I know...It's ultimately up to me cuz it's my money and that this subject has been beaten to death. Neverless, I just want some of your opinions.

Normally, I am not big on CF hoods...especially we have a light alum. one already. But, yesterday while driving down hwy 880, (one of the dirtiest hwy in Northern Cali), a decent sized rock, out of nowhere hit my hood and exploded right in front of my windshield. Damage is not bad...the hood is minorly dented for but left a giant paint chip on my otherwise perfect hood. My S is black btw, which only adds to the annoyance.

So in my research, I've found that it would cost in the neighborhood of 4-500 dollars for a reputable body shop to sand and repaint my hood...I started to think about a CF one as replacement. I don't really like the vents and would probably opt for the $600 variations from Fiber Image. (just a direct replica of the stock hood.) Since my car is black, I thought that the CF would blend in nicely. The real plus is that I would never have to worry about another rock hitting it.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Just curious...I am currently on the fence to do either or... Does anyone have nice pics of a black S with a CF hood?

Thanks.

 

go for it. If it makes you happy.

 

I just ran into the same problem w/ my black Civic. $150 for an OEM hood for $250 for a CF. I went w/ the CF and I really like how subtle it looks on a black car.

Ryan

 

Can you paint a CF hood BTW?

 

Yes, you can paint a CF hood. I think raw CF on black looks fine, and I don't think I'd ever go raw CF on other colours. I appreciate the look, just not on my car.

If I go with a J's hood, I'll probably paint the top, leave the underside raw CF.

 

Can anyone confirm my assumptions tho...if a small rock hits the CF hood - nothing will happen right. Will it actually chip? (That's really the reason why it would make sense for me to go CF in the first place. I can potentially repaint the hood or the CF one for that matter, but I will be still be exposed to paint chips.)

I've tried searching for a black S with CF hood, but was unable to find any...I've seen it on a WRX before and it looks great. Not too rice.

 

It could scratch the resin top coat of the hood, but the resin I would assume to be much tougher than the original hood and paint.

 

Shoot, if its gonna cost you $400-500 to repair it, go for the CF hood!

 

The Fiber Images hoods are really well made. My friend has one and we take turns jumping up and down on it. It's not the lighest hood I've seen but by far the strongest (I haven't seen the Mugen hood in person yet). I just dont really like the logo they stamp on the hood between the windshield nozzles.

 

Here's the mugen hood. The color is more gray than black.