Three minor improvments

[FRSowner]

Since I had today off and the temps managed to stay under 100, I did a few small things to my new car. These can be done to just about any car (as I have done in the past), cost very little, and IMO, are well worth the time spent.

1. The rear license plate bolts directly to the rear painted area of the car and over time, through vibration, the metal plate will wear through the paint to the metal beneath. A long time ago, I bought a package of thin foam sheets (about 5" x 7" each) at a craft store that can be used as cushions or as waterproof gaskets too. I cut and glued pieces of one of the sheets to the perimeter of the plate back like so (ignore the tape residue from when these plates were on a previous car)...



...and that spaces the plate away from the painted surface by about 1/32"...


...by leaving gaps in the bottom, any water that gets behind the plate can drain out.


2. My previous car was 'storage space challenged' like the FR-S, so I made a double visor using some plastic sheeting I had. In the FR-S, I simply slipped it under the sunvisor hold down brackets, but in other cars, I have removed the brackets and used them to bolt in the plastic sheets also. These come in handy to hold my insurance cards (and what not) and nothing comes loose and flies all over when I lower the visor. Cut them to fit and they aren't visible when the visor is up.




3. I like to keep a tool bag in the trunk of every car I drive but the FR-S has a small trunk and I drive it aggressively, so the bag was sliding around and thumping the sides. I thought about velcroing the bag to the bottom part, but used a bungee cord instead...



The bungee cord hooks to metal hooks on either side of the bag and wraps around the sheetmetal on top. The bag stays in place and can be unhooked in seconds. Depending on the type of bag you use, you may have to attach hooks to the bag.

[Rossman]

Great tip on the license plate!

[Bonburner]

I like tip 3 - I can hear things sliding around occasionally hahaha

[Shagaliscious]

Yea, that is a good idea with the license plate.

I had a tough time getting my jumper cables in the trunk. My floor doesn't sit 100% flat, but it's close enough. I mean, I like how everything has a nice neat place, but it really minimized extra room in the spare tire area.

[brianbot5000]

Very good idea on the plate thing. Just got my plates in the mail the other day and when I put it on I noticed a tiny scratch where the fake plate had been. I'm going to do that one for sure.

[F-Bomb]

I did something like that to my plate before. After I got 2 10" speakers in the back it kept rattling so I just put double sided tape on the bottom

[ChrisOkc8]

I do the same thing with my license plate.

[kwood9000]

Good tip for the license plate!

[enigmaaron]

I was thinking of doing that for the license plate but was a little worried that dirt could get in between the foam and paint. I guess if you just take off the plate every so often and clean it out behind it would be fine.

For the trunk I bought a set of these:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/TRUNK-CARGO-CONTAINMENT-SYSTEM-PIECE/dp/B003MNIKG8/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1342965333&sr=8-29&keywords=trunk+organizer"]Amazon.com: TRUNK CARGO CONTAINMENT SYSTEM (3 PIECE SET): Automotive[/ame]

They have worked good so far keeping a bowling bag in check (a small one ball and pair of shoes bag which easily rolls around). Only time it moved was during some aggressive driving and all it did was flip upside down in place, still walled in.

[86ers]

Good share on this tip for license plate thing...

[_hollywood]

Very good ideas!!!

[Jayde]

Hate to bring up a slightly dead thread, but may I ask what kind of glue you used? Thanks

[Rossman]

Glue???

[Hawaiian]

On a side note, you can get rubber "feet" from the hardware store as well. The real trick is to adhere it to your actual trunk, not the car. That way there is no friction between the pad and your vehicle.