Talk to me about dash covers

[dishdude]

I've never bought one of these, but the dash in my Challenger takes up a lot of real estate and being black it seems to absorb a lot of heat from the windshield even when driving. Even though I am not crazy about the look, I am considering one of those fabric dash covers.

Any brands or materials better than others? Looking for something that won't be too tacky.

 

[CKN]

They are all priced around $35.00 and are garbage. If your looking for something to take car of the heat problem-go ahead and buy one. If your looking for something that doesn't look like mice fur-don't buy one.


IMHO not one of them looks good.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: CKN
They are all priced around $35.00 and are garbage. If your looking for something to take car of the heat problem-go ahead and buy one. If your looking for something that doesn't look like mice fur-don't buy one.


IMHO not one of them looks good.


That's what I'm finding and my thoughts exactly. However this suede one doesn't look too bad.

https://www.covercraft.com/us/en/product/suedemat-custom-dash-cover.DMS

 

[69GTX]

I've used $20-$30 ones for the past 15 yrs....to keep the UV rays and heat of the sun off my dash when the car is parked. They work great. Never had a crack appear in any of my dash tops.

 

[Audios]

Covercraft looks like a nice site, Ive been looking for a dash mat and sun reflector for the windshield for the 98, but not much out there.

 

[Trav]

I used one on my old MB, they had a habit of cracking. The cover didn't look too bad and kept it from cracking.
It lasted many years and never slipped. I dont remember who made it but its was a US company.

 

[dailydriver]

I plan on getting one of these eventually.

IF I ever had the full dash out of the car, once the warranty is up, I would just hit the whole dash with spray glue, and then install some real suede material over the whole thing, a la the rally teams when they prep their cars for competition.

 

[earlyre]

they do help with the heat. they will block the UV rays from destroying your dashboard if it's a car you are planning on keeping. got one for my neon AFTER the dash cracked,and even getting the black dashmat branded one, the temp in the parked car on summer days went WAY down.

got one last summer for my sable, similar experiences, but I do occasionally get a reflection of it in the windshield...

 

[AZjeff]

Dash mats keep direct sunlight off the dash, sunshades reflect it back out of the windshield. I've got a mat in the truck (who cares) and generic sunshades. For the RAV I got a Heatshield brand sunshade off Amazon. Cut to fit your car and it's made of smooth surface aluminum plastic whatever, not as tacky looking as the dimply ones. It sagged a bit below the mirror so I taped a rod to the back side and problem solved. Have had it for 4 years and still looks like new and it's used most every day. Rolls up nice and has a velcro strap attached. Amazing how much heat you instantly feel when you take it down on a sunny day. I'd buy one again.

Challenger sunshade

BTW, a black dash mat is NOT going to lower the temp inside the car, it's going to absorb energy just like the black dash.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

Originally Posted By: Trav
I used one on my old MB, they had a habit of cracking. The cover didn't look too bad and kept it from cracking.
It lasted many years and never slipped. I dont remember who made it but its was a US company.



Floor mat material?

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff

BTW, a black dash mat is NOT going to lower the temp inside the car, it's going to absorb energy just like the black dash.


while I would normally agree with this 1000%, (science even backs it up!) in My particular experience, it did... dunno if it was the fact that the carpeted surface was less reflective than the dash vinyl, or some form of witchcraft, but...

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
Originally Posted By: AZjeff

BTW, a black dash mat is NOT going to lower the temp inside the car, it's going to absorb energy just like the black dash.


while I would normally agree with this 1000%, (science even backs it up!) in My particular experience, it did... dunno if it was the fact that the carpeted surface was less reflective than the dash vinyl, or some form of witchcraft, but...


The dashboard is this really thick padded vinyl that is almost like rubber - if you've been in a late model VW it is almost identical. I feel like the dash mat would stop some of the heat from being absorbed, and I'd go with a lighter charcoal color to match the seats.

 

[ZZman]

Since most cars are parked far more than driven why not use those windshield sun shades?

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
I feel like the dash mat would stop some of the heat from being absorbed, and I'd go with a lighter charcoal color to match the seats.


What I did in the Silverado. Doesn't look bad and honestly you forget the pad is there after a while.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: TheLawnRanger
Originally Posted By: Trav
I used one on my old MB, they had a habit of cracking. The cover didn't look too bad and kept it from cracking.
It lasted many years and never slipped. I dont remember who made it but its was a US company.



Floor mat material?


Nope, it was sold that way. The color did match the MB carpets though.