Bare carbon on coloured cars

[lemmingjames]

Cant figure out how to do a poll via a tab so....

Bare carbon on a road car where it stands out, yes or no?

Part of ne thinks yes and part think its so last year

[fioran0]

I think details can be ok if left bare. Not so keen on large chunks but its very much an aesthetic question so nothing but the wind blowing to guide that one.

My door mirror housings and wing end plates are bare CF. Everything else CF is painted body colour (and thats almost every panel that can be removed by bolting it on). I ran the bonnet bare for a short period while waiting on getting painting done. Haven't once regretted getting it covered up.

One slightly of topic thought since I am expressing an opinion. I don't much care for glossy CF (i.e. with clear coat over it) when its on the exterior. I much prefer actual bare CF.

[Trev450]

In small amounts and against a contrasting colour and I think it looks good. As above though, not in large areas.

[lemmingjames]

Did the bare carbon get damaged in anyway when you was running it? Is it easily repairable?

[hondansx]

Well, it will be lacquered so no different from normal paint in that respect. Needs care to keep it look tip top though - i know the carbon roofs on M3s can look a bit yellow after time.

[Richie200]

I have just fitted a carbon roof on mine, my initial intention was paint it but having fitted it, I feel it looks much better left exposed; this may help make your mind up one way or the other:

[fioran0]

I don't want to be the safety police but that made me wince seeing the carbon roof without a cage cross brace up on the roof there underneath it.

Having had carbon roofs on one of my cups, and seeing them blow to pieces in shunts on a few cars it would make me uncomfortable using one on a car where there was nothing to stop it becoming an instant convertible with your head dangling out.

My project 996 Cup car no longer has a full cage in it, and as a result didn't use a carbon roof despite it being an obvious option.

Edited by fioran0 on Saturday 5th December 12:37

[fioran0]

hondansx said:

Well, it will be lacquered so no different from normal paint in that respect. Needs care to keep it look tip top though - i know the carbon roofs on M3s can look a bit yellow after time.

The carbon on my car doesn't have a clear coat. Its as it came out the moulds. Whether the surface finish is something that people would on their cars though is open to question.
Ferrari etc manage to do a very nice carbon on their cars that has no clear coat. It looks incredible though and obviously stands up to close scrutiny on road cars in terms of general aesthetic quality of the surface.

[lemmingjames]

Carbon on the roof is ok as its not to in-your-face, im talking about bonnet and spoiler/spoiler boot lid