I've been driving around with quite a nice ding in my hood (exactly the height of a RAV4 spare tire). I'm almost in a position to fix it and I need to bounce an idea:

My plan B (if the insurance has closed my years old claim) is to buy a new hood and do the replacement myself (or with a few shade tree mechanic buddies). Any idea how crazy this idea is?

Also, any idea if this Carbon Fiber Hood is any good?

It's not much more than the OEM from the dealer ( ~$440).

Either way I'd need to get the thing painted and move all the hardware from the old hood, to the new... thoughts?

 

I have bern playing with the same idea. My mini is black. So I was thinking of getting a carbon hood.

 

For a racecar carbon is good...
On the street it cracks, flexes, etc....fit is usually pretty bad on most...never seen that brand...but no reason to think it will be any better....
Many folks have done this over the years...most end up going back to OEM on a street car....they crack and break from vibration....with the labour needed to make a cf hood....any unit selling for close to OEM IMO is tuner junk....
Gen1 especially, with hood mounted headlights need a solid hood....
P.S.
I am in Hudson too...right up the hill from the new library near the golf course.....

 

My thought was to increase gas mileage and I thought that price seemed low... That settles that.

P.S. We're nearer to the Hannaford, for what it's worth.