Not a fan of CF.

 

To have the whole CF bonnet or rear trunk show is getting dated, I would leave part of the CF showing, similair to this,

http://toasthost.com/achtuning/galle...ng-S4/IMG_4980

 

How much lighter will the carbon fibre hood be in comparison with a stock hood?

 

Or here is another example, my buddy's MR2

 

How much lighter is the CF hood over the already light aluminium hood anyways? is the savings worth it?
To paint or not to paint.... hmmm...

 

The MR2 looks sweet!

I like the look of a partially painted CF hood too.

 

well, could be minimally lighter.. I dont know for sure.. but he specifically said he likes the design of this hood more, so painted it would still be a different design, just not carbon fiber look.

 

A CF hood can save you 5 - 7 lbs. That's unpainted. Also, if it has vents it can help cooling.

Unpainted CF body panels always look rice and wannabe ish. Especially if you have the stock front on.

I really like these two. I would do something like that if I ever go CF.

 

^actually i bet its even less that 5-7 lbs. i'd guess 2-3, the stock hood (if i remember correctly) is 16 lbs and teh carbon is 13-14lbs. The trunk on the other hand is a different story.

 

touching up CF hood is a beotch! I remember a friend's WRX's CF hood chipped up by rocks. Switched back to stock thereafter.

 

paint it...carbon fiber's advantage is its weight not its look contrary to popular opinion. Although i must say an OEM style carbon fiber hood might look good if you leave the center rotor shaped bulge unpainted. But imho if i get a carbon fiber hood im painting it before it goes on the car.

 

these cf hoods here can range anywhere up to 1 lb MORE... than stock...

so essentially, it's about the look.