What am I missing with carbon fiber?
12-07-2016, 02:25 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
What am I missing with carbon fiber?
I see CF for everything - skirts, plenum covers, consoles, you name it but wondering why so popular? It's not anymore aesthetically pleasing to me so is there some other reason everyone is going with it? 4 weeks into being a corvette owner so likely many more dumb questions to come. Thank you in advance for your patience.
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12-07-2016, 02:30 PM
#2
CF is popular with racers because it is light and strong. CF is popular with Corvette owners because they want to look like racers. Most of the CF stuff you see is just for cosmetics.
12-07-2016, 02:43 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '15
I'm with you. I like it, but if I were going to do the cf look, I would want to switch most of it out which is absurdly expensive.
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12-07-2016, 02:52 PM
#6
Race Director
It's interesting to me how a material that was originally developed for its low weight and high strength has morphed into something that people are willing to spend serious money for strictly cosmetic reasons.
12-07-2016, 02:53 PM
#7
Instructor
My wonderment regarding carbon fiber only relates to what the heck! It's been around for 30 years or more so is it really still so much more expensive as it used to be or is it just style?
Light and strong is good so therefore it serves a purpose. As for me personally it just looks unfinished when left clear coated and not painted. I made my peace with exposed lug nuts a long time ago...
Light and strong is good so therefore it serves a purpose. As for me personally it just looks unfinished when left clear coated and not painted. I made my peace with exposed lug nuts a long time ago...
Last edited by geraldschumann; 12-07-2016 at 02:55 PM.
12-07-2016, 03:00 PM
#8
Team Owner
Some people like the look and like to talk about the carbon fiber this and that on their car. Not a must have for me, maybe the next fad will be.
12-07-2016, 03:49 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
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I personally don't like the looks. If I did like the looks, and not being a racer, I would have to have enough carbon fiber parts to significantly decrease my weight. Too expensive. But again, I can understand those that dig it.
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12-07-2016, 04:13 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
yeah, it is 
and I am one of those that have spent thousand on this stuff. I think it is just a a "style" thing. You know, these styles things that come and go. Just this one is the most ridiculous cost wise - unless you go with that gold plated stuff!
After all, we all would like to have an Aventador Lamborghini - or something made of that same exotic stuff.
Back to reality - I think it started when GM actually started making the C7 bonnet and roof in CF. Great thing for weight savings and structural rigidity as these were structural items. GM painted them because they were made as cheap as possible so not cosmetically appealing, unless you wanted to pay a premium. And that I think is what gave (some) of us this very expensive disease.
and I am one of those that have spent thousand on this stuff. I think it is just a a "style" thing. You know, these styles things that come and go. Just this one is the most ridiculous cost wise - unless you go with that gold plated stuff! After all, we all would like to have an Aventador Lamborghini - or something made of that same exotic stuff.
Back to reality - I think it started when GM actually started making the C7 bonnet and roof in CF. Great thing for weight savings and structural rigidity as these were structural items. GM painted them because they were made as cheap as possible so not cosmetically appealing, unless you wanted to pay a premium. And that I think is what gave (some) of us this very expensive disease.
Last edited by Flame Red; 12-07-2016 at 04:14 PM.
12-07-2016, 04:15 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
If I were building a replacement for the Space Shuttle CF would be high on my list. For my Corvette that is driven on the street, I'll pass. The same goes for black wheels and all the black trim. IMHO, it's a fad. But, that said, it's America and at least for now we are free to buy what we want.
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12-07-2016, 04:21 PM
#14
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CORVETTE TODAY Host
St. Jude Donor'15
Bobby, I love the stuff....carbon fiber looks great and classy. It's the way most of the automotive industry is going now.
But, as all the guys have said, it's very expensive. You have to be careful too. A lot of pieces for Corvette are overlays on top of the OEM pieces. Carbon Fiber is 40% lighter and 60% stronger than other materials cars are made of. If it's pure carbon fiber, it isn't going to be cheap.....
But, as all the guys have said, it's very expensive. You have to be careful too. A lot of pieces for Corvette are overlays on top of the OEM pieces. Carbon Fiber is 40% lighter and 60% stronger than other materials cars are made of. If it's pure carbon fiber, it isn't going to be cheap.....
12-07-2016, 04:25 PM
#15
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I see CF for everything - skirts, plenum covers, consoles, you name it but wondering why so popular? It's not anymore aesthetically pleasing to me so is there some other reason everyone is going with it? 4 weeks into being a corvette owner so likely many more dumb questions to come. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Really only for the looks, Plus to maybe have something diff than the next c7 in the parking lot are car show.
Robert
12-07-2016, 04:58 PM
#16
Drifting
Carbon fiber is great ! and to be used where it makes sense to do so. The exposed carbon fiber look is just that, a look that you want to express... personally i do kinda like the look, but all that exposed CF is way too expensive, just for the "look" same can be achieved with the painted over CF.
12-07-2016, 05:49 PM
#18
Corvette does not use enough CF for significant weight savings. Ideally, you'd do a monocoque chassis where everything is CF and you don't have separate frame and a non load-carrying body.
Boeing did an engineering study on what the benefit would be of doing a composite body B777. They calculated about a 100,000 pound weight saving on a 600,000-700,000 pound airplane.
If GM could achieve a similar percent reduction, a Z06 might be around 3,000 pounds.
Boeing did an engineering study on what the benefit would be of doing a composite body B777. They calculated about a 100,000 pound weight saving on a 600,000-700,000 pound airplane.
If GM could achieve a similar percent reduction, a Z06 might be around 3,000 pounds.
12-07-2016, 05:54 PM
#19
I think the CF hood on the C5Z saved about 20 lbs, not a lot but little chit adds up. Prices will gradually go down.
12-07-2016, 06:04 PM
#20
Team Owner
