Carbon Fiber: Compensation or Retardation?

[man]

What with the obsession over carbon fiber? If it isn't a professional race car, why waste your money? You don't need that .3 seconds off your lap time, your career isn't riding on it. If you're going to put it on a street/track car, at least paint the ****. Have some sense of style and class. Bare CF on a car is like a $10,000 lift on a truck that's never been off-road, you're obviously compensating for something. And no, I don't necessarily mean your manhood, but maybe it makes you feel important, like an iPhone.

Quit wasting your time and money trying to FEEL important and BECOME important.

That is all.


EDIT: whoops wrong section somehow, mods please move to Car Talk or Whoreslounge

[mocha latte cupcake]

i use carbon for multiple purposes... you're correct that my racing career doesn't hang in the balance lol. but carbon does look good. and I do like to keep my cars as light as possible so when i line up next to someone who has more HP than me but a heavier car i can save a few more pounds and maybe beat him... but i see what you mean, i don't agree with carbon fenders, carbon bumpers, carbon sills, but carbon hood and trunks are still good in my book. heaviest things on the car and they will actually do some good!

[Zeeb]

its personal styling, i like it and painting it is dumb, if you buy a carbon fiber hood and paint it, why not keep the original hood in the first place?

[man]

its personal styling, i like it and painting it is dumb, if you buy a carbon fiber hood and paint it, why not keep the original hood in the first place?

Because the purpose of CF is to be lighter, not to look pretty...

[Random Hero]

Let me riddle your title a little more by saying Compensation or Retardation? Depends on application.

Different stroke for different folks man.

About your truck comment, I think it's the fact of having it when/if you need it.

Ever heard of the saying "I'd rather have and not need then need and not have."?

I think that's a poor comparison.

I personally don't like a lot of carbon, but the Honda kids made me this way.

[man]

Let me riddle your title a little more by saying Compensation or Retardation? Depends on application.

Different stroke for different folks man.

About your truck comment, I think it's the fact of having it when/if you need it.

Ever heard of the saying "I'd rather have and not need then need and not have."?

I think that's a poor comparison.

I personally don't like a lot of carbon, but the Honda kids made me this way.

When are you ever going to NEED it? Honestly, no one is going to put a gun to your head and tell you you have to lap Road Atlanta .1 seconds quicker than a stock body car.

Think about it, somehow people were fine back in the days before CF. However did they do it?

[Random Hero]

When are you ever going to NEED it? Honestly, no one is going to put a gun to your head and tell you you have to lap Road Atlanta .1 seconds quicker than a stock body car.

Think about it, somehow people were fine back in the days before CF. However did they do it?

I mean I agree with you to some degree, but why do you care so much?

There were many things that people did back in the day that we do differently today. Doesn't mean it's better/quicker. It's just different.

[quickdodge®]

There were many things that people did back in the day that we do differently today. Doesn't mean it's better/quicker. It's just different.

Like lowering cars! Lolol. I will stick, to this day, with heating my springs to achieve my desired ride height. Later, QD.

[Catnip]

Think about it, somehow people were fine back in the days before CF. However did they do it?

They also got by without running water, electricity, and cars... what's your point?


vtec too.


If you have carbon fiber hood, doors, fenders, trunklid/hatch, and bumpers then that's a LOT of weight depending on the car. Paint it if you want, paint adds weight. If you like the look, don't paint it... if you don't paint over it.

Who cares? We do what we do because we want either because it's for looks, speed, or both.

[quickdodge®]

I personally don't like a lot of carbon, but the Honda kids made me this way.

Isn't that truth.

i like it and painting it is dumb, if you buy a carbon fiber hood and paint it, why not keep the original hood in the first place?

Carbon fiber was intended to bring the car's weight down, Einstein. It wasn't marketed as a "must have for car shows" item. If you want a nice looking, clean car, then painting doesn't sound too "dumb" afterall. If you want your car to look less than clean, then take a white or red or whatever car and put a CF trunk lid and hood on it. Unpainted. Go ahead and do it. All the Honda children are doing it. Later, QD.

