hclarkx

I lived in Upstate NY for 20 years ... yes, salt getting behind the plastic would be a big worry. Mud getting back there could be a bit of an issue even without salt. I lost multiple cars to rust before moving to California in 87. Haven't seen a spec of rust since (don't live near the ocean). But I will check for mud behind my wells just to be sure.

I wonder, how about washing and drying them and then spraying them liberally with some form of silicone spray -- to make future sticky dirt fall/wash off more easily?

On the front, do they cover the area behind the wheel where the factory ones let you can see into the engine compartment? I've wondered why that area was left open. Maybe because of engine cooling?

I power-wash mine. 2400 PSI sprayer set on fan spray pattern. I don't get too close but don't need to. I have brushed soapy water on first, but haven't noticed that that helps much -- don't seem to need it.

One more comment on the well liners ... I worried about the wheel well iners on my 2015 at first, but after 18 months and multiple instances of caked on mud and clay and such, I'm amazed at how easily it comes off. They do get a bit dingy after a while if you just hose them off a bit so I've power-washed them at 2400 psi (fan nozzle) several times and they look good as new each time. Once I hosed them then brushed them with soapy water before power-washing but it really wasn't necessary; power washing alone did the job fine. I love the quiet ride so will replace them if they ever do degrade. On the shifter; I've always had manuals when I could and always floor shifters if available. But, with the towing on/off button and downhill braking control and automatic transmission manual ratio selection all on the shift lever, I'm sold on the column shifter. I don't think finding those on a console shifter would be easy and the idea of another column stock isn't attractive to me. Combining those and a column shifter just makes good sense. It's very handy, especaily if you are now to these controls.