Hydropdip CF vs the real thing?

[MrVu1101]

I was thinking about 3dcarbon ground effects kit, but it honestly looks like the stock kit in CF. If that's the case I'd rather take the 2k and buy the CDC kit with spoiler and just hydro dip it in carbon. It looks just sooo much better :love:

I'm wondering if the difference between hydro dipped and genuine CF obvious?

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[kevin4052002]

It is painfully obvious. I can't stand how awful hydro-dip "carbon fiber" looks. My recommendation is if you are going for looks to just wrap it in some "carbon fiber look" vinyl. You won't be able to tell the appearance between the vinyl and the real thing.

 

[908ssp]

If you're going wrap it or paint why make it look like something it isn't? You could make it look like granite or wood. Hydro dip reminds me of Ford Country Squire wagon with all that vinyl wrapped fake wood on the sides.

 

[Chameleon]

Had to look that up. lol

 

[FreddyG]

Nothing beats the looks of Real carbon fiber (2x2/3k twill because there are quite a few different types of Real carbon fiber that can be used).

I can tell right away, the difference and while HC has gotten better, it's still not close to real carbon. Also, it's not cheap to have that done either.

Real carbon fiber isn't cheap either, by any means, but the final product (if done the right way) is a work of art, but I'm a Huge fan of Real carbon fiber.

Just my .02, and you get what you pay for!

 

[stoli]

CF wrap is even worse than hydro. Either get the real thing or don't do it at all.

 

[Nick@HillbankMotorsports]

You can definitely tell a difference between hydrodipping and real CF.

 

[Strokerswild]

You can definitely tell a difference between hydrodipping and real CF.

X2

No comparison unless you're standing several feet away. Real CF is beautiful.

Hydro'd CF is akin to painting an old bumper silver and calling it chrome, IMO.

 

[2Cool]

Of course having real CF lower trim puts you at serious risk anytime you get close to a curb or high speedbump (if you are lowered). CF is strong but brittle as hell, I know this from experience.

Had a new CF nose on my '04 GTO and was having the car clay barred and detailed after the body shop got done, the detail guy moved it out of his shop afterwards, and pulled up to park by my shop... not seeing a pallet laying there. Sounded like a $1200 gunshot to my heart when he cracked the middle front.

I woulda felt much better had he just of scuffed a dipped stock part. Plus part of dipping is sanding and smoothing the ABS stock pieces, then many clear coats. The ease of cleaning them afterwards makes dipping my choice for a daily driver.

 

[phrenetiK]

vinyl wrap your stock lip kit for 200-500$. hydro dip for 1500. full carbon replacement for 2k+

the new vinyls look better than hydro imo

 

[VTECSAUCE]

idk why there is so my hate towards fake stuff. It saves a lot of money and looks close enough. Plastic is light weight, durable, cheap and done right looks pretty good. Take a look around the interior of the new mustang that is raved to be superior to previous generations. Plastic made to look like chrome and aluminum, not to mention the fake leather on the dash made from some variant of plastic. It doesn't bother me one bit. Spend $2000 on a carbon fiber lip kit and have it fade from the sun or hit one bump wrong or even a small animal and its ruined. Plastic has a lot more durability over carbon fiber. Yea, CF looks good but what's it really doing for you? Personally I think carbon fiber is over rated. Fake stuff saves money. I simply don't understand why there is so much negativity surrounding it. If it looks good its looks good, 99% of us don't use the car to the point where the real quality stuff would make any difference anyway. That being said use your money wisely. Would you rather spend $2000 on real carbon fiber that most likely will fade/crack from use or a decent set of wheels? IMHO if you really want to do something to the plastic lip kit, paint/hydro dip it plain black or get yourself some good plastic trim protectant.

 

[HrDrift]

i dont think hydro dipping is terrible if u can clear coat it with a paint gun spray. i think wrapping is worse than all of it.

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