got $$$ = carbon interior (NICE) - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

MNBoxster · 03-04-2006, 11:07 PM

Hi,

IMHO CF Interior Trim is getting Passe'. You see it on everything and to me it's quintessential Ricer. It's non-functional and just Automotive Jewelry as you infer - VERY Expensive Automotive Jewelry (which is where I suspect a lot of the appeal lies... in da Drizzle...).

Now if you're talkin' CF Structural Components, that's a different story, it's truly functional and superior to traditional materials in many ways...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

eslai · 03-04-2006, 11:26 PM

100% agreement. The plastic gloss just gets scratched up. I don't see why carbon fiber weave is so attractive to people anyhow. Structural carbon fiber--that which people should really drool over--isn't pretty, after all.

03-05-2006, 12:22 AM

I don't get the attraction to CF either...but to each their own! That's one of the many unique things about Porsche, you can order & customize them so many different ways.

Perfectlap · 03-05-2006, 12:30 AM

CF = Ricer???

My first expensive bicycle was carbon monocoque and now even the most coveted Italian bikes are Carbon Fiber. From Bianchis and Colnagos Carbon Fiber bits have migrated into the interiors of the sacred Ferraris. The stuff is everywhere, I even see Carbon Fiber Tag Heur wrist watches. Ferrari makes Carbon Fiber fountain pens! I see Ferraris

I think you are looking at from our homegrown perspective where anything not stock equals "ricer" and you've been influenced from seeing so much cheap and fake Carbon Fiber-look that is glued over existing interiors bits.

japanese imported cars with extensive modifications and 'tastefuly done' are not mutually exclusive. RUF heavily modify their interiors with the same painted and Carbon Fiber methods that you might find in the interior/exterior of
a "riced out" S2000. Does that make RUF = Ricer? Or are they forgiven because they are German products instead of Japanese? Hmmm...

MNBoxster · 03-05-2006, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

CF = Ricer???

My first expensive bicycle was carbon monocoque and now even the most coveted Italian bikes are Carbon Fiber. From Bianchis and Colnagos Carbon Fiber bits have migrated into the interiors of the sacred Ferraris. The stuff is everywhere, I even see Carbon Fiber Tag Heur wrist watches. Ferrari makes Carbon Fiber fountain pens! I see Ferraris

I think you are looking at from our homegrown perspective where anything not stock equals "ricer" and you've been influenced from seeing so much cheap and fake Carbon Fiber-look that is glued over existing interiors bits.

japanese imported cars with extensive modifications and 'tastefuly done' are not mutually exclusive. RUF heavily modify their interiors with the same painted and Carbon Fiber methods that you might find in the interior/exterior of
a "riced out" S2000. Does that make RUF = Ricer? Or are they forgiven because they are German products instead of Japanese? Hmmm...

Hi,

Of course, it's My opinion, but when I think of a Pimped-out CF Interior, Ricers do come to mind.

Perhaps it's because CF generally takes over when used. A piece or two can be OK, but it inevitably leads to everything from Ignition surrounds to Heat Vents and Steering Wheels.

I've worked with CF since the early '90's, I have an acquaintance who works as a Tech in a CF Development Lab and with her, we have produced lots of CF Stuff (3D Modeling, shooting Molds, laying up the CF, etc.). It's fairly easy to work with and the Cloth (CF is essentially Polyester Cloth which is Carbonized in an AutoClav) isn't that expensive, nowhere near the premium charged for this stuff.

I don't doubt that your Bike was great, that's what CF was invented for - as a Structural Material - something at which it excels.

Some people may like the Tek look, or may be fascinated by the Bling effect, that's OK, but I'm just not one of them. It isn't that I believe anything other than OEM = Ricer, there are lots of nice (IMHO) upgrades which have been done. And, I even have a set of Custom CF Sill Guards on my Car, but that's where I'll draw the line. Good Luck...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

eslai · 03-05-2006, 05:47 PM

My only beef with it is that I don't find it aesthetically pleasing, much like 18 karat gold. It's always been used as a "bling" material to trick out a car's interior and none of that CF stuff is actually doing anything.

