Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I don't care for the 15 F150 I saw at the car show, looked like a Toyota and it was loaded with gadgets. Its an accountants truck not a contractors.
As long as insurance rates don't go up I don't care what the truck is made out of.
Note that rates will indeed go up a bit on these as repairs are markedly more expensive. Also most indie shops cannot yet work on aluminum. It is supposed to cost 200-300k just to get the correct tools, and they cannot be used at all on regular steel due to corrosion issues!
You got that right Steve. I wouldn't want an aluminum body vehicle if someone bought it for me. Bolt on panels is one thing but not the whole body.
As it is now i can pull and cut off a rear quarter and mig/spot weld it back on, no big deal but not aluminum.
It sounds like a nightmare for small to medium sized shops and even body guys doing it on the side.
The body guy will need to be a pretty good welder if not a pro. I can see a load of hack jobs flooding the market.
Repairing these things will cost a fortune, the insurance has to go up. Another case of Ford has a better idea.
Aluminum on a high end car is one thing but a working pick up?
http://triblive.com/business/headlines/5739750-74/aluminum-150-repair#axzz367VUbhrn
http://www.collisionbodyshop.com/services/specialty-repairs/aluminum-repair
http://www.audiusanews.com/newsrelease.do;jsessionid=AB2E9C15B98914E3A3E7C0D2E6379DD6?&id=2238&allImage=1&teaser=high-tech-production-aluminum-bodies&mid=111
http://www.autonews.com/article/20131202...age-of-aluminum