Carbon Fiber/Brushed Aluminum dash kits?

[Jzero]

I was thinking about getting a CF or aluminum trim kit. I have a non-riced 2002 Civic but I was looking at some pictures and cars I see around and I think it would look nice.
I know I can get the OEM CF dash kit from handa-accessories.com for like $100 shipped, but A) it only covers the radio, etc and side vents and B) it's fake CF. I found a few places that give me a more full package for $200 and it's real carbon fiber.

My questions are:
1)Siilver car with grey interior. Which would go better--brushed aluminum or carbon fiber (natural grey color)? Which looks less "ricey?"
2)Are they hard for a DIYer to install?
3)Are there any more reputable places that provide better-fit pieces, etc?

Thanks!
--Jzero

 

[Ns1]

the best fit you'll get is with oem pieces

if you don't drive a riced out civic, i fail to see the point in getting it


i think the cf one looks better

have you tried....

www.hparts.com
www.handaaccessories.com

 

[Jzero]

<< the best fit you'll get is with oem pieces >>


Aye, I guess that goes without saying. If Honda made a trim kit that didn't fit right, they'd have a hard time explaining why.
My only gripes with the OEM kit is that it doesn't have door handles, center console, etc and it's "simulated" CF.


<< if you don't drive a riced out civic, i fail to see the point in getting it >>


Ehhh...good point. I just think it would like nice...

 

[Jzero]

1-hour bump. Any takers?

 

[Time2Kill]

Try ebay...tons on there

 

[Jzero]

<< Try ebay...tons on there >>


Ick. I want a good kit I'd sooner get the immitation CF OEM kit for $100 and know that it will be a good fit and a half-decent part. On Ebay, you never really know what you're getting.

Customautotrim.com is where I saw a complete, real CF kit for ~$200.
Any experiences or observations?

 

[rootaxs]

I'd rather go for a brushed aluminum look. Be sure you get the 3d type that actually encloses the panels as opposed to the pseudo-kits that just stick on top like a flat sticker.

 

[Thegonagle]

I wouldn't do it, but if you do, it will make the car easier (I should say less difficult) to sell or trade if you tell a potential buyer that it's a Honda part. I think the aluminum would look classier and less ricey. If you have any care about future resale value, ricey looking mods will kill, unless you can restore it to stock without any damage before you sell.

 

[geno]

Check with your local rice shop.

 

[Jzero]

<< I wouldn't do it, but if you do, it will make the car easier (I should say less difficult) to sell or trade if you tell a potential buyer that it's a Honda part. I think the aluminum would look classier and less ricey. If you have any care about future resale value, ricey looking mods will kill, unless you can restore it to stock without any damage before you sell. >>


Good points. From what I understand if you bought the simulated wood/metal/CF kit as a dealer option, it's just the same glue-on part.
How "ricey" it looks would really be in the eyes of a potential buyer. I really can't see doing anything else to the car...it has a factory spoiler, I don't have the skill or desire for bizarre custom body panels or gauges or anything else people rice up.

Now I've got 2 votes for carbon fiber and 2 votes for aluminum....hmmm....I like both equally. I'm concerned that simulated aluminum pieces would chip or peel. The Honda "metallic" part has a slight gold tone to it and doesn't really match the exterior, which discourages me further.

As for restoring it to stock...these parts glue on...I doubt they'd be able to come off easily. I'm not overly concerned about the resale value. I plan on keeping the car for at least 5-6 years, hopefully more, but I definitely will consider how tacky it would look.

RootAxs: Do you know any sites that sell the "3-D" kits? The place I linked only has them for a few models.

 

[rootaxs]

Check this site out. Just enter your specific model. It showed several molded kits from Woodview (good quality i might add, though rather pricey) in several styles (e.g. wood, aluminum, etc.)

There was a site that sells woodview products that would mail out 2" square sample pieces of their products but i can't recall their URL right now.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Brushed aluminum....a friend has a '01 4 door Civic....it's getting to the point of rice almost.....he's just putting on anything that's clear or blue on it :| On his interior he has faux gold dash trim like what you're talking about and a (laugh) carpet cover for the top of the dash. Brushed aluminum would look a LOT better than CF imho on your car

 

[Jzero]

<< Check this site out. Just enter your specific model. It showed several molded kits from Woodview (good quality i might add, though rather pricey) in several styles (e.g. wood, aluminum, etc.)

There was a site that sells woodview products that would mail out 2" square sample pieces of their products but i can't recall their URL right now. >>



Thanks! I actually googled that link earlier but didn't explore it much. The prices I get when I put in '02 Civic are only a few dollars more than the link I posted above. The brushed aluminum does look very sharp. They actually have some pictures.

The site I posted says they will send you samples of the material. I will probably go ahead and see if I can get some.

Raging: I've seen those dashboard rugs! They're bizarre. Reminds me of those "toilet toupees" women seem to adore so much.
As I look at the pictures, I'm also leaning towards the brushed aluminum as look more classy and less ricey.

If anyone has other links or opinions, put them up!

 

[rootaxs]

NP

As for the samples, i got two sets (another form a different manufacturer). None are real aluminum though, just simulated one's. It's plastic to say the least but unless you look real close you won't notice it.

As for the dash cover. There's one that's called Dash-shield. It's not rug-like but more of a grayish thick carpet (roughly 1/4" high if i remember correctly) material. It actually helps lower the ambient and surface temperature in your car. (esp on the dash where the sun hits the most). It also helps your A/C run better. Unfortunately i've never seen one sold here in the US. I only found a couple of sites mentioning it but never any info on where to get it.

 

[Jzero]

<< NP

As for the samples, i got two sets (another form a different manufacturer). None are real aluminum though, just simulated one's. It's plastic to say the least but unless you look real close you won't notice it. >>


I haven't seen any real aluminum kits. I imagine that it would be really easy to scratch it or dent it, so it would have to be laminated in some way, and at that point you might as well just have a simulated laminate instead of the real thing.
But I could be nuts.



<< As for the dash cover. There's one that's called Dash-shield. It's not rug-like but more of a grayish thick carpet (roughly 1/4" high if i remember correctly) material. It actually helps lower the ambient and surface temperature in your car. (esp on the dash where the sun hits the most). It also helps your A/C run better. Unfortunately i've never seen one sold here in the US. I only found a couple of sites mentioning it but never any info on where to get it. >>


Aye. H and A accessories sells them custom-fit for '01 and '02 Civics and Odysseys.
Here's a shot of it in the Odyssey. I can see the functionality of it, but I don't like the way it looks.
You can get them for almost any make and model for around $50 from

Dash-Topper

 

[rootaxs]

Looks similar but not quite. I've actually seen those up-close and they look like regular carpeting. The Dash Shield has some sort of sprayed on coating that works as UV protectants and the underside is also made of some heat rejecting material. It doesn't stick to your dash either. It's held in place by the sheer weight and velcro.

 

[Jzero]

<< Looks similar but not quite. I've actually seen those up-close and they look like regular carpeting. The Dash Shield has some sort of sprayed on coating that works as UV protectants and the underside is also made of some heat rejecting material. It doesn't stick to your dash either. It's held in place by the sheer weight and velcro. >>


Ahhh. I might consider something like that. These things just look like rugs to me.

Well, here's a bump for if anyone else has any thoughts or comments.