Would anyone be interested in having a carbon fiber hood for the Maxima?

I own a shop and one of the manufacturers I deal with asked me about making a hood for a Maxima (I was driving my GF's black 98 SE). I never thought about it, so I figure I would see who else would be interested?

We only need 10 people to get the hood made. The hood will only take 2-3 weeks to make and we already have a stock hood to make the mold from (my GF's). I think it would only be about $350 + shipping if you were one of the first 10. Actually, make that 9 since I will be buying one for my GF too since this will end up messing up her hood.

If you are interested, please post here, even if you aren't ready to be one of the first 10, just so I know that people even want this thing. I know my GF is dying to get one because her car is stock and she wants to start fixing it up.

 

Im in New Zealand so that probably counts me out, but in sure youll get about 100 people wanting them. Good luck mate

 

There is a company that makes them already. http://www.fiberimages.com/welcome.htm

 

yup. someone has already made them for the 4th gen maxima.

 

isnt the fiberimages hood like 500??? Id be interested in a 350$ hood.

 

I would be interested, I have heard bad things about the other companys service, mainly that when you try to contact them its impossible to get in contact with anyone who works there.

 

well, fiberimages isn't really a retail shop so i don't think being able to reach them, as a consumer, is really an indicator of a bad company.

That said, if you can expand the aftermarket support for your car, why not?

Anyone else interested? The longer it goes, the more my GF bugs me to make this hood

 

the fiber images hood is $600 and you can buy directly through fiberimages.

 

I would be interested in a free one. I guess all companies should start selling their products at cost.

 

http://pak02.pictures.aol.com/NASApp...949&picture=22

 

Any idea how much it will weigh or anythign like that? I know a benefit of Carbon Fiber is the weight. Here is an E-mail chain I had with them going back and forth. Is your pretty much the same as what they were saying here? Some of the question I asked were basic because I really di not know much info at the time so you might want to just skim through. Check prices again too this was a while ago.



-----Original Message-----
Hey SuDZ,
They do'nt really come in a darker black, it's mostly a really shiny
black. You can wash it the same way you would a regular hood, but the best
polishes for it would be the one's that are made for fiberglass clearcoats.
They are more durable and can withstand the elements a little better.

Leonard

---------------------------------------------------
> Wow, that is a big difference. Do you have them in a darker black so it
does
> not stick out on the car as much and looks more stock? Also can you
> wash/clean/wax/polish it the same as you can a regular hood? Does it need
> any other special treatments?
>
> SuDZ
>
> -----Original Message-----

> The stock hood weighs 45lbs. The Carbon fiber hood weighs in at just over
> 14lbs.
>
> ----- Original Message -----

> > What advantages are there to this hood? Other than style is it lighter
> than
> > my stock hood and if so do you know by how much?
> >
> > SuDZ
> >
> > -----Original Message-----

> >
> > Hey SuDZ,
> > That hood retails for $649 + 95 shipping and handling.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----

> > > I was curious about the price of the hoods for my 98 Maxima SE. I seen
> it
> > on
> > > your site but found nothing about pricing. Hoping you could fill me
in.


SuDZ

 

well, since we haven't made any yet, i don't know the weight but it will be much lighter than the stock hood. 15lbs sounds about right.

the best way to polish it is to use rubbing compound (like meguiar's, available at paint shops). but this is true for your entire car. This is what body shops use but may be overkill for your car. Normal wash/wash is fine on the hood.

 

i am interested

 

I am interested, if you can keep the price at 350.

 

Yep I would definitely be interested at that price, keep the info coming.

 

I have never seen one on a black Max like mine but has anyone else? What you think? Looks good or bad?

SuDZ

 

I think it looks the best on a black Max. Very sharp!

 

You better believe I would be interested in this.

 

So dod we have any update yet on price or when or anything?

SuDZ

 

Would it be possible to paint these body colored? I am interested, but I would only like it if I could paint over with no problems. I just don't want to stick out that much...

 

you COULD paint the cf hood. but why?
you might as well get the fiberglass hood and paint THAT to body color.

i love my hood! i had to put hood pins in it. because i was afraid of it ripping off, because at high speeds (80+) it buffets slightly. and ever since i put on the pins, it just sticks just fine.



i turn alot of heads with my car. and it really gives you a 1 off look.

--cheston

ps. i can vouch for FiberImages. Leonard is one of the best..

 

Heck ya. Count me in on it too. $350 for Carbon fiber hood? sounds too good to be true. I dunno, will it be good quality (hold up to the sudden temp change etc..)?

 

I'm interested

 

I too would be interested only if it can be painted body color. What is this fiberglass hood you are talking about? Weight? Cost? Where to buy? Thanks Ceston.

 

hoods will be ready in about 3 weeks or so. Look for more info on this board in about 3 weeks. It will be $350 or so for people on this board, probably for a month or two. Then I will have to price it at a slightly higher price after that.

Shipping is about $100 to a business address in the continental US. You can pick it up too if you live close by.

The hood can be painted a candy-paint that shows the carbon fiber through the paint. BUT it won't match your car perfectly, but it will look pretty trick. It's $125 extra for the candy paint and we can't guarentee what shade it'll come out exactly (you can get blue, but not an exact shade of blue, etc.).

The same mold can be used for fiberglass hoods but they won't be as light or as strong. But you can modify them with vents, scoops, inverted vents, etc. If you are interested then you will have to special order it and we won't do any custom work because we don't really have time for that but any body shop should be able to customize it for you.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to place an order in advance to make sure you get yours first, then email me at minboost@mbautosport.com for more info. Orders are shipped in the order they are received, with my girlfriend being first (it's her car)

Thankz.

 

Well, on an AL0 (ruby pearl) Maxima, I feel the carbon-fiber is too much contrast. Personally, I think it looks very tacky, and I don't want to lower myself to some of the "rice boy" levels (Even though I love rice ). A fiberglass hood could work now that you mention it, but where would I get it? And do you not think it would be too weak and buffet even more than yours did? The paint would not add too much weight and would looks as if I put more work and trouble into the car (which I would have). GohanMax is a dark blue, correct? The carbon fiber does not stick out as much as it would on a Ruby Maxima. But hey, "To each his own," right?
-Cyrus

 

Carbon Fiber is the least bit ricey, it is inspired from Formula One cars. It is super light, yet super strong. In fact, the McLaren F1's whole body is made of carbon fiber. At 350, I am in for sure.

 

sorry bro they are out already, but if you do make them let us know the price asap! im loking for some new exterior mods for my max this winter.... M3 mirrors, one-piece headlights, rest of stillen kit and more!

 

How hard is to put in the hood pins? Any universal hood pins will do right? I might get a CF hood and always wonder about how it would hold at high speed. And I speed very often!

 

add me to the list

 

My fiber images hood took me a little while to get, but i understand exactly why. Customer service in getting back to you is a little off, but nothing too drastic. Leonard is one Top Notch guy, I am very happy with my hood, ive only experianced a little lifting at 110, but i havent pushed it past that.

 

ive hit 125 then got scared.. it sucks

ive done 150ish with the regular hood im tempted to put the regular hood back on.

 

All i can say is you get what you pay for. Fiber Images makes some of the best hoods on the market. I know because me and my boy both ordered ours at the same time. Ive seen cheaper hoods at car shows and they ARE NOT the same.

 

The main problem with them is trying to hold promises when they are so busy. Mine took a little longer than expected but wasnt bad at all. I also went through Leonard and hes a really good guy.

I have no pins on my hood and when i got the rev/speed meter i did a few 140+ mph runs...hood held just fine. Scary but held nonetheless