Why all the black bonnets?
Why all the black bonnets?
Author
Discussion

AJI

Original Poster:

5,180 posts

240 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
I know carbon fibre is lighter..... and carbon fibre is used in motorsport a lot.

BUT why do soo many people paint their bonnets black.... adding the weight of paint and making their car look as if it has been in a front end collision ?
A different coloured bonnet only makes it look as if the owner has not been able to source a correct colour match.

And those that do fit carbon fibre everything.... how much weight do you actually save ??
In terms of a bonnet I am guessing about less than a killogram.....wow ...soo much money spent on a weight saving of less than a kg.


For competition cars then money basically wins....assuming drivers are on the same level.... so more money and lighter car... i guess you can justify the expense.
But all these cars on the roads today that simply have carbon fibre everything and matt black paint over everything is just plain SAD !


sparkyhx

4,200 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
a 200sx bonnet weighs 22.5 kg and a carbon one about 7kg, so there is decent weight saving to be had.

I suppose people who paint them black either like it or want people to think they have a carbon bonnet. I'm not one, so can't be sure of their motivation.

Wadeski

8,854 posts

236 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
As sparky said, a carbon bonnet is a decent weightsaving and its one of the easiest panels to get rid of, once you have stripped the interior etc.

As such, its a good thing for racers, and wanna-be racers.

So bearing in mind how styling in performance modding circles is lead by racing, it is fairly obvious that styling your car like the pros would be popular. And as with any fashion there is the cheap imitation: if they cant afford carbon, then people use paint.

GBRM

954 posts

251 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
For rallying/racing matt black is good as it stops the sun reflecting off the bonnet into your eyes.

Munter

31,330 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
Why use paint when you can stick carbon fiber on: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2tLF5mP0T88&feat...

filski666

3,865 posts

215 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
my whole car is black so it must be REALLY cool! biggrin

White-Noise

5,500 posts

271 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
My shed car has a blackboard paint bonnet biggrin

Mr E

22,718 posts

282 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
The carbon bonnet for the Four isn't actually that much lighter than stock.

IainT

10,040 posts

261 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
Stock rx-7 bonnet is very light - aluminium - my cf replacement is a few kilos lighter as it's grp frame with carbon skin.

Fortunately I bought it for the improved ventilation so I'm not a chav wink

GBRM

954 posts

251 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
GBRM said:
For rallying/racing matt black is good as it stops the sun reflecting off the bonnet into your eyes.
Which would be why most of these chav tat bonnets are heavily lacquered...
What's a chav and are they allowed licesnses to drive?

Munter

31,330 posts

264 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
IainT said:
Stock rx-7 bonnet is very light - aluminium - my cf replacement is a few kilos lighter as it's grp frame with carbon skin.

Fortunately I bought it for the improved ventilation so I'm not a chav wink
Same with the MX5. Aluminium bonnet as standard so and CF ones only have a marginal weight saving.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

221 months

Thursday 11th September 2008
quotequote all
MR2 has a bonnet made ot of lead, at least if feels that way lifting it, carbon ones are 5kg, GRP carbon skinned 7kg decent weight saving.

Riknos

4,701 posts

227 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Mr E said:
The carbon bonnet for the Four isn't actually that much lighter than stock.
Yup, good old Mr T decided to give the Four an Alu' bonnet, which is very thin and light, so forking out for a carbon fibre bonnet on a '4 would probably yield 1kg saving tops I'd imagine!

bob the viking

35 posts

212 months

Monday 15th September 2008
quotequote all
My MGB GT has an alloy bonnet, sorry just wanted to join in!

cocopop

1,300 posts

228 months

Monday 15th September 2008
quotequote all
Is this an anti-black car thread or anti-CF thread?

CF is just sooooo ghey!

  • quietly pushes new CF covered dash panels under the table* whistle

AJI

Original Poster:

5,180 posts

240 months

Monday 15th September 2008
quotequote all
haha

It was more anti pointless painting of bonnets to black and also anti usage of CF when there is little or no weight saving.
And generally anti CF and black paint in general, when the car is not a competition car.


IMO people should be individual ... and not be a sheep that follows everyone else.

liner33

10,861 posts

225 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
AJI said:
IMO people should be individual ... and not be a sheep that follows everyone else.
exactly , people can do whatever the hell they like with their cars imo.

I'm thinking about fitting a carbon bonnet to my Skyline more for the cooling aspect as underbonnet temps are an issue , the weight saving would be nice , but the often crap finish and fit puts me off.

IainT

10,040 posts

261 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
liner33 said:
AJI said:
IMO people should be individual ... and not be a sheep that follows everyone else.
exactly , people can do whatever the hell they like with their cars imo.

I'm thinking about fitting a carbon bonnet to my Skyline more for the cooling aspect as underbonnet temps are an issue , the weight saving would be nice , but the often crap finish and fit puts me off.
The adage of 'you get what you pay for' holds true unfortunately. This finish on my Seibon bonnet is great but I've seen some shockers in the past!

liner33

10,861 posts

225 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
I've yet to see a Skyline carbon bonnet i would be happy with , even the Top secret ones can be inconsistant

sadako

7,080 posts

261 months

Thursday 18th September 2008
quotequote all
Herman Toothrot said:
MR2 has a bonnet made ot of lead, at least if feels that way lifting it, carbon ones are 5kg, GRP carbon skinned 7kg decent weight saving.
Weight saving at the front end doesn't exactly help with understeer issues though on a '2