Fragile Fiberglass?

[Kbrickman]

Merry Christmas Everyone.

So, im always frinding threads about body kits. after all, who doesnt want/ have one? well anyway theres always the debate on fiberglass. Is it durable? worth it? pro's and cons? if im gonna spend the money on something, its gonna need to last.

Care to throw in an opinion?

[ZenithZ24]

In my opinion, You should opt for Urethane. I just got my body kit (polyurethane) before Christmas and the Urethane looks to be tough stuff and is pretty flexible. My body shop even knocked a few hundred bucks off painting and installation because it was Urethane and not fiberglass. I've heard horrible stuff about fiberglass, though it is repairable. There's a few guys around here with fiberglass kits and really they look pretty bad from all the cracks they got going through them. So I'd say in my opinion go for urethane, though fiberglass may be okay if youre driving in a place with great weather and nice road conditions.

[Classicrocjunkie]

If possible...

Polyurethane
ABS plastic kits ( aka stock ones)
Vfiber
Fiberglass


thats the range of flexibility. If at all possible stay away from fiberglass. They are the most costly for fittment and if you kit something kiss it good bye.

Urethane kits are pretty much a direct fit. they flex if you hit something, most you normally get is spider cracking in paint. NO having to buy a new kit.

[Kbrickman]

Thanks for the input, definatly gonna stay away from the fiberglass then (especially since im sitting in cleveland, ohio...) What are we talking for installation? 500 bucks?

[Classicrocjunkie]

Fit the kit yourself, and then take it off and have someone paint it. If your doing whole bumper replacement look at spending around $1,000 for a body kit to be painted. Thats a fair price.

[ZenithZ24]

My kit is just valances and side skirts so my cost is a little less than full replacement bumpers, but my shop is charging me 800 bucks for preping, painting, and installing the valances using urethane to mold them on. So 1000 seems fair, especially since most kits will need some cleaning up before painting, I was very fortunate and got a very clean kit, shop guy was even impressed.

[Lefix]

I have a fiberglass kit, everything about it is fine, i live in hawaii and over here weather is good and the roads are pretty good and i only have 1 crack in the front because it was at night, i couldnt see and i drove off the road when doing a U turn and 1 side of the car dropped and the bumper cracked.. But its not that bad and im not really planning on fixing it.. but i would recommend a Urethane, however they dont make my style of bodykit in Urethane so i had to buy it in fiberglass.. and everyother bodykit made for the 03-05 sunfire looks like shit except for the bomex kit, aka bomber style.