I just picked up my FL5 last week after waiting months and honestly the interior feels way more fragile than my old FK8 used to. I tried grabbing some premium floor mats off Amazon and they fit like absolute garbage and the red doesnt even match the seats properly which is driving me insane. I got about 2 grand set aside for some decent carbon bits and maybe a better shift knob because the stock one gets so hot in the sun but everything I find online looks like cheap plastic tack-on stuff. Does anyone actually make high quality exterior lip kits or interior trim that doesnt look like a middle schooler designed it... especially stuff that handles the PNW rain well?
Ugh, tell me about it. I was pretty disappointed when I first saw how thin the FL5 carpet felt compared to the FK8. It really is a step back in terms of durability, and unfortunately, most of the stuff on Amazon is just e-waste that doesnt respect the cars geometry. I had issues with generic mats shifting around under the pedals which is actually dangerous. Since you are dealing with PNW rain, you really need to compare these two for the interior:
Pros: The coverage is insane. It covers almost every inch of that red carpet so you wont get salt or mud stains. Technical fitment is 10/10.
Cons: The material looks a bit like a puffer jacket... some people find it too bulky for a performance car.
Pros: Perfect OEM fitment and the clips actually work. Its the most seamless look.
Cons: They dont cover as much of the vertical sides as TuxMat, so mud can still hit the red trim. For the shift knob, if the heat is killing you, avoid metal entirely. Most 'carbon' knobs are just thin shells over aluminum that still get hot.
Pros: Duracon is a synthetic polymer with low thermal conductivity. It wont sear your palm.
Cons: Its extremely light. If you like a heavy throw, youll probably hate the lack of inertia.
Pros: Uses an insulated shell over a heavy core. Best of both worlds.
Cons: Very expensive for a knob, but the machining tolerances are way better than the cheap plastic stuff. For the exterior, dont waste your 2k on 'style' kits. If you want something that handles the elements and actually has R&D behind it, look into the Mugen Front Under Spoiler Honda Civic Type R FL5. It uses factory mounting points so it wont fly off on the highway.
Late to the party but for PNW rain you gotta prioritize paint protection. Rally Armor Mud Flaps Black Urethane with Red Logo handle road grit way better than cheap plastic bits. To stop that knob burning your hand, Raceseng Stratose Shift Knob Alcantara Finish is insulated so it wont cook in the sun. Its solid engineering, ngl. Practical and fits the cars geometry perfectly...
Congrats on the FL5. I did a deep dive into the specs for my own interior because I hate loose tolerances and mismatched colors. I am very satisfied with the high-quality replacement panels I found, but you have to be super careful when shopping for carbon bits...
Ok adding this to my list of things to try. Thanks for the tip!