Carbon Fiber - Is it worth it?

[JiroZero713]

Hello gents. My new Release Series 1.0 is a very fun car to drive but as I drive it I look and wish I had some type of modification to it.

I know some people will cry foul to mod this vehicle since it's a Release series but I bought this car to drive and to keep so I want to do improve it.



Now yes I know people tell me forced induction is one of the first mods I should do but I don't feel like violating my warranty while stationed in Hawaii. So instead I'm going to go for exterior modifications and will be saving up for a Hood, Trunk and any other suggestions people might have for my vehicle.


Also I'm curious about paint. Hawaii has notorious Sun-Damage and I'm not an expert on anything cars....in fact this is the first car I will ever mod. So I'm going with the idea that I might get a carbon fiber hood to start out with but I'm guessing I should paint it.



Maybe you gents can help me out or let me know to wait til I'm stationed somewhere else.

[s2d4]

What are you hoping to achieve?
RICE?
Function?

[Jesse36m3]

Carbon fiber goodies usually don't go well by themselves. They typically look better with aggressive builds and other substantial modifications. It would look pretty goofy with a stock 86, or any car for that matter to have a cf hood or trunk by itself. If they were installed together with other things such as a lip kit, suspension/wheels, you can balance it out very well and achieve that desired look.


This is only my opinion and you are entitled to your own. I'm not going to tell you what you should or shouldn't buy.


I had an e46 zhp before this car .. had cf hood/lip in the front. trunk lip in the rear. coilovers, wheels, headlights, tail lights, you name it. Everything worked well with each other. The paint was a very dark metallic gray, so you couldn't even tell any of the parts were cf from afar unless the lighting was right.

[Joakim3]

Like sD24 said

Are you going for looks or for function?

If its the former, thats always going to be 100% subjective to you personal taste, if it's going to be for function that is an entirely different ball game.

[8R6]

other than cars that competitively race on a track, carbon fiber stuff is for looks. that said, i love my cf front lip and rear lip hahah.

[Covo_86]

I like the look of a carbon fiber lip kit and spoiler. Otherwise I've never liked carbon fiber hoods or trunks. That's just my opinion though.

[woode]

I seem to remember the CF hoods actually weighing more than our OEM hoods? And the trunks were <.5 lbs difference.

Whatever you do, please don't put carbon fiber vinyl wrap on the car.. Santa kills a baby elf every time a ricer wraps a car part in carbon fiber vinyl.

[continuecrushing]

if you want cf parts, go for it.

CF generally doesn't do great if its constantly exposed to sun, however. You could always paint it down the road if it becomes a problem.

[Flasher]

Originally Posted by woode

Santa kills a baby elf every time a ricer wraps a car part in carbon fiber vinyl.

That mmd !

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by woode

I seem to remember the CF hoods actually weighing more than our OEM hoods? And the trunks were <.5 lbs difference.

Whatever you do, please don't put carbon fiber vinyl wrap on the car.. Santa kills a baby elf every time a ricer wraps a car part in carbon fiber vinyl.

Meh. IMO it beats spending $500 for a hood that doesn't fit as well, won't last as long and is marginally lighter than stock at best. If you're going for performance a carbon fiber hood is just about the worst bang for your buck possible. If you're going for looks, I don't know - I think CF is ugly anyway.

[JiroZero713]

Performance is what I'm looking at. Three years down the road once my warranty is up or close to going up I will be going for forced induction and suping up the car for performance....or I might just get the engine entirely rebuilt.

Having a lighter car is my main focus.

[midnight23]

Originally Posted by JiroZero713

Performance is what I'm looking at. Three years down the road once my warranty is up or close to going up I will be going for forced induction and suping up the car for performance....or I might just get the engine entirely rebuilt.

Having a lighter car is my main focus.

gut the car first before resorting to carbon fiber.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42284
read that members journal for easy and fast weight reduction.

[JiroZero713]

I do not want to completely strip it. This still will be a daily driver. Weight reduction by changing out the hood and the trunk and such should not effect my warranty that much.

[mitch t]

Originally Posted by JiroZero713

I do not want to completely strip it. This still will be a daily driver. Weight reduction by changing out the hood and the trunk and such should not effect my warranty that much.

I am running a carbon hood and deck, from Siebon, and while I am extremely happy with the fit and finish, they are not a significant weight reduction. If pure performance without trashing the warranty are your priority, I would go with light and grippy wheels and tires, intake and a cat back, and then bushings, then a good sway bar kit, and last, a set of name brand (Eibach or RSR coil overs.)

If you are looking for a great first mod, without spending a ton of money, get an AEM or K&N intake kit. Reasonable $$$, and can be installed by someone without a ton of experience.

Just my $0.02.