New car and first customization
After researching the subject, I purchased a 2014 Mazda5 Touring model in Meteor Gray Mica. I would have preferred all-black upholstery, but you get what you get.
The dealer let me take the car out for an hour's test drive, so I stopped by the house to see how my double bass would fit. Turns out that there is an inch or so more length in back than my Passat had. I still have to place the bass either diagonally or with the neck between the front seats, depending on how much other stuff I need to schlep.
Another difference between the Passat and the 5is there an accepted abbreviation for the Mazda5?is that the Passat had a 60/40 bench in the second row, and the 5 has the buckets with a gap between them. I used a piece of heavy carpet in the Passat, but carpet can sag between the seats in the 5 when I roll equipment over it, so I had to devise a more sturdy solution. I hope that the following description is useful or inspiring to others. (Adding figures inline eludes memaybe it's the http
sso I added links to the figures.)
I first created a cardboard template to fit the entire space behind the front seats. I bought a 4x8 piece of 5mm plywood (floor underlayment) and a 6-foot piano hinge (because the finished piece is wider at the front). I had the plywood cut to 66 inches in length and then in half lengthwise. I cut the hinge to length myself.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gm8gho1bowb1ubw/Figure1.jpg
I attached the hinge to the plywood and used the template to mark the plywood assembly. Fortunately the width of the second-row seats (including the armrests) was 48 inches. The width at the tailgate was 41 inches.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wrje3p5sot55548/Figure2.jpg
After I cut the plywood to shape, I initially planned to cover it with a fabric similar to what exists behind the third row, but I decided to use rubberized bed-liner spray. I masked off the hinge, and it took three cans to coat it sufficiently. I left the reverse side of the plywood bare, as it is very smooth, and I will protect the second-row seats (Sand color) with a blanket.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2plcr7yei2f3fx0/Figure3.jpg
Finally, I needed to protect both the edges of the plywood and the interior of the car. A product named Trim Lok Edge Guard was suggested, and I found a local upholstery shop that could sell some to me. (It's also available online at
McMaster-Carr.) The job required 20 feet of material.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a5mmje2l6reb3l2/Figure4.jpg
Here's the finished piece installed in the car. I'm pleased with the result. Total cost of materials was just under $100.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/78egblnlomy2o8q/Figure5.jpg