Carbon fiber and high-performance exotic vehicles go hand-in-hand. In addition to the sleek, racecar-inspired look or carbon fiber, many drivers prefer this space-age material for its weight-reducing properties. Carbon fiber parts can weigh significantly less than similar parts made from sheet metal, steel, and even plastic, which translates to a lighter, faster car.

But what if you only want the look of carbon fiber? There’s nothing wrong with upgrading your car’s appearance, and carbon fiber will certainly do just that, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should buy real carbon fiber parts for your vehicle. Carbon fiber vinyl wrap looks just as good as the real deal and offers plenty of advantages of its own.

COST OF REAL CARBON FIBER VS. CARBON FIBER WRAP

Not like cost is a great concern for most drivers of high-performance exotics and luxury vehicles, but when comparing real carbon fiber parts and carbon fiber wrap it’s an important distinction to consider. According to some industry experts and insiders, automotive carbon fiber costs between $10 to $12 per pound.1 There is also sometimes a higher markup on carbon fiber parts considering the “premium” status of carbon fiber and the types of drivers who usually purchase these parts.

Consider this: it would cost between $450 and $500 to wrap a hood in carbon fiber film. Compare that with the cost of a carbon fiber hood, which is around $750 for a 2008-2012 BMW 3-Series (to give you an example of how much carbon fiber hoods cost).2 Now imagine you wanted to do your entire vehicle in carbon fiber—you can see how wrapping will give you the desired look for a fraction of the cost of buying real carbon fiber parts, if they’re even available at all. Which brings up another advantage of wrapping: you don’t have to worry about finding a specific part or component that’s made from carbon fiber since anything on your vehicle (and inside your vehicle, too) can be wrapped.

CHANGING THE LOOK OF YOUR CAR

Something else to keep in mind when comparing carbon fiber parts with carbon fiber vinyl wrap is how easy you can change the look of your car after going with either option. Vinyl wrap is easy to take off and change, which means you can restore your car’s original appearance if you grow tired of the carbon fiber look or, worse, the carbon fiber look goes out of style. Replacing parts of your car with one’s made from carbon fiber can make it much harder to change the look of your vehicle. For example, unless you keep your car’s original hood in the garage, you’ll be unable to restore your car’s appearance without buying a brand-new OEM hood.

This might seem like a minor point, but it’s an important one to consider if you plan on selling your vehicle in the future. Not everyone shares your aesthetic taste, and certain modifications can lower the value of your car. And besides, if you’re just into the look of carbon fiber now, who knows what look you’ll be into in the future. With a vinyl wrap you can easily go from carbon fiber to matte black to chrome to tiger print to whatever else you can imagine.

If you want to give your ride the look and feel of carbon fiber, visit the luxury vinyl wrap specialists at Auto Super Shield. Our carbon fiber wraps will give your car the high-end, high-performance look you desire. Get a quote online or call (561) 475-5082.

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