I have mats similar to the Weathertech Floor mats in my kid, dog and airport car, the 300TE, which spent most of its early life in the Bay Area and is currently in the Pacific Northwest. The original carpets are nearly perfect, which, for a kid/dog car, is saying something. If I wasn't a snob, I'd put them in my BMWs as well. I had the same mats in a 300E which I owned until a few years ago. On a road trip, an insensitive moron (one of my best friends) dropped a large Coke just purchased from In-N-Out on the passenger side floor. The mat held every drop of liquid and nothing touched the carpet. My friend bought the car from me. We laughed about that incident.

Anyway, I would consider that type of mat over a carpeted mat if your aim is maximum protection.

__________________
David

His:
2003 Dodge Durango SLT
2002 BMW E39 530i Sport
1988 Mercedes 300TE
Hers:
2003 Chevrolet Suburban
1999 E430