Ok, thanks to everyone's advice that putting 10w7's behind the seats would be a Bad Idea™, i'm looking towards hidden rear-facing positions.

Is there a way to install the 10w7's so that they are rear facing (maybe partially rear / partially upward facing) and moulded into the floor of the rear area, with the box extending into the top of the hidden compartment? I haven't taken the entire rear fascia off of my car, but just wondering if anyone who has might help.

Basically, if there is an opening between the hidden compartments and the rear trunk, this should be possible (by opening, i mean either open / non-metal obstruction like padding / or non-structural metal obstruction i.e. things that I wouldn't mind cutting through or removing).

Can't use the "normal" positions down in the rear corners of the trunk as I'm trying to make this as non-destructive to my cargo carrying capacity as possible

thanks!

 

So the hidden area is that area forward of the strut but behind the rear speaker/rear pocket area?

You'll be cutting lots of welded sheet metal back there.

Why not try to use the factory location with some sort of box event fiberglassed into it. How about a subwoofer box so that when you need to haul whatever the subwoofers stay home?

 

the "hidden area" is the rear spaces behind the seats where the factory bose equipment / glove box are.

i guess if someone could take a picture from inside the hollowed out glove box area looking "up" towards the roof of the car, that would tell me how difficult it would be to build a box in here...

i might just have to go with the JL Stealth box (if there is one that will work with a pair of 10w7's)

thanks though

 

Between the aft side of the rear speaker/cubby area and the strut there is nowhere below the floor to place a sub. The only "beneath floor level" area aft of the cubby is under/behind the strut in the spare tire well. Putting something there would require you remove the spare and replace it with a preferably fiberglass enclosure with MDF top. Also, since you are talking about a W7, the depth would not be great enough. There's only about 6" of depth below the false floor to the trunk bottom. You might be able to make it work by raising the floor and inch and using an MDF ring for height.

Other spots to consider...
1) a strut box like many people use here...
2) rear corners (again may have issies with the driver you chose.)
3) tire well location using a 12" shallow-er sub (less than 6" magnet depth)
4) stock location with a less powerful sub.

 

ok -- i really like the w7 that i've got in there right now, but it just takes up too much room! (right now i've got a custom strut enclosure that lines up with the rear edge of the strut, and the forward portion of the trunk is given over to an amp/crossover display case)... i guess i'm just trying to figure out how i can maximize my trunk space and retain the spare

 

I don't miss the spare considering it is the same weight as my tirewell driver and box. And because I work close to home in case of emergencies. I used to have a strut box and didn't like the trunk space limitation. Now with my subdriver level with the floor and with a metal grill I pretty much have 99% space and don't worry about what I throw back there.

 

i think i'd do that in a heartbeat if I didn't need the spare, but i'm pretty paranoid and do occassional 1k mi. + journeys with the Z.

 

agreed. One thing I've noticed though, when I take long trips in the Z, the trunk is usually filled with luggage. No need for a SUB I can't hear. Meaning, I take out the Sub box and replace with the spare for a trip to Vegas.

 

I removed the spare and had a tire blowout on Memorial Day weekend on the way to meet girlfriends dad. Had to flat-bed the car and had to purchase the tire from tires plus at a pretty penny. If I had a spare it would have sucked to change it. The freeway didn't have much of a shoulder and trucks were pushing lots of wind when passing by at 70+ MPH. I dont regret the tow and money at all. I do keep a tire pluging kit in the car, so if I had experienced a hole I could get a lift to the gas station and get air... The subs really sound good...

 

Yeah it's risky, but I wouldn't give up my sub location either