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From: Louisville Ky NCM Lifetime Member 429 (Member Since 1993)
St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '16
[Who says you have to pay $10-$12k? GM isnt the only seller of carbon fiber parts (and their splitter and side skirts are certainly just so-so). I paid less for my real carbon splitter. side skirts and rear lower bumper than you guys that purchased painted CARBON FLASH splitter and side skirts. And the quality of mine is second to none. All purchaded through wrspon x motorsports.
and if you think it looks ricy, i guesd you think the c7r race teams are ricy to. But each to their own. I will gladly be accused of being ricy in exchange for all the c9mpliments i get on it.
QUOTE=Kevin A Jones;1595602825]They are two totally different design elements so probably neither absurd.
I've just never understood the attraction to carbon fiber, especially to the point that some will pay $10,000>$12000 adding it.
But then, I don't have to understand it as to each his/her own.[/QUOTE]
Love the look of carbon fiber, fake stuff not so much. I thought I have read that there was a pause on the roofs because the process to get the weave right was complicated and they were just painting them instead. Don't understand putting a CF piece on top of a CF part. Also have seen interior parts tinted different colors in the clear.... Looks awesome IMO
From: SF Bay Area, Peoples' Republik of California
Well, this finally made it to the front page of the forum, so I'll throw in my $0.02's worth. I think the carbon fiber look is just a trend, and at some point in the future (if not already) will look very, very dated. In the future, some might think of it as quaint or like it because it's period correct.
It's all a matter of taste, so if people want to pay more for it now, or in the future when they're buying a used Vette, more power to them. I just don't think the look will stand the test of time from an aesthetic standpoint.
The CF inlays look very nice but they cost quite a bit more and also can have issues. When we were looking at used Z06s we saw issues with the CF inlays delaminating as well as clear coat issues. If the CF inlays are damaged you can't just bring it in to the body shop to get re-sprayed either.
From: Louisville Ky NCM Lifetime Member 429 (Member Since 1993)
St. Jude Donor '12-'13, '16
Originally Posted by Z06 1of38
Why would you pay $5 more than the option actually costs? That's absurd!
I am calling out your statement as total b's. You must: a) can't afford the car itself and don't have one or b) you bought a stripped a 1lt base car (not a z06) because the z06 is an "option" you are paying way more than $5 over cost.
And if you believe what you say, then obviously have no aftermarket wheels, tires, accessories.
I love the CF hood insert myself. The weave matches the visible CF on the roof panel nicely. They actually cut out the hood and insert a new piece of CF in the middle. It's not just an exposed piece of the original hood. The CF they use on the painted hood is not a beautiful weave that would look good exposed.
In addition to the work to make the exposed carbon fiber "pretty" the cost of the exposed carbon fiber is also due to the clear coat GM uses. They developed some crazy expensive resin that they add to the clear coat for exposed carbon fiber to keep it from yellowing with the UV.
That said, there is probably some Corvette tax going on. Think the 5th and 6th gen Camaro exposed carbon inserts were both about a $600 option.
I am calling out your statement as total b's. You must: a) can't afford the car itself and don't have one or b) you bought a stripped a 1lt base car (not a z06) because the z06 is an "option" you are paying way more than $5 over cost.
And if you believe what you say, then obviously have no aftermarket wheels, tires, accessories.
Settle down Francis....it was a jab at the original statement. Sticker price shows $1995, OP said $2000. My above average math skills is what led me to the $5 differential.
Don't concern yourself with what I can or can't afford...the garage where all my sports cars are kept is worth more than your.....ah forget it.
Originally Posted by Chris Edwards
What exactly is this? A sticker? A different hood? A lighter hood? I found a local car with this apparently absurd $2000 option
They are expensive!!
My 2015 Camaro ZL1 has the exposed carbon fiber hood insert and that was a $5000.00 option!!
Huh? It was a $600 option on a 5th Gen Zl1. That said, replacement cost was very expensive, list price at a dealer was about $4500, with even the discount dealers still getting over $3k for it.
I think people don't realize what typical unfinished carbon fiber looks like, and how many pieces have blemishes that can't be used as exposed pieces. As a sports car fan, lots of manufacturers test their cars without paint, so we get to see it a lot. It can be underwhelming. Gives new appreciation to the finishes you get from GM and the aftermarket manufacturers.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Originally Posted by RACE U
I am calling out your statement as total b's. You must: a) can't afford the car itself and don't have one or b) you bought a stripped a 1lt base car (not a z06) because the z06 is an "option" you are paying way more than $5 over cost.
And if you believe what you say, then obviously have no aftermarket wheels, tires, accessories.
I'd wager there are more bone stock C7's out there than not. Some people simply buy them and drive them.
Well, this finally made it to the front page of the forum, so I'll throw in my $0.02's worth. I think the carbon fiber look is just a trend, and at some point in the future (if not already) will look very, very dated. In the future, some might think of it as quaint or like it because it's period correct.
It's all a matter of taste, so if people want to pay more for it now, or in the future when they're buying a used Vette, more power to them. I just don't think the look will stand the test of time from an aesthetic standpoint.
I agree with the above statement. I try to avoid items/colors/finishes that get too specific/trendy as they do look dated sooner than later. IMO too much CF makes a car look Ricey. Expensive mod that is going to look passe' very soon.
Okay - a quick history of carbon fiber applications on Corvette and a little more explanation of the B92 (exposed carbon fiber hood) option.
Carbon fiber by itself can be made into composite materials (and then, parts) via different methods. Most people associate CF with a weave appearance. But CF can also be chopped and compounded into injection molding materials, can be chopped and used as a reinforcement in sheet molding compounds (SMC), can be made into formable sheets by making it into unidirectional tape . . . amongst other material forms.
There are also multiple conversion techniques. GM's CF has usually been pre-preg. That is, the CF, whether as a fabric or tape, is pre-impregnated with resin (usually epoxy) and then formed (heat and pressure). One could use vacuum-infusion for example, whereby a CF fabric or cloth is placed in a mold, and then resin is introduced into the mold. This is sometimes used by aftermarket manufacturers (lower tooling cost and significantly less capital equipment cost). There is also wet lay-up, where the CF fabric or cloth is placed into a mold, and then resin is applied.
When GM first used carbon fiber on the Corvette, it was the Z16 Commemorative Package for the Z06. The outer hood is made from unidirectional tape CF, and carbon SMC is used in selected areas in the inner panel. An industry article can be found through this link: https://www.compositesworld.com/arti...bon-fiber-hood
From: SF Bay Area, Peoples' Republik of California
Originally Posted by spireland
This kind of option blows my mind. Just as nuts as the exposed CF roof.
Its a CF hood. So then, for 2k, I can see the CF.....
What's important, the fact that it's CF or that you can show it off?
Actually having the CF as a component matters for all the obvious reasons. Does anybody know if the resin used to make the CF weave visible is heavier than the material used to cover it when it's not visible?
If it is heavier, then making the CF weave visible not only serves no useful function, it defeats one of the main reasons for having CF in the first place.
Form should be less important than function, which is my opinion. But I would think it's common sense that it should definitely never interfere with function. But, as always, just my $0.02.
