Anybody using a carbon fiber hatch?

[themadscientist]

I would be interested in hearing your experiences.
Who makes it?
What's the quality?
How difficult was it to install?
Did it fit right?
Are you running glass or plastic in it?
Is it sturdy enough for street use?

I need a new hatch and the cost of sourcing and prepping another steel hatch has me looking at a CF just because it's only a little bit pricier and I never have to worry about rust again.

[Metal Angel]

solaraonbronze has (had?) a cf hatch.

[240TKE128]

Friend had CF trunk lid for his. i know its not a hatch but if you get an oem one it should match up you just swap hw and glass and your good to go.

[themadscientist]

I got two. The body shop won't touch either, says they are both a waste of time to fix, too rusty. I have him checking the system for a usable hatch as $700 for a new steel hatch is stupid.

[240TKE128]

Yeah that's ridiculous around here you can pull one from a junk car for like 100 bucks max, but brand new, that's steep unless they are coming with glass already in them? Id go CF if that's the cheapest you can get.

[asoomal]

Are fiberglass ones any good?

I got some rust forming, holes, etc on my hatch.

[240TKE128]

FG : Light, wont rust, expensive(in some cases), if damage harder to repair then metal

Metal: cheaper, easier to repair, rust alot, heavier.

There is probably more then this but thats some basic comparisons.

[themadscientist]

I don't think fiberglass has the nuts to hang that heavy sheet of hatch glass. If it was a track car I would go FRP with some speedglass and latches, but this is a street car and will be travelling at dubious speeds. CF is tough and can handle glass according to Seibon.

[240TKE128]

Personally i would recommend just refinishing steel and making sure its sealed properly to prevent rust, unless you really want to go with it, CF is really Durable i don't see why it wouldn't hold the glass.

[themadscientist]

The body shop thinks they can bring in a used hatch with the wiper and 3rd brake light holes welded and painted for about $400. More than I expected, but workable. We shall see.

[240TKE128]

Thats not to bad i always recommend never cheaping out on body work it always comes around to bite you in the end.

[240sxAli4Life]

If i were you i would just find a hatch with no rust, and NO WING! And you will be fine. If it doesnt have the wing on it, and its currently rust free (your new one) You will never have to worry about it rusting. Just keep up on washing and waxing your car... and you wont have to worry about it rusting. Just make sure it has clearcoat on it for extra protection. I have friends with cf s*** and eventually the sun will take its toll on it, and it will look like this nasty acid looking s***, and it wont be pretty, even though it will cost you a pretty penny! $600 for a cf hatch is ridiculous, get kouki tails or coilovers for that much!

[240sxAli4Life]

I just went to the junkyard like 2 weeks ago, and i bought me a rust free, wing free, wiper free hatch for $125. I took it home, sanded it down, painted it, and cleared it. I installed it on my car and it looks great! All i have to do is tint match the rear glass to the rest of my 240! If i were you i wouldnt get another one with the rear wiper... you dont really need the rear wiper, and that makes your hatch alot heavier. I took my old one that had the wing, and the wiper, and it was a heavy b****! I put my new one on with ease. There is this stuff from rain x, that you can spray, and wipe, on to your rear hatch glass... and it makes it to where when rain or snow gets on the glass it will just slide off with no problem, instead of having the rain bead up, and reduce your rear view visibility. I have it on mine and it works good!!

[240TKE128]

I just went to the junkyard like 2 weeks ago, and i bought me a rust free, wing free, wiper free hatch for $125. I took it home, sanded it down, painted it, and cleared it. I installed it on my car and it looks great! All i have to do is tint match the rear glass to the rest of my 240! If i were you i wouldnt get another one with the rear wiper... you dont really need the rear wiper, and that makes your hatch alot heavier. I took my old one that had the wing, and the wiper, and it was a heavy b****! I put my new one on with ease. There is this stuff from rain x, that you can spray, and wipe, on to your rear hatch glass... and it makes it to where when rain or snow gets on the glass it will just slide off with no problem, instead of having the rain bead up, and reduce your rear view visibility. I have it on mine and it works good!!

Yeah when i swap mine out i am ditching my wing/wiper, mines rusted to pieces. just going with standard flat hatch.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Guys keep in mind TMS is in Japan, so price and availability might be a little different than here in the US.

Mike- do you have a welder? How rusty is your current hatch?

[themadscientist]

That bad.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Zoom out bro... what the F is that? Is it all on the interior? If so, that's easy.

[themadscientist]

Na, I'm not playing with this thing. the entire leading edge of the steel where it meets the glass is stuck together with tape because it's all rusted out.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

oooo. Yeah, getting it to seal correctly would suck.

Will you be painting the carbon fiber if you go that route? Please say yes.

[themadscientist]

Hell no. Sorry dude, I gotta let my fiber hangout baby! I will have it clear coated some more though. Those things get sunburned too easy.