Opinions: Making My Interior More Livable...

[RayfieldsWRX]

Okay, so I'm probably going to need to hang on to my bugeye wagon for a couple (many more) years. I understand that it's not a refined, sophisticated car, blah blah blah, but I'm trying to take steps to make it more livable during my commute. So far I've:

• Improved my stereo with a touchscreen HU, iPod integration, etc.
  
• Reinstalled the stock catback, and sealed it up nicely with fresh gasketing, etc.

I still get the nice turbo whistle, which I don't mind, and if I want to hear the pop and burble of my stage 2 setup, all I have to do is roll down the window.

Still lots of road noise, of course. I'm interested in putting some Dynamat in strategic locations to see if I can help with the sound deadening. Anyone have suggestions about the best places? Doors? Under the carpet? What makes the biggest difference?

Also, any other thoughts about improving the interior? I could install the Bluetooth module that goes with my HU, and tie in to my phone. Any other gadgets along those lines? I might figure out a way to mount my StreetPilot so that it look OEM'ish.

[SD_GR]

For a wagon the biggest difference would probably be the cargo area. There are cheaper alternatives to Dynamat if you search around for suggestions. Also look at the wheel wells and under the carpet. The doors are a given but the cargo area will make a big difference. Don't forget the spare wheel well.


Tint all windows that are legal in your area with something that'll block as much UV as possible, add foam and silicone to the clips holding the front trim piece on the dash that meets the windscreen, and add felt or rubber to the surfaces in the ash tray and glove box to silence the stuff in them.

In the back, put velcro on the cover for the spare to keep it in place or it will make noises as it moves about. Search scoobymods for the rear fog light mod. Wire footwell lights to work with the dome lamps. Add interior/exterior thermometers.

[RayfieldsWRX]

Great suggestions! That's the kind of thing I was looking for. I think I agree about the cargo area; my diff makes a lot of racket, and it would help that to some degree.

Dynamat is hella expensive. Anyone have a recommendation for another brand? I'll do some research at a car stereo forum.

[SD_GR]

There are several other brands so see if the audio guys have sorted which is best. Look for good adhesion in addition to sound deadening.

How handy are you (or your wife or friends) with upholstery and carpeting? Since you'll be removing the carpet anyway, and the carpet is nothing to write home about, how about real wool carpets over the sound deadening and leather upholstery with modded bolstering in the seats to fit you specifically? Leather inserts in the door cards? Or look for later Limited seats (anything to keep the air bags).

Also see scoobymods for how to fit a later dash cluster into a bugeye and have all the sensors work.

Look at Big Sky's molded foam tool carrier solution and add an emergency triangle, gloves, hand cleaner, and a small tarp or overalls. Check the spare's pressure while you're in there...


Remember the 70s Zs that had a little light bulb on a wire loom that could be expanded in the engine bay so you could see how bad the situation really was whenever they broke down? Add a light or several lights to the engine bay (with switches and a fuse).


Add a homelink rearview mirror for the garage door and maybe a few lights in the house so nobody has to enter a dark house.


Remote-mounted radar detector if you never drive in DC or VA?

[cavallino333]

leatherseats.com makes some really nice leather seats and other stuff for a lot of cars. I don't know if you were looking for anything like that but it is nice.

[SD_GR]

Does your new HU have a screen? A rearview camera is fantastic to have.

[TheJ]

Definitely get the intergrated bluetooth. Once you have it you will really like it more then you think.

[RayfieldsWRX]

How handy are you (or your wife or friends) with upholstery and carpeting?.....
Also see scoobymods for how to fit a later dash cluster into a bugeye and have all the sensors work.

Add a homelink rearview mirror for the garage door and maybe a few lights in the house so nobody has to enter a dark house.

leatherseats.com makes some really nice leather seats and other stuff for a lot of cars. I don't know if you were looking for anything like that but it is nice.

I love the idea of putting in better carpet. I have leather seats now, but they were not properly taken care of. I've thought about replacing/redoing them, and adding in heated seats while I'm at it. I got spoiled to that during my brief time with a G35.

Does your new HU have a screen? A rearview camera is fantastic to have.

Yep, Alpine actually makes a rearview camera for it. It's a couple hundred dollars, but would be fun to have.

Definitely get the intergrated bluetooth. Once you have it you will really like it more then you think.

Jay, is it just for phone, or is there another use? Since I switch off between the WRX and the truck, I've considered getting a removable Bluetooth speaker. It is tempting to go ahead and put it in the WRX.

