I think this one depends on the look you're going for...taking the back seats out isn't going to save that much weight, and then neither is removing some extra carpeting. I took the back seats out, but with the trunk carpeting and interior trim, it looked awkward. I vote for gutting it, panels, speakers, everything but the spare. Leave just the carpeting that extends under the front seats to the rear seats so stuff you put there doesn't slide around.