1ADan

iTrader: (4)

let me get back to you guys on this; my product guys are out for the rest of the week due to trade shows, but I'll see what I can do. Last time I checked into this for my own car, pricing on essex was 2x the cost of the standard cutpile offerings

Jekt

still if essex is that much better.... and i will also have to agree every where i look i only see the standard carpet and no option for the essex. also what makes it better?

dust3r

iTrader: (1)

I bought my carpet (Essex, mass backing, passenger area and trunk) from a seller on ebay. I paid $405 shipped from autocarpetoriginals1.

$255.95 for passenger and trunk set
+$150 for Essex and Mass Backing

This was 2 years ago though.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

It depends on the seller, but at least in my case it's roughly 50% more than the standard stuff.

In terms of quality difference, it's got 40% more threads per square inch (1000 vs 800 per linear inch), and is also taller in height. The more dense thread packing combined with the taller height gives a thicker, nicer look. It's most noticable on curves (dead pedal, trans tunnel, etc) in that the density of the carpet looks more consistent between bends and flats. Also, because it's denser, you don't notice the individual groups of fibers as much.

It's a noticeable difference if you're looking for it, but it's not a dramatic difference. If you peak into somebody's car, unless you know what to look for, you probably won't be able to identify it as one or the other, but if you see them side by side the differences are clear. Ultimately, most people don't feel that it's worth the added cost, which is why most sellers don't even mention it. Most people like simplicity. I've only sold a few of them, but I do have it for my IROC (sitting in the same box it's been in for 2+ years. ), because I think that it does look nicer.

Jekt

the mass backing sounds better to me, but i guess it would all depend on the price difference i dont think an extra $150 makes it not worth it, i think that would be a good price.

DAVECS1

iTrader: (2)

Well I am not sure what Hawks uses but I rush ordered their carpet kit today for my GTA. I have the CAR motorsports carpet in there currently and the carpet is good, but I had an installer put it in around 2004 and he botched the job horribly and the footwell is crooked. My car is going to be at the Pioneer booth on Power Tour so I really did not want that to reresent my car. I called CAR and he gave me a simple: "we do not make beechwood anymore" and hung up. So that sucked. I called Hawks as I was in ahurry for this and they helped me out and it should be here soon. Just hope it fits as this will be my first install and time is limited.

Daytona_83

Sweet! My gf and I are doing the Power Tour "Long Haul and we're coming from Duluth, MN. I can't friggin wait! I'll look for ur car at the Pioneer booth for sure!

87GTA Runner

Wow! I just realized it's been 8 years since I installed the carpet. It still looks as good as the day I put it in. Granted the GTA doesn't get used very often(last week was the first I've driven it in 2 years)and is garage kept. But still, showing no signs of age at all. If I am reading correctly, ACC now is selling the kind I got, so have no fears of buying from them.

toxik IROC

iTrader: (12)

Does anyone have the a side by side picture of bot types of carpet?

DAVECS1

iTrader: (2)

I can get a side by side but it is moot point. Car Motorsports no longer sells Beechwood. I called.

On a serious plus side. The ACC stuff I got from Hawks was OUTSTANDING!!!. I have never before installed carpet, and so far even my wife said I put the profession interior guy that did my car last time to shame. The backing was not as heavy but I think that helped it fit better. It has the shifter hole already cut and with a couple minot slices I was able to work it around easily. A couple hours out of the box and it was starting to regain its shape. The old stuff had been in the car 6 years and still had not fully taken shape.

The ACC is not quite as vibrant, but the fit makes up for it BIG TIME. THe minor shade differences are reaaly not noticeable unless your going for concourse resotration. My door panels and seats have the old stuff on them and it is really hard to tell.

I am beyond satidfied and BIG thumbs up to HAWKS for getting my stuff here in time to look pretty for PT.







There were shade differences between the back and front carpet. The front carpet is close to the shade of the CAR stuff.



This is first fitup and after reading other installs I was blown away because, I was not looking at a whole lot of work.

DAVECS1

iTrader: (2)

Here is the old carpet for comparison. The foot pad orientation drove this change in carpets. Look here and the dead pedal and accellerator pad are in no position to hit both marks no matter what orientation you use. The instal guy tried and look at the floor mat :-\. Check on the lumps on the trans tunnel too.

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

So I'm looking to purchase a front and rear complete carpet set in light grey. Where is a decent place to get it and how much am I looking at cost wise?

Fit and finish is a main concern as well.

Andrew James

iTrader: (3)

I bought my full set of black carpet here: http://www.stockinteriors.com/

Cost me $253.45

Dusk2600

my carpet fit well in the front, however there is bunching in the back and it seems as if it is not long enough to fit fully under the rear seats, front looks good, i too had to trim the center piece to center it

ZZ3 Z28

Since I beleive that only ACC makes repro carpets for 3rd gens, it's just a matter who you want to order them from. I got mine from 1A Auto for about $265.00 in about three days. The rear well carpet went it beautifully, no problems, and looks great. The front set does have a few issues with crumples but I took an iron on high steam and got much of that out. Most of the issues are under the rear seat so I'm not too worried about it. Yes, I had to cut a little bit around the center console to make way for some cable harnesses but for the most part, it was a direct drop in.

I have a medium dove gray color and the match was nearly spot on from the original factory color. This set of second replacement carpets I have now installed, the first set was in 1988, is ten times better in color matching, fit, and pile, than what I put in in back then. I don't remember who I got them from but I'm glad that carpet is gone.

FNFAL308

iTrader: (1)

That's where I got mine 6 years ago for my Blazer and it still looks great and fits really good. Dark brown. Lower grade no mass backing.

2 months ago I got carpet from them again for the firebird. Got the mid grade carpet with the mass backing plus an extra 3x6 piece of flat carpet for whatever came up for about $450. I ordered the carpet without the console cut so I could cut it myself. It fit absolutely perfect and looks great.

I did sweat a lot getting it in (and it was cold outside) as the mass backing is tough and heavy and does not settle well in the cold. I had to put a heater in the car for an hour in the morning with the carpet roughly laid out to get it to settle. Getting it far enough forward was rough due to stiffness. Be patient and get it where it needs to go. Cut the console out AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE AT A TIME. Once cut nothing you can do. I'll say again mine fit absolutely perfect. Ebony color.

I just wish I had gotten mass backing and the higher grade carpet for the Blazer. I may pop for some more after seeing how this one looked.