Since I'm waiting for my new amplifier, I thought I'd spend some time modifying the rear cargo cover. I used a 10" metal mesh two-piece cover from eBay ($16 shipped)--the inner piece is a metal ring (about 1/2" deep lip) with mounting holes for screws/bolts, the outer piece is the metal mesh that snaps in place.

I measured where the subwoofer would go on the rear cover, then used the inner metal mounting ring to estimate where to cut the plastic cover. The inner side of the rear cover has a deep pile carpeting which can be lifted from the "mushroom" rivets to reveal the inner plastic cover. An angle grinder was then used to cut the new hole in the cargo cover. The deep plush carpeting was cut with a basic utility knife to reveal the speaker.




The metal inner ring was mounted with #8 bolts (3/4" length; round bolt side facing the speakers) and the accompanying nuts (both were purchased at Home Depot). The included screws that came with the speaker cover were too long and the locking metal tabs were designed to be unsuable for this particular application. I used a medium threadlock on there so the nuts wouldn't work loose over time. After that, I just snapped the outside mesh cover in place--looks factory clean and stealthy and the cargo area is still fully usable (see photo).



If you desire more "stealth", from the cut-out circular deep pile inner carpeting, you can peel a thin layer off of it, and get a 10" piece portion to stay just inside the mesh cover so that the PIONEER logo doesn't show through. Alternatively, you could use a very thin pieice of black cloth to wedge in place as well (to hide whatever speaker you may have behind the speaker grill mesh).

Now I just need the smaller footprint amp (Kenwood X500-1) to get here so I can finally get the missing bass from the factory setup and put the project to rest.

Again, thanks to all of those before who lead the groundwork on this project to make this a relatively easy task.