Help: Exposed Carbon Fiber vs. Black Hood

[IOMZL1]

Ok, I’m still on the fence – help me decide. Right now my order has the exposed weave carbon fiber hood selected. I like the idea of carbon fiber but I’m not sure if it introduces another color into the mix making the car look too busy. I’m getting IOM, 10 spoke black wheels, and the stripe package. Cost isn’t really a factor at this point. It is hard to decide between two things when you haven’t seen one of them and neither of them have been shown in IOM. The pictures on the Chevrolet website have me running back to black.

Exposed Weave Carbon Fiber Hood:
Pros
- Maintenance (can be waxed)
- Could look very nice
Cons
- Cost
- Look of stripe unknown
- As of yet has not been shown on any color other than gray
- Looks different in different light?

Matte Black Carbon Fiber Hood Hood:
Pros
- Cost
- Look known
- Matches wheels and other black items on the car
Cons
- Maintenance (can’t be waxed)

[SlingShot]

I'm going with IOM with black hood with polished wheels. In my minds eye, I like the look ...

[GoldenBear]

If I were opting for the black wheels, I would probably select the black hood insert and stripe even though there is the maintenance issue with the black insert, because I think that the black insert will provide a more integrated and less cluttered look to the vehicle with the black wheels. I think that with the polished wheels either hood insert option will look good.

[radz28]

Not helpful, but I think it's a winner either way. I think, depending on car and stripe color, the combination could look great. I'm thinking the exposed CF on a dark car with the stripes, while a lighter color, even red, with black. I see you points about adding anothrt color, since you have the standard wheels... Hmm... Even though I'm usually not partial to exposed CF (because of the showing off factor) I think it's subtle in this case because it doesn't jump out at you, being on the top of a panel. Anyways - with your color - I vote painted I not - I still think it's a win for ya'

[DangerZL1]

I think it will look fine on the IOM, but won't blend as well with the rest of the black accents as mentioned. It does add a third color to the mix and looks like an add on to me. I really wish it was body colored.

It is going to be a pain to maintain the black one. I'm concerned about bird droppings, insect damage, water spots, etc. not being able to polished out. The insert is in an area of the hood that takes abuse. I'm wondering if it could be removed and painted later if necessary? OTH...I don't care for the look of carbon fiber either, but at least we have a choice.

[DRB ZL1]

It's too bad you can't see some pics with the combo you have on order. IMO, you are dealing with 4 different colors:

1. IOM
2. Black Wheels
3. Carbon Fiber (which has a pattern to it)
4. Dark Grey Stripe (which is solid and who knows how well it matches the CF)

To be safe, I would go with the Black Mohawk and the Black Stripes. Can't go wrong with that combo!!

[snapp32e]

Get the exposed and after a while you decide you don't care for it, take it out and get it painted.

[1BADZL1]

Thats a tuff one for sure...
The gray stripe with the exposed carbon fiber is not going to pop very well with the black wheels... JMHO....
To me it would be too busy...
If the black wheels you must have, and you must have the exposed carbon fiber then I might lean to no stripe at all....

if you must have stripes and black wheels I would go with the black insert and black stripes... win win..
This btw, is the reason I changed from IOM to VR at the last minute..

[Shurenuff]

I'm in the exact same boat as you, and agree with all the pros and cons you listed. With that said, I've decided to go with the exposed insert. The main factors in my decision were the ease of maintenance and it makes the car a bit more special IMO.

I still like both equally the same, and if for some reason I really like the satin black insert more after seeing it in person, I don't think it would be too hard to trade (or sell) the exposed insert for the black one.

[Scarrzz]

With IBM I went exposed, but if I was rocking the IOM, I would choose black.

Blue+Gray = win

Orange + Gray = ???

[hognutz]

I am not a vinyl on car fan so I am not paying that much for a strip package. I like the look but would rather it was paint on this level of car. If I wanted that look I would just have the strip painted on after deliver becasue I could get it done for the same money. Or just paint the hood insert and stripe in a paint I choose that has teh same level of maintience.

To me the exposed carbon is just a higher end look. There is not point adding a strip package to try match it as that would be vinyl not carbon fiber. I don't want faux carbon fiber looking stuff.

my looks goal is carbon insert and other carbon accents once I own the car. to me 50k+ car I want real carbon fiber an no sticker packages. I will black out the chrome rings around the tailits if there still there as well as around the exhaust.

I like the look of the matt finish and stripe package but the added maintence and the fact you paying $500 for stickers turned me off to it.

[Shurenuff]

Originally Posted by hognutz

I am not a vinyl on car fan so I am not paying that much for a strip package. I like the look but would rather it was paint on this level of car. If I wanted that look I would just have the strip painted on after deliver becasue I could get it done for the same money. Or just paint the hood insert and stripe in a paint I choose that has teh same level of maintience.

To me the exposed carbon is just a higher end look. There is not point adding a strip package to try match it as that would be vinyl not carbon fiber. I don't want faux carbon fiber looking stuff.

my looks goal is carbon insert and other carbon accents once I own the car. to me 50k+ car I want real carbon fiber an no sticker packages. I will black out the chrome rings around the tailits if there still there as well as around the exhaust.

I like the look of the matt finish and stripe package but the added maintence and the fact you paying $500 for stickers turned me off to it.

Not to offend anyone, but this was another very big factor in my decision. I originally ordered the black insert with stripe package, but after much thought, I came to a very similar conclusion.

[collins motorsport]

Mine is coming in IOM with the expsed carbon and no stripes with standard wheel bc I wasn't paying $470 extra for a set af rims that looks nearly exactly like standard ss polished rims, but I will more than likely end up with an aftermarket set so I don't see the cf clashing with them.

[thebatdude]

Since there was a lot of talk about being able to order a ZL1 bumper, I wonder if we can just order a new insert later? I would like to start off with the black, but after I see some of the Carbon Fiber versions, I might want to change. If someone else has the carbon fiber hood but decides later that the flat black looks better, you might can paint it, but I don't think that will look the same as the special OEM black. In that case, someone might want to order a black OEM insert as well.

There's also the chance that an aftermarket company might start making some that are painted to match the body paint if someone wants to go that route as well.

All in all, it's great that both are so desirable that it makes for a touch choice. Personally, I think I will be going with the black (more muscle car look IMO) in 2013, unless new options are provided.