Is anyone running carbon fiber body panels? Pls post pics if you are! Thx.

 

Carbon Fiber = Rice?????
Yes! And very ugly to boot.

 

What about CF hood on a black car? I don't envision that being too rice...

 

Quote:

Carbon Fiber = Rice?????
Yes! And very ugly to boot.

Can I assume then that if someone gave you a new Ferrari or Porsche Carrera GT that had structural and body carbon bits scattered about you would replace them with aluminum????

Or paint the roof on your new M3 or M5, M6?

IMO, there is nothing wrong with FUNCTIONAL carbon fiber pieces. Meaning that if you want to save weight, and actuallly do, that is cool. I would still paint the fenders, hood etc. Maybe not the hood, idk.

But when people put carbon fiber engine covers under the hood, or mirror covers stuck on with self stick tape, you have to wonder.

Carbon fiber is about weight savings. Period. If you add it for looks, usualy I call it rice.

 

I certainly wouldn't classify this car as rice, and it is all carbon fiber.

 

Why would it be rice? It's lighter,Good quality for the wieght. the only concern i would have are the fitment issue's.

 

Whats rice about a material that is considerably lighter than, and just as strong as steel?

 

no its not rice.

 

I think rice is not in the material, but in its application. The new GT500KR has a CF hood, but that's because it's overweight in front and they're trying to alleviate that issue. Stick-on CF pieces add a bit of weight and are just for looks. Some may consider that to be rice. Everyone's definition is different.

 

A stock hood on an s197 GT is approximatly 26-27lbs. and a carbon fiber replacement is approximatly 24lbs. the fenders and decklid trim even lesss fat off. Personally I would spend my money elsewhere, like on adding power not on trimming 10lbs and spending a few thousand. If I need to lose 10lbs. I will hit the gym.

 

CF hoods look rice if they are not painted, which brings them even closer to factory hood weight, black with a cf hood likes a lot like rice with mismatched body panels.

Nothing drives me crazier than seening a honda hatchback with a $4000 body kit, fart can exhaust, tinted windows, rims, and the entire car is primed because they didn't have the thing painted, or leaving cf unpainted. Looks like they just never finished the job

 

Ok, thanks for everyone's input. I don't really have an opinion but, I have noticed more and more CF hoods and now a decklid on Ebay. Weight savings are great but, the average Stang owner doesn't race them enough to benefit.
I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was...so thanks!

 

...and that's why cars like the GT500 get smoked by base Corvettes - too much weight and the hardest-working 500hp in the business. Granted, the weight-savings you listed are small but taken as a whole, it does add up. The high cost vs. resulting weight loss does not work in its favor, but reducing weight affects more than just forward acceleration.
But anyway, carbon fiber parts are NOT rice, UNLESS it is left unpainted on a street car just to show it off or part of interior dress up (non-functional).

 

This is one of the least expensive source I've seen for Seibon hoods with shipping included http://www.carbonlimited.com/ford_mustang.htm