[Zeeb]

Carbon fiber was intended to bring the car's weight down, Einstein. It wasn't marketed as a "must have for car shows" item. If you want a nice looking, clean car, then painting doesn't sound too "dumb" afterall. If you want your car to look less than clean, then take a white or red or whatever car and put a CF trunk lid and hood on it. Unpainted. Go ahead and do it. All the Honda children are doing it. Later, QD.

Duh. I know it was made for wieght reduction for racing, but Einstein, adding paint to the car also adds weight if you wanna be technical. For my for instance i have an s2000, my hood is about the same weight as a carbon fiber hood... so if i ever got one, i wouldnt paint it because i like the carbon look, and if i painted it i might as well keep my stock hood... thats what im saying.

[quickdodge®]

but Einstein,

Lolol @ stupidity.

thats what im saying.

I know what you tried to say. That you're involvement in this is to show the lemming-like attitude you take to modding cars. Later, QD.

[speedminded]

its personal styling, i like it and painting it is dumb, if you buy a carbon fiber hood and paint it, why not keep the original hood in the first place?

lolol *sigh* If you're too much of a pu$$y to paint carbon fiber then it was bought for the wrong reason in the first place

All cars lacking torque benefit greatly from lighter weight parts, particularly Honda/Acura's!

[darkstar6069]

^^ agreed. I only like carbon fiber hoods, trunks, and lips, and occasionally some CF interior, but nothing rediculous.

[Zeeb]

yea i only like hoods lips and some engine dress up... when u start doing doors and fenders, and roofs and shyt like that, unless its on an s2000 roof... then y have it unless ur racing.... on a track.

[speedminded]

yea i only like hoods lips and some engine dress up... when u start doing doors and fenders, and roofs and shyt like that, unless its on an s2000 roof... then y have it unless ur racing.... on a track.

What the fuck is carbon fiber going to do for you under your hood?!

Duh. I know it was made for wieght reduction for racing, but Einstein, adding paint to the car also adds weight if you wanna be technical. For my for instance i have an s2000, my hood is about the same weight as a carbon fiber hood... so if i ever got one, i wouldnt paint it because i like the carbon look, and if i painted it i might as well keep my stock hood... thats what im saying.

Because you have an aluminum hood, same as miata and Z32 300zx's....if you used a carbon fiber skin instead of the layered street version with the bulky supports underneath it would be considerably less weight than any stock aluminum hood.

[Thighs]

fcman is right on this one. what makes carbon fiber body panels any different than having off colored ones on your car? on a street car, the weight wont make a difference at all.

[SixSquared]

While we're on the subject, why do show car people dole out cash for 2 and 3 piece wheels? or high end race seats? Or turbo/supercharger setups? Why do people even paint their cars in the first place? Why is there any attention paid to auto styling at all? All cars should be function over form and should hang with ALMS cars.

Carbon fiber is there for the same reason the logo is on your shirt, or the team name on your hat. Does a $40 official NY Yankees hat offer anything that a plain jane $5 wal mart hat doesn't? Well.. they both have a brim, they both fit your head... not a lick of advantage to one over the other, but one expresses YOU better. You have a choice on how you spend your money. So people wanna spend it on carbon fiber pieces for a show car. So what? Let em. The widespread popularity of cf is what makes it readily available and keeps prices in check, so that those of you who actually want cf pieces for weight reduction can get a hood for less than $900. You can do that because the company doesn't have to do any kind of custom molding for your car, because 34 million other people bought them for their cars that will never see anything faster than a BP burnout.

[Random Hero]

While we're on the subject, why do show car people dole out cash for 2 and 3 piece wheels? or high end race seats? Or turbo/supercharger setups? Why do people even paint their cars in the first place? Why is there any attention paid to auto styling at all? All cars should be function over form and should hang with ALMS cars.

Carbon fiber is there for the same reason the logo is on your shirt, or the team name on your hat. Does a $40 official NY Yankees hat offer anything that a plain jane $5 wal mart hat doesn't? Well.. they both have a brim, they both fit your head... not a lick of advantage to one over the other, but one expresses YOU better. You have a choice on how you spend your money. So people wanna spend it on carbon fiber pieces for a show car. So what? Let em. The widespread popularity of cf is what makes it readily available and keeps prices in check, so that those of you who actually want cf pieces for weight reduction can get a hood for less than $900. You can do that because the company doesn't have to do any kind of custom molding for your car, because 34 million other people bought them for their cars that will never see anything faster than a BP burnout.