Perhaps it's just that every honda kiddie out there thinks that a non-painted carbon fiber hood is somehow cool. That bugs me.

BUT of course if you like it and have the money to throw at it, to each their own! My friend sells custom carbon fiber interior bits--he has 'em made down in mexico for Dirt Cheap...

Perfectlap · 03-05-2006, 06:02 PM

well you see in theory all true sportscars should be made as light as possible. The more unecessary weight the more diluted the car becomes.
If you have a pile of interior parts made of OEM plastic and a pile of parts made of CF well obviously you can tell which will be less weight to lug around.
Every little bit counts. That's why Pedals are drilled, wheels are hollow spoked, Aluminum is used for doors now, 15 pound Braille battery vs. 50 pound OEM battery, lighter seats (like mine, way lighter than stock), lighter exhaust & headers. It all can reduce the onboard weight to that of having another occupant in the passenger seat. Otherwise you might as well be driving a porky 911

The object is to save a little bit of weight on every part all over the car. Even the gas pump will thank you. I knew a guy who was able to drop 500 pounds from a Miata! (he had a cf hood).

eslai · 03-05-2006, 08:00 PM

hehe i don't mean to be mean, but that's just making excuses for yourself.

If you really wanted to save weight, you'd ditch the stereo, door panels, carpeting, etc. Trim pieces!? Who needs em?

Or, you could buy a lightweight racing battery and save an order of magnitude more weight than just replacing all the lightweight plastic trim pieces with lighter-weight carbon fiber trim pieces, AND it would cost you a hundred times less at least.

Oh wait, did you already do that?

Not sure. In any case, "light-weight" is a pretty weak excuse for the carbon fiber--you KNOW it's just for vanity's sake.

MNBoxster · 03-05-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

well you see in theory all true sportscars should be made as light as possible. The more unecessary weight the more diluted the car becomes.
If you have a pile of interior parts made of OEM plastic and a pile of parts made of CF well obviously you can tell which will be less weight to lug around.
Every little bit counts. That's why Pedals are drilled, wheels are hollow spoked, Aluminum is used for doors now, 15 pound Braille battery vs. 50 pound OEM battery, lighter seats (like mine, way lighter than stock), lighter exhaust & headers. It all can reduce the onboard weight to that of having another occupant in the passenger seat. Otherwise you might as well be driving a porky 911

The object is to save a little bit of weight on every part all over the car. Even the gas pump will thank you. I knew a guy who was able to drop 500 pounds from a Miata! (he had a cf hood).

Hi,

Not to pick on you, but talking about saving 1.5lbs. by switching to CF is kinda lame, especially in a Boxster. Ranks right up there with Lite Beer, Fat-Free Hagen das, etc.

Ditching the Sound System, Climate Control, even an extra hour-a-week on the TreadMill will accomplish much more.

The Boxster is very portly as compared to what it could have been if Porsche was not forced to appeal to such a broad market by adding all those Plush (read Heavy) Creature Comforts.

Pull the Stereo, AC, Spare, Carpet, Trunk/Boot Liners, revert to a non-glass top and then talk to me about weight...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

cfos · 03-07-2006, 07:47 PM

I agree with denverpete and don't really care to see the facts, the comparisons or the history thereof. Rather I think it's nice to see the opinions resulting from the release of adrenaline/epinephrine (or dihydroxyphenylmethylaminoethanol for those historically minded souls who want to avoid using "propriatary" names). Liked the pics. Good luck getting enough $$

eslai · 03-07-2006, 09:34 PM

I think what 99-Boxster-MK is thinking of is that the diameter of a wheel can affect the acceleration of the car. People that plus-size their wheels can see a small effect on their 1/4 mile times for instance.

This is because of the bigger wheel usually being heavier than the smaller wheel, and the weight being distributed further out along the axis of rotation.

However, if you're really seeing a decrease in performance because of a slight increase in wheel weight and diameter, the problem is likely that your car is severely underpowered. It's more of a 100-150 HP car problem than a 240 HP problem.