| Re: Removing Front Car Seats
the carpet does go under the console, and the back seats...you will need to remove the scuff panels that go along the bottom of the door opening, they should just clip on with a single screw both front and rear, as well as the base of the rear seat, which pushes in at the center of each seat and then lifts up...this can be a royal pain the first time.
the center console can be a bit of a pain, and I am going from memory, so there is always the possibility I am missing something. Remove the trim around the gear shit with the ashtray, it just pops off, and putting the car in neutral give you more roon to work, there are 2 electrical connectors at the lighter, one being the lamp (which is the connector), the other the lighter itself. Remove the radio (held by 2 bolts from the bottom), remove the seat heater/lumbar switches (if your car has them) they are held in by 2 plastic spring tabs on each side, I recommend a trim removal tool, or you can gently pry it out with a flat blade screwdriver. Under the armrest remove the storage bucket (I dont remember if there is a screw securing it or if it is all spring clip; if there is a screw it will be either along the top or inside; not totally hidden). Now that you have all of that out, there are 2 bolts under the storage compartment, I believe 2 in the floor around the shifter assembly, and 4 in the dash near where the radio is. After that you will be mechanically free, and will need to hunt down the connectors around the gear shift that need to be released, as I recall I think there are like 3 of them that have to be poped off and your out. Just a thought while you are digging this deep into it...replace the light bulb for the gear selector, nnot that its a total pain to get to later, but you know if you save the $1 now when you get it all back together the lamp will go out within a week =)
Have fun | 
