If you've followed our recent S2000 and Copen projects, you may have noticed one thing.

We don't simply bolt parts onto cars.

Every modification starts with the same question:

"Will this still be the right decision many years from now?"

Recently, we installed a set of CSOhara Carbon Strake Panels together with AMIS Carbon Side Skirts on an S2000, and a set of TAKEOFF spoilers on an LA400 Copen.

To most people, it probably looks like a straightforward cosmetic upgrade.

In reality, it became a perfect example of why we approach every project differently.

The Story Starts Long Before Installation

Many S2000 owners still dream of finding the stock Honda Side Strake Panel Kit - the 20th anniversary reproduction kit.

Unfortunately, Honda discontinued the kit some years ago.

Today, original sets regularly sell for well over $1,000, assuming you can even find one.

The situation has become so difficult that counterfeit parts and online scams are now common.

Buying the "right" part is no longer as simple as placing an order.

Finding a genuine product has become part of the challenge.

Not All Carbon Parts Are Equal

At first glance, many FRP parts look almost identical.

The difference only becomes obvious once you start fitting them.

Some inexpensive copies are made from very rigid material.

That may sound like a good thing, but it actually creates problems.

The S2000 is now over twenty years old (i.e. average).

Every chassis is slightly different.

Body panels are never perfectly identical from one car to another.

A quality carbon panel has just enough flexibility to follow those small differences without creating stress or gaps.

That is one of the reasons we continue to use products from trusted Japanese manufacturers such as CSOhara and AMIS.

A Carbon Part Isn't Finished When It Arrives

This is something many people don't realise.

Most carbon components arrive with a clear gel-coat finish.

They are not ready to install straight out of the box.

Before fitting, each part requires careful preparation.

Surface and pinhole inspection

Flattening and preparation

High-quality clear coat

Drying time

Hand and Machine polishing

Only then is the part truly finished.

The visible carbon weave may already look beautiful, but the long-term finish depends on everything that happens afterwards.

Installation Is Where Experience Matters

Installing these parts is about far more than tightening a few bolts.

The side skirts require holes to be drilled into the body.

Once those holes exist, there is no going back.

Every fixing point must be measured carefully.

Each hole must be sealed correctly to prevent future water ingress.

We also apply cavity wax to protect the inside of the panels from corrosion, followed by seam sealing where necessary.

These are the details that nobody notices when the car is finished.

They're also the details that determine how the installation will look several years later.

Why Labour Costs More Than People Expect

People often ask why professional installation can seem expensive.

The answer is simple.

The carbon part itself is only one part of the project.

The preparation.

The paintwork.

The fitting.

The sealing.

The corrosion protection.

The experience gained from previous installations.

That's where the time really goes.

It's About Building Cars Properly

Whether you enjoy building your own car or prefer to leave the work to a specialist, understanding the process helps you make better decisions.

There is nothing wrong with choosing affordable parts if they suit your budget.

There is nothing wrong with learning through DIY either.

We've all started somewhere.

Our philosophy has simply always been the same:

Build it once. Build it properly. Build it to last.

At TR imports UK, we're not interested in fitting parts for the sake of modification.

We're interested in building Japanese sports cars that will still make their owners smile many years from now.