Truthfully, there's already a Bluetooth unit in there, left by the previous owner. I need to see if I can get it wired back up. I disabled it when I bought the car, because I had a cheap phone at the time.

I wonder how much a homelink rearview mirror is...

[SD_GR]

I love the idea of putting in better carpet. I have leather seats now, but they were not properly taken care of. I've thought about replacing/redoing them, and adding in heated seats while I'm at it. I got spoiled to that during my brief time with a G35.

A specialist may be able to restore them for less money than full replacement. Basically the leather is sanded down to level the surface if there are creases or cracks and then the seat is re-tanned and dyed etc.

Proper carpet is class.

Yep, Alpine actually makes a rearview camera for it. It's a couple hundred dollars, but would be fun to have.

I find a rearview camera fantastic to have in our SUV.

I wonder how much a homelink rearview mirror is...

Subaru dealers want a fortune but there are aftermarket options for less, just be mindful the mount is atypical.

[Rogan]

Ray,
rear cam! it's soo wierd to look at it when the car is in forward motion (if someone else is driving, of course )

XM Radio - Im a commuter (2.5hrs ea. way) and this is my godsend. Without it, I'd have to change stations 3 times.

Sound-deadening:
I found Fatmat and the stuff from Elemental designs was just as good as any of the expensive name brands in terms of sound control and adhesion. Prices on name brand are just too much.

Fatmat is very good stuff. One recommendation: order it on ebay. It's easier to get, than actually ordering direct. Go figure..

http://www.fatmat.com

Elemental Designs... They have just as good of stuff as anyone, but they offer it by the foot... Also they have that neoprene stuff (buy a roll of insulation tape... same stuff) The closed cell stuff has no weight but closes out all sound- but you have to cover every single inch otherwise it wont work.
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/index.php?cPath=24

Lowes/Walmart/Home Depot: Foam tape. You can get in variable widths, thickness, but I always use the big rolls that are 2" in width. This stuff is great to cheaply control sound and vibration. Cost is about 6 for a square yard (about what a big roll is) Moisture, heat, and cold proof- just don't stretch it when you install. I used this to deaden my trunk lid It did a great job and added little/no weight.

Good luck on your project!

Oh, don't forget, the inner firewall deadening, and roof!

[RayfieldsWRX]

Great stuff, Rick...Thanks!

[brain juice]

water bed in the back

[cavallino333]

I love the idea of putting in better carpet. I have leather seats now, but they were not properly taken care of. I've thought about replacing/redoing them, and adding in heated seats while I'm at it. I got spoiled to that during my brief time with a G35.

Yeah people on the Z forum use leatherseats.com and have been having pretty good luck in terms of wear. They seem to be better quality than the leather Nissan uses. I'm considering getting a set it myself. It's not super cheap though, the stuff for the Z was going to be about 650 for the seats shift boot and armrest. it might be cheaper as SD said to just repair the current leather.

[TheJ]

Jay, is it just for phone, or is there another use? Since I switch off between the WRX and the truck, I've considered getting a removable Bluetooth speaker. It is tempting to go ahead and put it in the WRX.

Truthfully, there's already a Bluetooth unit in there, left by the previous owner. I need to see if I can get it wired back up. I disabled it when I bought the car, because I had a cheap phone at the time.

I wonder how much a homelink rearview mirror is...

It's only for phone but did you say that you HU is bluetooth enabled? It is important to have a display as the speaker aspect is literally only half the joy of having it... I actually use/have bluetooth in my Garmin Nuvi unit... It is SO much nicer, not having to fish for a phone while driving as the caller id pops up on the screen with an option to answer or ignore. Your eyes only need to leave the road for about the same amount of time it takes to check the speedometer. Additionally, can bring up my phone book on the display so it is very easy to place calls too.

[RayfieldsWRX]

Yeah, there is a component that I can buy for my IVA-W205 that allows it to interface with Bluetooth. I don't know about how much it would display; that's something for me to check into.

Right now, the things that sound good to me are:

• Some sort of Bluetooth connectivity for phone
  
• Sound deadening
  
• Redoing/replacing seats with heated, maybe new leather. (I'm not MARRIED to leather...I just want comfortable, supportive, attractive, heated would be nice)
  
• A nicer shift knob.
  
• Maybe rearview cam

I'm wondering if the aftermarket sells a rearview mirror with not only homelink/garage door opening capability, but with temp readings or other capabilities...? That would be one place to integrate temp readings that wouldn't look completely tacky.