I have been looking at various body parts and am a little lost.
What is the pros and cons of all the different materials?
dry CF - wet CF - /FRP - Urethane...etc.

 

Do a search

FRP is stronger but not flexible. Chance of cracking and breaking when in accident. Then need to replace.

Urethane is like your front bumper flexible.

 

So CF would be a better choice for day to day?

 

Actually urethane would be better day to day imho. Flexible and therefore less flex-wearing than the stiffer CF. I think most folks go with CF only for the looks [of which doesn't appeal to me, but I can still understand it].

 

FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) is flexible... at least I thought it was, and the past FRP products I have bought have been flexible.
I thought it was more fliexible than fiberglass alone

 

Yes, FRP is more flexible than 'straight' fiberglass.

btw: when considering materials one must always play the compromise game between toughness and hardness.

 

I'm not a big fan of CF look either, so I would have it painted.

I eat the odd cone...so I need something that will take a bit of a beating.

 

My wife had a Pontiac Fiero 20 odd years ago. Its urethane paneled doors were very dent resistant.

 

Like a Saturn

 

so urethane is the best way to go if it was fiberglass vs. urethane?

 

Overview of the Two Materials

Urethane is flexible but very difficult to customize or repair in any way.

Fiberglass is rigid but can be readily repaired or customized by a competent shop.

Points to be Considered

Purchase Cost
Fitment
Ability to Customize or Modify
Cost and Ability to repair


PURCHASE COST

If you are purchasing a quality part or kit, the urethane products are probably going to be slightly more expensive.


FITMENT

Generally speaking, a urethane product will fit a car slightly better right out of the box due to the control in the manufacturing process.
However, a urethane product CANNOT be fitted as exactly as a fiberglass part. Fiberglass products usually require trimming or filling during installation.


ABILITY TO CUSTOMIZE OR MODIFY

A good custom shop can modify or customize ALL fiberglass products. Fiberglass is a material that can be shaped, changed or fitted to any application. These mods can be reinforced to produce significant strength and durability. Urethane cannot be reworked or modified with any degree of durability.


COST AND ABILITY TO REPAIR

Urethane parts are flexible and will absorb very small 'hits' without creating serious damage (cracks or holes). However, once urethane is cracked in any manner, it is usually sent to the scrap pile out back.

Fiberglass parts are totally repairable. Most damaged parts, within reason, of course, can be repaired by any shop experienced with fiberglass. Proper repairs on fiberglass parts are durable and should be permanent.

Let's look at a repair cost scenario on a full bumper replacement kit.
Suppose there are a couple of good sized cracks in the front bumper. Normally, with a urethane kit, the bumper will need to be replaced.
Usually, the part cost is approximately $425.00 + $125.00 (average) in shipping. The labor to remove/replace and paint will be a constant cost in either replacing or repairing. There will probably be a time delay of up to 4 weeks until the replacement bumper arrives. The same cracks in a fiberglass bumper can probably be repaired immediately for a labor cost of $150.00. In most cases, unless the damage is very severe, this means a savings of $400.00 to repair a fiberglass front bumper rather than replacing a urethane bumper.

taken from

http://www.wickedbodies.net/FAQ's.htm

 

Real carbon fiber is extremely strong and rigid. The difference between wet and dry carbon fiber is that in wet CF, the resin is applied separately from the CF weave. Wet CF is applied like Fiberglass. You lay down the weave, then apply resin using the same methods as in FRP. With dry CF, the resin is "Pre-Impregnated" into the weave. The way they do that is by freezing the resin onto the weave.