I always thought that carpet mats wouldn't last a winter, so I did the same as you on older cars and changed them immediately to rubber mats. but having had carpet mats in a Ford Puma for the last two years, and a mondeo for the two years prior to that, they were still in a great condition when sold, which frankly amazed me. so I have paid the £99 for the unicorn hair mg4 mats and hope they are in stock by the time my car arrives. some advantage to having to wait, mats and insurance woes solved I suppose