first do they really improve the handling?
second carbonfiber vs aluminum?
third can the plastic battery cover go back ontop so that you can't see a brace has been put in.

Thanks...

 

General consensus seems to be that they dont do much because the strut towers already have triangulated re-enforcements running to the firewall. Strut bars do serve their purpose tho: people use them to hang the remote canisters off of for easy access.

 

^^^ what he said, the front firewall is already traigulated indesign, however, the rears do help though.

 

...unless you have a cab (or a Bose system?). Then the rear bar won't fit.

From what I have read, because of the proximity of the struts to the front firewall and the reinforcements, a front bar adds very little to the structural stiffness, as opposed to vehicles in which the strut is farther away from the firewall.