Seibon CF hatch pics + review

[Yaris Omega]

that looks freaken great

[CarbonLTD]

Sounds like some expectation are way to high for a $500 carbon fiber piece.

If you guys want high quality carbon, that wont flex, have holes pre-drilled for interior panels, etc you'll need to spend atleast $1000 on a dry carbon fiber piece or atleast vaccum bagged.

Seibon make great products for the price. That hatch runs for $525 including shipping, what more could you expect?

[Jerkratt]

seibon is sopost to make good products... as far as ive heard none of my friends had any problems with them its just weird

[cali yaris]

I expect the piece to FIT, period. My $325 CF hood that I produce fits great, but I don't use the argument that "it doesn't have to fit because it's inexpensive".

More on this subject. For an upcoming show I got the Seibon hood to match, because I want the weave to match front and back. Guess what, the hood has issues too.

The bolt holes and bolts that come with it are smaller than stock -- I have NEVER seen that on an after market hood. They are so small, they slip through the holes on the hinge bracket. So I had to figure out some new bolts and washers etc. to install it. Next, the hood prop hole is too small, so I will have to Dremel that just to prop the hood.

At the very least, vendors should openly tell what mods will need to be done to make their product work or fit, and buyers can then decide before they spend their money if it's worth it. I post a lot of pics of my products and I try them on MY car first.

[Black Yaris]

sounds like a piece ofI would contact the vendor you got it though, so they can bitch to seibon...

[yrsdrgn]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I expect the piece to FIT, period. My $325 CF hood that I produce fits great, but I don't use the argument that "it doesn't have to fit because it's inexpensive".

More on this subject. For an upcoming show I got the Seibon hood to match, because I want the weave to match front and back. Guess what, the hood has issues too.

The bolt holes and bolts that come with it are smaller than stock -- I have NEVER seen that on an after market hood. They are so small, they slip through the holes on the hinge bracket. So I had to figure out some new bolts and washers etc. to install it. Next, the hood prop hole is too small, so I will have to Dremel that just to prop the hood.

At the very least, vendors should openly tell what mods will need to be done to make their product work or fit, and buyers can then decide before they spend their money if it's worth it. I post a lot of pics of my products and I try them on MY car first.

You serious?!?!?! man....im waitin for mine to come in this friday >< can you post the sizes of the new bolts?

[cali yaris]

You can use the bolts that hold the wood pieces (to protect the hood corners during shipping) to the hood. I added a couple of washers so they wouldn't pull through the bracket.

The look and finish are really nice.

[barebonedvitz]

Originally Posted by ROCKLAND TOYOTA

^ you paint it or something else???

painted

[churp]

Have you weighed the hood and hatch, CF and stock, for a comparison? (with the interior pieces attached)

[churp]

No answer on weight savings yet, so can I assume that this is cosmetic, non functional modification?

[yrsdrgn]

here's what he got from his carbon fiber hood (not seibon)

I installed this with a friend in about 5 minutes. I did weigh both hoods:
Stock Hood: 12 lbs. 10 oz.
CF Hood: 7 lbs. 14 oz., saving almost 5 pounds.

[CarbonLTD]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I expect the piece to FIT, period. My $325 CF hood that I produce fits great, but I don't use the argument that "it doesn't have to fit because it's inexpensive".

More on this subject. For an upcoming show I got the Seibon hood to match, because I want the weave to match front and back. Guess what, the hood has issues too.

The bolt holes and bolts that come with it are smaller than stock -- I have NEVER seen that on an after market hood. They are so small, they slip through the holes on the hinge bracket. So I had to figure out some new bolts and washers etc. to install it. Next, the hood prop hole is too small, so I will have to Dremel that just to prop the hood.

At the very least, vendors should openly tell what mods will need to be done to make their product work or fit, and buyers can then decide before they spend their money if it's worth it. I post a lot of pics of my products and I try them on MY car first.

I've been in the carbon fiber business for 9 years now. I have distributed everything from Vis, Seibon, carbon creations, to Mugen, spoon, Nismo, etc. Unless you plan to spend $1000+ for the high end pieces, dont expect highend quality.

The hood/hatch will fit with adjustments. God for bid you take a dremel and make a couple holes, or make a hole large, or adjust a latch catch. This is why "PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION IS REQUIRED" is printed over every aftermarket body company out there. You can't take an aftermarket hood and expect it to just bolt right up as if they made the mold directly off YOUR car.

I see your selling Seibon carbon fiber products, so you of all people should known the adjustments of modifications needed to get them to fit. I installed a Yaris Seibon VS2 hood at our shop last week and it took me 30 minutes. Had an even 1/8" gap all around. All I had to adjust the latch catch and dremel the hinge holes maybe 1/18" an inch bigger to make a "perfect" fit. Again, this goes back to the basics of body repair and installation.

[cali yaris]

Did the hatch you installed come with the proper sized bolt holes?
That is not something you can fix after the fact.

I don't sell Seibon carbon fiber products, you are mistaken.

[cali yaris]

Oh, and welcome to the Y/W community, I see these are your first two posts.

[CarbonLTD]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

Oh, and welcome to the Y/W community, I see these are your first two posts.

And your trying to say, this thread has nothing to do with the fact your running a group buy on "other" carbon fiber hoods?

You claim "excellent" fitment but yet there is atleast a 1/2" gap from the front of the hood to the bumper, more so on the right side then the left. How about the gap on the left fender? Thats atleast 1/4" if not 1/3" and the corner of the hood doesn't align with the top of the fender. These are jsut like the Seibon issues and can be fixed with proper installation, not a "5 minute job" that you did.

If your going to give an "honest" review on a product atleast give it unbias.

All of the things you mentioned are common adjustments needed for ANY aftermarket hood.

[CarbonLTD]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

Did the hatch you installed come with the proper sized bolt holes?
That is not something you can fix after the fact.

I don't sell Seibon carbon fiber products, you are mistaken.

correct size bolt holes? get some different bolts they cost like $.75 at your local store. Luckily, I have a million bolts laying around so I dont have to worry about driving down the street to a local hardware store.

Again, I've installed hundreds and hundreds of hoods from all different manufactures and +95% need adjustments or modifactions to fit "perfect"

[cali yaris]

The gap on the Seibon is exactly the same. I did not point that out (why point it out of if the two hoods I've seen both have the same gaps?), but I did post pictures showing the gap on mine, nothing hidden there!

I don't understand your defensiveness, unless maybe you work for Seibon?

[churp]

Originally Posted by yrsdrgn

here's what he got from his carbon fiber hood (not seibon)

I installed this with a friend in about 5 minutes. I did weigh both hoods:
Stock Hood: 12 lbs. 10 oz.
CF Hood: 7 lbs. 14 oz., saving almost 5 pounds.

Good weight savings....much better than I thought!