Nicely done!

[Thighs]

While we're on the subject, why do show car people dole out cash for 2 and 3 piece wheels? or high end race seats? Or turbo/supercharger setups? Why do people even paint their cars in the first place? Why is there any attention paid to auto styling at all? All cars should be function over form and should hang with ALMS cars.

Carbon fiber is there for the same reason the logo is on your shirt, or the team name on your hat. Does a $40 official NY Yankees hat offer anything that a plain jane $5 wal mart hat doesn't? Well.. they both have a brim, they both fit your head... not a lick of advantage to one over the other, but one expresses YOU better. You have a choice on how you spend your money. So people wanna spend it on carbon fiber pieces for a show car. So what? Let em. The widespread popularity of cf is what makes it readily available and keeps prices in check, so that those of you who actually want cf pieces for weight reduction can get a hood for less than $900. You can do that because the company doesn't have to do any kind of custom molding for your car, because 34 million other people bought them for their cars that will never see anything faster than a BP burnout.

this isnt about show cars, thats a whole different breed of dumbass. were talking about the people who do it for its "performance benefits". there is no performance benefits for a street car to have a cf anything.

[SixSquared]

this isnt about show cars, thats a whole different breed of dumbass. were talking about the people who do it for its "performance benefits". there is no performance benefits for a street car to have a cf anything.

Sure it has a benefit on a street car.

What's the benefit?

It's my ****ing car and I like the way it looks. When people try to justify it as a performance increase on a street car, I tend to but whatever makes them feel better. That's the problem with the auto world these days.. people can't accept that someone did a mod to their car simply because they like the way it looks. It's all "what's the performance upgrade in doing that?". So when people say there's no performance upgrade, they get called a ricer. When they try to justify something that was genuinely because they liked it by saying it has a tiny performance increase, they get called a ricer. I wish people would man up and say "screw you, I like the way it looks".

and your comment about show cars being another breed of dumbass makes me laugh...

Oh looka this guy... yep... just another show car dumbass...

[quickdodge®]

I disagree with each of your inputs. You're completely going too deep into it. So far deep that you don't even know what the thread is actually about. You obviously have CF parts on your car and therefore you're going to defend CF tooth and nail.

Sure it has a benefit on a street car.

What's the benefit?

It's my ****ing car and I like the way it looks.

"It's my ****ing car and I like the way it looks" is NOT a performance benefit. I do agree that there is a dumbass in this thread. But it's not the OP. Later, QD.

[SixSquared]

I disagree with each of your inputs. You're completely going too deep into it. So far deep that you don't even know what the thread is actually about. You obviously have CF parts on your car and therefore you're going to defend CF tooth and nail.



"It's my ****ing car and I like the way it looks" is NOT a performance benefit. I do agree that there is a dumbass in this thread. But it's not the OP. Later, QD.

You would disagree with me just for the sake of disagreement, Mike.

And yeah, there is carbon fiber on my car... pretty good amount as a matter of fact. Do I walk around saying I did it for a performance upgrade? Nope. If I get that .1 off my lap time, yippee. Great. Why do I like cf? I like the way it looks.. a lot... and as far as working with it in non-automotive applications, it has a LOT of potential and a wide variety of uses, which from an industrial design standpoint, makes it a fascinating material.

[carbongs]

Sure it has a benefit on a street car.

What's the benefit?

It's my ****ing car and I like the way it looks. I wish people would man up and say "screw you, I like the way it looks".

my point exactly! it's not like i am racing my near 4000 lb car anytime soon!

btw, beatiful car you have posted!

[Thighs]

Sure it has a benefit on a street car.

What's the benefit?

It's my ****ing car and I like the way it looks. When people try to justify it as a performance increase on a street car, I tend to but whatever makes them feel better. That's the problem with the auto world these days.. people can't accept that someone did a mod to their car simply because they like the way it looks. It's all "what's the performance upgrade in doing that?". So when people say there's no performance upgrade, they get called a ricer. When they try to justify something that was genuinely because they liked it by saying it has a tiny performance increase, they get called a ricer. I wish people would man up and say "screw you, I like the way it looks".

do you not know how to read? were not talking about the people who do it for looks. were talking about the retards who buy a cf hood and think that there is a real performance benefit from saving 20 lbs on their DD.

good for you if you do it for looks. i honestly dont think it looks bad.

