Convince me to NOT buy a carbon fiber hood for my boxster

[Nickanator8]

Hey guys, since buying my Boxster I've mostly focused on doing maintenance items: AoS, wheel bearing, accessory belt, stuff like that. However, my desire to make poor financial decisions continues, and I have not stopped looking for Porsche products on my local listings.

There is a person selling a 996 carbon Fiber hood from VIS Racing for the modest sum of $300. It looks like it would require hood pins instead of the normal hood latch, but it's carbon fiber! Lightweight racecar fun stuff!

I do not need a carbon fiber hood. I actually need to buy 987 seats because I find the 986 seats super uncomfortable, but for lack of a better term, the CF hood is s3xy.

I'm not even sure it would look particularly good on my car, which is ocean blue metallic and practically looks black except in direct sunlight, but again, it's carbon fiber so I just want it.

Someone, please talk some sense into me.

[78F350]

"Convince me to NOT buy a carbon fiber hood for my boxster"

Nope, do it.
*Get a nice clean one not one with funky faux bumps.
No:


Yes:

Originally Posted by humara

here you go. no longer has the crest.

[Starter986]

$300? Buy it!

CF is a functional product... saving weight. The hood is a credible piece of metal. It's the carbon fiber door handles... shift knobs... trim pieces that often look like an afterthought.

And... what?... 10HP for every 100 lbs? Can't get that with a shift knob.

$300. Mmm Hmm.

[BruceH]

Yeah, you are asking the wrong people to talk you out of it

[Nickanator8]

Originally Posted by Starter986

$300? Buy it!

CF is a functional product... saving weight. The hood is a credible piece of metal. It's the carbon fiber door handles... shift knobs... trim pieces that often look like an afterthought.

And... what?... 10HP for every 100 lbs? Can't get that with a shift knob.

$300. Mmm Hmm.

My car actually came with OEM CF shift knob, lol.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by Nickanator8

My car actually came with OEM CF shift knob, lol.

I misspoke about afterthought, sorry.

CF is to reduce weight. Looks cool, but that's not functional. Guys take off door panels... getting lighter seats... removing carpet... in that quest to increase HP. CF trim pieces aren't going to add up.

OP, get that hood.

[mikefocke]

Why? What are you trying to do by changing the hood? Do you race or autocross? Is that allowed where you do? Is it you trying to look cool or different? Why are you toying with changing a classic?

Someone had to take the contrary position.

I wouldn't want it if it were free for a street car. It is akin to the ricer mods, the open windows and 400 watt stereos blasting, the lifted pickups that are spotless

Di it if it makes you happy, hope you feel that way afterwards.

You can always sell your current hood.

[old911doc]

Hood pins = water leaks into frunk.

[986tate]

The thing about CFRP I think a lot of people don’t realize is that if you don’t protect it with paint the sun will disintegrate the epoxy over time. Even the UV clears will let you down eventually. The GT-Racing ones I’ve seen for 944 are just fiberglass and polyester with just a thin layer of carbon on the surface.
I don’t think the stock part is very heavy and the performance benefit is minimal. It’s still a steel unibody car so you aren’t really fooling anyone.
But $300 is a pretty good deal. You could satisfy your curiosity, run it for a while then flip it. I still daydream about having a bunch of this stuff sometimes too.

[Nickanator8]

To respond to Mikefocke, it's just a fun weekend/daily car. I think part of me will always have a soft spot for exposed carbon because of my time playing NFSU2 and watching the first couple FnF movies.
I think part of me sees CF as the epitome of performance, even though in this case it would only be a weight savings of 11-17 lbs. I reached out to the seller and he thinks it weighs in at around 38-44lbs and the OEM hood comes in at around 55.
I do do Autocross, but not in a super competitive way. The car is (unfortunately) an automatic so it'll never be truly competitive in whatever class it would be in, but it's fun to take into the mountains.
Mostly, I just want it because it's there and as far as I can tell very inexpensive. An OEM hood on eBay is double that cost so why not give it a try?

I certainly don't need it, but again, the want is strong with this thing.

[chromecarz00]

If you don't take it, I will!

[Nickanator8]

As much as I want it, I can't sell it to the real decision-maker.

Go get it, boys.
https://denver.craigslist.org/pts/d/erie-911-porsche-carbon-fiber-hood/7697951742.html

[tcoradeschi]

Originally Posted by Nickanator8

As much as I want it, I can't sell it to the real decision-maker.

Go get it, boys.
https://denver.craigslist.org/pts/d/erie-911-porsche-carbon-fiber-hood/7697951742.html

AKA She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO)

[Beelzy]

Umm, after seeing one with some "miles" on it....NO.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Why? What are you trying to do by changing the hood? Do you race or autocross? Is that allowed where you do? Is it you trying to look cool or different? Why are you toying with changing a classic?

Someone had to take the contrary position..

I'm with Mike. As someone who feels the classic styling of the first series 986 is virtually perfect, I've never understood why folks mess with it, adding carbon fiber parts, radical bumper covers, flared fenders, extreme spoilers, different headlights, fancy steering wheels, and other doodads, Why fiddle with perfection? I don't understand it, but it's their 986 to do with as they please. Me, I will keep mine looking as close as possible to how it looked on the showroom floor, and we'll all be happy.

[Nickanator8]

Originally Posted by tcoradeschi

AKA She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO)

I like "Minister of Finance" from Everyday Driver

[Rob175]

LoneWolfGal.....makes sense....I AGREE 100%.....leave the car alone!....It's classically beautiful as designed.