Footwell mats are fitted on top of the main interior carpet to take the brunt of the wear caused by shoes, boots and the constant use of the pedals. Replacing a worn footwell mat is straightforward and inexpensive, replacing the carpet beneath when it has worn through is a much larger project. Fitting mats from new and renewing them as they wear is the simplest way to extend the working life of an MGA carpet set, particularly on cars used regularly rather than for occasional outings.
Carpet Floor Mats
Carpet-faced footwell mats are the closest match to the original interior look, supplied as a pair to fit driver and passenger footwells, with a backing that grips the underlying carpet to prevent the mat sliding under foot. The carpet face provides a softer, warmer finish than rubber and helps absorb cabin noise, particularly useful in the open-cockpit roadster. Carpet mats are best kept for cars used in dry conditions; in damp or muddy weather, rubber mats are the more practical choice.
Rubber Mats
Rubber footwell mats provide the most weatherproof and hard-wearing finish. Supplied as a left-hand and right-hand pair to suit the driver and passenger footwells, they are easily lifted out and shaken or washed clean. Rubber is the practical choice for a car driven year-round or used in damp weather, water and mud carried in on shoes pool on the surface of the mat rather than soaking into the underlying carpet, which can cause floor pan corrosion if left to penetrate. The mats are moulded with a raised edge profile to retain water within the mat rather than allowing it to run off onto the surrounding carpet.
Heel Mat
A separate heel mat sits in the driver's footwell at the point where the heel rests when working the throttle and brake pedals. This is the single highest-wear point of the entire interior carpet, concentrated abrasion from the heel of the right shoe wears through carpet pile remarkably quickly on a car used regularly. A small rubber heel mat placed at this point absorbs the wear that would otherwise damage the underlying carpet or main footwell mat. On cars used regularly, the heel mat is one of the easiest and cheapest preventative measures available.
Choosing the Right Type
For show cars and weekend-only use in dry weather, a carpet-faced mat preserves the original interior appearance. For cars used regularly, in winter or in wet conditions, a rubber mat is the more sensible choice. Many owners keep both, fitting carpet mats for shows and weekend outings, and swapping in rubber mats for everyday or wet-weather use. The heel mat is worth fitting in either case, since it works in conjunction with both carpet and rubber main mats.
Fitting and Care
Footwell mats simply lay over the main carpet in each footwell, no adhesive or fixing is required. Mats should be lifted periodically, the surface beneath inspected for trapped grit (which will accelerate wear on the underlying carpet) and the floor pan checked for any signs of damp from water that has penetrated through the mat. Carpet mats can be vacuumed or sponge-cleaned; rubber mats should be lifted out, hosed down and dried before refitting.
Where a heel mat is fitted, it is worth replacing periodically as the rubber thins, since a worn heel mat ceases to protect the carpet beneath.