 I made a new cover out of 3/4" MDF that made a huge difference. I kept an OEM cargo tray over mine. Worked great.

 

So you don't check the spare's psi? Never know when you might need it.

 

Really?

 

LOL, I check it, but I lift the whole thing up as one piece. Ironically I just helped a friend change her tire. Guess what...her spare was flat. Luckily she was at a gas station so we were able to fill it.

 

Would it not have been better to fill it with air?

 

She was at the gas station trying that approach, but it had a hole in it and air was escaping as fast as it went in.

 

Missing the point. You said at GAS station and filled it. You meant at gas station with an AIR hose and filled it with air - lol

 

But it's cooler to fill them with gas, light on fire, and see how far you can drive

 

you sound like you tried this before GAFIT!

 

Can't believe i just read it all.... Oh boy.. (facepalm)

 

Balch Springs? I used to buy parts for my BSA motorcycles from a guy on Peach Tree road out there.

 

I put in a real size spare and the cardboard does sit higher but it's not horrible. I put a carpet down over it, not sure why I really need the cardboard at this point.

 

yeah i live off hickory tree.