[Dietcoke]

A real carbon fiber hood is going to cost upwards of $5000. $10000 if its a huge hood like my car. (made by a quailty company IE: seibon) The wet laid bull**** with a glass frame makes me cry and or/laugh at ricers and wannabes that think $450 on ebay is going to buy them a product thats worth half of a ****. Buy a complete fiberglass hood that weighs the same for a lot less money. What a gimmick.

[SixSquared]

A real carbon fiber hood is going to cost upwards of $5000. $10000 if its a huge hood like my car. (made by a quailty company IE: seibon) The wet laid bull**** with a glass frame makes me cry and or/laugh at ricers and wannabes that think $450 on ebay is going to buy them a product thats worth half of a ****. Buy a complete fiberglass hood that weighs the same for a lot less money. What a gimmick.

Show me a $5000 seibon hood... would love to see it.

[speedminded]

A real carbon fiber hood is going to cost upwards of $5000. $10000 if its a huge hood like my car. (made by a quailty company IE: seibon) The wet laid bull**** with a glass frame makes me cry and or/laugh at ricers and wannabes that think $450 on ebay is going to buy them a product thats worth half of a ****. Buy a complete fiberglass hood that weighs the same for a lot less money. What a gimmick.

A real ONE OFF made in 5 days carbon fiber hood can cost that much or more. A mold has to be created first, the carbon fiber laid and vacuumed bagged, test fit, etc. etc...the companies that make hundreds per year using the same mold and already have the marketing & distributors can produce and sell them for considerably less.

[carbongs]

o geeze, no comment. i do it for the looks. i am fascinated by the material and the process of usiung it. makes it look classy and sporty all at once - depending on the application of course.

mercedes uses it



infinity uses it



bmw uses it



and in the end it is all preference. you can dislike it all you want but that doesn't mean nobody else can like it.

[Thighs]

o geeze, no comment. i do it for the looks. i am fascinated by the material and the process of usiung it. makes it look classy and sporty all at once - depending on the application of course.

do you know how to use it?

[carbongs]

do you know how to use it?

i know how to manipulate the actual carbon fiber sheets to make and wrap items

[quickdodge®]

makes it look classy and sporty all at once

I don't think it makes it look classy. Sporty? Yes. Later, QD.

[Zeeb]

siebon hoods arent 5000$, lmao if u buy a carbon fiber hood for that price ur retard, dry carbon hoods go for about 2 grand for my s2000, but normal carbon fiber hoods are like 650 plus shipping.... from seibon

[KidSaru]

Haha, good thread...I especially like when they go gungho and do the carbon hood/trunk/doors...EVERYTHING and have a sound system, sound dampening for it...Full interior for that matter.

[Zeeb]

yea people are hard headed andneed to get a life, if u do it for performance cause u track ur car good for you, if you paint it good for you, if you buy it cause u like the way it looks good for you, who the **** cares, do you have anything else to do other than arguing about carbon fiber products? jeez, end of discussion.

[quickdodge®]

end of discussion.

I don't see anywhere that states that you can end any discussion. You think that just because YOU say so that it will be so? Later, QD.

[Thighs]

dry carbon? lolol theres no such thing. carbon is carbon. the expensive hood you saw is actually made of CF, the cheap one is fiberglass frame with 1-2 CF top layers.

[The BUCKY]

dry carbon? lolol theres no such thing. carbon is carbon. the expensive hood you saw is actually made of CF, the cheap one is fiberglass frame with 1-2 CF top layers.

actually there is such a thing.

[Thighs]

actually there is such a thing.

well if your talking about wet lay v.s. prepreg, yeah i guess you could call it wet/dry.

[KidSaru]

dry carbon? lolol theres no such thing. carbon is carbon. the expensive hood you saw is actually made of CF, the cheap one is fiberglass frame with 1-2 CF top layers.

Yes there is. Dry carbon is prepreg, "wet" is laid on by layer.