Hood fitment, used to my car?

[Ralph45]

Just wondering if I buy a used hood from another s3 the same as mine will the poppers be in alignment or are they individual/bespoke to each car.

I'm hoping caterham have a template so they are all spaced the same?

[K7 VCT]

I asked the same question to caterham, they say same fitting spaces.

[Ralph45]

Thanks   

[K7 VCT]

Mind you, i would still check as i wonder if anything changed from metric chassis update?

[SLR No.77]

New hoods from Caterham are supplied with the rear poppers fitted but not the sides, IIRC there's still 3 or 4 to fit each side enabling a good fit. I'd be a little sceptical about how well a used hood would fit a different car.

[K7 VCT]

Roll bar differences ?

[Nick Chan]

A long time ago (80's) self build owners would have to fit their own weather gear which meant a variety of different placings depending on interpretation of the manual and where base line measurements were taken. I think it was the worst job to do on the car as you juggled the doors against the side of the car and tried to work out the hinge fittings!

Either it became a no cost option or Caterham were shocked into action by the varying levels of fittings but I seem to recall factory fitted weather equipment being included early 90's on.... which certainly means hood transfer between cars is more likely to fit.  I have a small pile of hoods in the garage and they are interchangeable between cars which is just as well as I can't remember which went with which anyway!

Nick

[john g]

And don't forget that earlier hoods and doors (early 90's ish) had a slightly different 'roof line' profile.

[David aka Blue7]

At one time there was a standard answer to such questions "Go Aero!"

I don't know anyone who uses the standard hood now, most people use the half hood but I wouldn't worry too much because it is easy to fit replacement or additional poppers to the hood using the CC kit with the punch and die but it is much easier to make the hole in the hood using a hole punch (£3.99).

[Bricol]

I use it - makes it all weather, able to be left outside, left in the works car park, arrive dry and warm.  Had the original hood and two second hand ones as the original started to tear at the rear lower corners after ten years.

First second hand one simply didn't fit - on a really warm day I could get it to the screen - if I took it off on a cool day, it really didn't want to go back on.

Second one fitted better - needed a new zip and new drip strip after a few years.  

Went back to the original a couple of years ago, but finally splashed out on a new one last year - had to fit the poppers down the sides, and I'm a bit annoyed I didn't quite do as good a job as I did with the original 19 yrs ago, but it's still water tight in torrential rain.

I have a half hood but I could probably count the number of times its been on since 2005 on my fingers and toes.  If its warm, the roof comes off,  if its raining, the full hood goes on quicker than faffing with straps and clips.  Half hood might get used more on long runs (say to Luxemburg from Yorkshire) in conjunction with my Whimps to give the illusion of open air without being beaten up by motorway slipstreams.

[Gnockoff]

Have to say that I use a Full Hood too. I have heard all the arguments for Half Hood, but it boils down to I don't like getting wet, and more importantly, neither does her indoors. Have never had an issue putting it up, frame straps are adjusted to right tension, it's easy. What ever floats your boat at end of day. 

[SLR No.77]

In my experience a baseball cap keeps more rain off than my half hood, the half hood messes with the airflow and I just get soaked from behind. 
 

However, if I'm touring (eg. abroad) I take the half hood because it takes up less space and supports the shower cap overnight, I just don't use it when driving!

The full hood is brilliant though at keeping you dry, it just reduces outward visibility quite seriously.

[Tim S]

Ralph45, if you're looking for a new hood please see my ad in the For Sale section. It was supplied when I bought the car, 2000 S3, never used it. I've now sold the car so the hood is surplus to requirements. Price negotiable.