midna

iTrader: (1)

Disclaimer: I'm a noob and I'm trying to learn.

I'm trying to weight the pros and cons of a new cf hood vs a hood repaint (chrome silver 2005 base).

Due to some great stupidity on my part, I burned through the paint on my hood . Anyways, no use crying over spilled milk so I was set on getting it repainted. However, I started looking at cf hoods and I really like the look of the seibon cf vt and ts hoods. Hood repaint will cost $470 after blending into fenders (and some fender repainting too) vs the $6-700 for the cf hood.

My question is, if I care for the cf like I car for the rest of my car (wash, pre-polish bonding, polish, wax) will it still start to yellow and oxidize? The Z is my daily driver so it's out in the elements rain or shine (garage at night).

I did some searching and found that some people clear coat the hood themselves? I'm terrible at painting, and now I'm very scared of sanding/buffing paint heavily at all so that's not really a good option.

Any other considerations with a cf hood? I've never dealt with cf before so I'm trying to learn. One of my friends said it is a bad idea since cf will crack and is very weak.

If the maintenance is going to be too high I don't really wan to deal with it since oem still looks good with the aerosync n-style I'll be ordering tomorrow.

Hexxus

iTrader: (22)

It depends on the brand if it will yellow and oxidize. Some do it faster than others. Some don't fit worth a damn, some fit like OEM.

TheFarmer

iTrader: (19)

Repaint OEM.

midna

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the fast replies!

Any idea on seibon hoods? From what some people have had issues and others think they fit perfect. I saw a more recent thread about a guy who says his hood is yellowing faster than the other cf on his car, but I don't know if that's a one off problem or if all seibon hoods are that way.

Just personal preference or....?

Hexxus

iTrader: (22)

I have a Seibon hood with perfect fitment that's two years old and it isn't yellowing.

midna

iTrader: (1)

And you get probably a similar amount of sun based on your location. Within 2 years I'll probably get it painted to match the car anyways .

Thanks for the info!

Hexxus

iTrader: (22)

I'm actually having mine painted this month. I don't want to look at the carbon fiber anymore.

Brian@VeilSide

iTrader: (3)

If you are looking into Seibon "VT" hood, I'll suggest you try the REAL thing and just go with the VeilSide Version 3 hood. Instead of having the knockoff, you can have the original design at a very competitive price. PM me if you want to go with the carbon hood, I'll help you out.

revvenue

Curious as to how you burnt through the hood?

I'm trying to weigh the pros/cons of the same question man... I hit a deer recently, luckily didn't come to my windshield (had just waxed lol... slid right off) but messed up my hood nicely.

Also, I'm considering "silver" carbon fiber. Check it out... There are a few out there search for "Titanium Carbon Fiber". It might look better on a silver Z unless you're doing the NISMO skirt kit/lip in carbon fiber as well. Just an option if you hadn't thought about it yet...

terrasmak

iTrader: (8)

Even if you get a CF hood it will still need paint so you car doesnt look like the typical 2 tone ricer civic.

midna

iTrader: (1)

Very nice , that'll look clean. have you had the painting quoted yet? I'm curious as to if there is anything special in the painting process that might increase the price. Just curious since this won't affect me for quite a while.

PM'd

Glad to hear you're alright! Yet another reason to wax, safety!

I was attempting to touch up a rock ding. The whole process was smooth until I tried to buff the touch up paint and surrounding area to look seamless. Apparently my hood paint was super thin already. I buffed with a foam pad and some "medium" buffing solution by hand. After a few rubs, right around the touchup paint it wasn't silver anymore and I could see the primer. Looks like a bird took a crap on my car all the time now since the primer is whitish.

I'm getting the aerosync n-style bumper. I'm getting it painted to match the car too, so I don't need to worry about matching cf anywhere. I personally would rather paint the cf hood to match since I don't care for the cf look, just the style of the hood. Budgets being what they are, I can't have both the cf hood AND it painted.

midna

iTrader: (1)

Paint would have to wait for a while unfortunately. My end goal is to have it painted of course, but the economy blows lately.

maXmood

iTrader: (16)

Hexxus, you gotta tell me who's that in ur avatar.

OP, go with CF hood.. looks better than OEM.

Highway Riding

iTrader: (6)

Repaint OEM....

JRUBIO350

[QUOTE=maXmood;8465940]Hexxus, you gotta tell me who's that in ur avatar.

ive been asking the same question

Entaille

iTrader: (16)

my OEM hood has some imperfections that would require a respray. I went with a seibon TS hood - my plan is to rock it while it looks good, and paint match it once it yellows. I've seen some seibon hoods that start to look like complete garbage after a couple of years.

teh215

iTrader: (8)

My Seibon hood turned yellow after about a year and a half so I took it off.

Entaille

iTrader: (16)

if you want to keep a cf hood looking good you should get it recleared with a good quality clearcoat within the first year of ownership. I haven't heard of many staying clean for long. they are sprayed with a shitty clear and the UV rays just eat it alive

Slyde77

[QUOTE=JRUBIO350;8466644]
Veronica Gomez / Veronica Von Horror

midna

iTrader: (1)

Wow thanks for all the help! I'm very nervous about the seibon hood. Even in this thread there are mixed opinions on the quality.