i know you can paint carbon fiber parts - but whats the cost difference - do people choose not to paint their carbon fiber hoods simply to show off that they have one - or because of the cost involved?

the correct answer is both.it costs more to paint a carfon fiber hood then it does with a normal peaice of sheet metal. the cost diff is probelly along the lines of being 50% more

^ what makes it cost more? prolly they use a special primer & paint?

it's the primer becuase carbon fiber is harder to bond with then reg metal.

my neighbor had a carbon fiber hood on his 95 civic untill he sold it and when he got an estmiante it was like 200 more if he wanted the hood painted too.

The cost of the primer/paint/clear is worth it. I like the look of carbon-fiber, but unless the entire car is made of it, having an unpainted c.f. hood (and other misc. exterior parts) looks cheap and tacky. Alot of people don't paint their carbon-fiber parts just to show-off that they have carbon fiber parts, which is kinda lame because it's not very impressive.

I agree with you steve - I know when i pickup a new hood for my car im painting it - because my car is black im afraid the colors will be close enough that the difference will make it look funny. like a mismatched paintjob or something.