Ford releases fuel numbers for the new F-150

[Diamondpilot]

Do I have to spoon feed you everything? I said that Ford claims them to be stronger and you have disputed it. Wanting to see your test results that counter theirs.

Don't battle him. He will win with his year's of experience.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I asked Diamond Pilot, not you.

But since you tried to jump in and post this article I really dont' see anything other than one engineer for Ford making that claim. Pretty easy to see why he has an incentive to say that. It's hardly legitimate unbiased proof that the aluminum panels are stronger.

You can ask all you want. I'm not wasting my time.

Chris

 

[jejeosborne]

Small world, I graduated from SIU in 1984. What year did you graduate? I know the aviation program is big there. We to a visit with my son and daughter about 2 months ago. I'm pretty sure she will go there for architecture. My son looked at the aviation program. I was about ready to quit my job and go back to school, it looked fun to me but he showed no interest. I think he just thought it would be cool to be a helicopter pilot.

I graduated in 1991. Their new transportation school at the airport is pretty nice looking. It was nice even before the new facility. I toured with my daughter a couple years ago and was disappointed with the campus. Showed the typical lack of funding that most of the bankrupt state is showing. The engineering buildings looked just like they did when I went. Dark and gloomy. Then I learn they are going to tear down the towers and Thompson woods was destroyed in a tornado. Sad visit for me but it would be fun. My daughter's boyfriend goes there so I can relive some experiences through him.

 

[jejeosborne]

I have no problem with aluminum trucks.
But when people tell me that they dont' cost more to produce and they dont' cost more to repair I get skeptical.
When people tell me it is stronger than a steel body I get skeptical.
When people tell me this is a fact but they can't produce any proof I get skeptical.

I never said they don't cost more to produce!

I never said they didn't cost more to repair!

I never said the aluninum panel was stronger, Ford did!

I agree it may cost more to insure!

Why the rant over things we agree on?

As far as the ecodiesel is concerned, it is true, I don't see why someone would want to spend more per mile with reduced performance. Just my opinion. If you have money to burn, go get one.

 

[KennyG]

I hate to insert myself into a great spat like this, but the "we use steel for roofs and aluminum for soffits" argument caught my eye. Is anyone else old enough to remember when we used galvanized metal for cheap roofs but aluminum if we could afford it. The reason, of course, was that no steel roof was really corrosion resistance. A slightly heavier aluminum was. Now, the advances in coating of steel panels have eliminated the need for aluminum.

Comparing an auto body aluminum to house trim isn't very informative. I think the only people who could really know at this time how dent resistant the new F-150 will be would be Ford. I hope it works out well. My Dodge certainly has a few hail dents and my next truck will probably be an F-150.

 

[roadhunter]

I hate to insert myself into a great spat like this, but the "we use steel for roofs and aluminum for soffits" argument caught my eye. Is anyone else old enough to remember when we used galvanized metal for cheap roofs but aluminum if we could afford it. The reason, of course, was that no steel roof was really corrosion resistance. A slightly heavier aluminum was. Now, the advances in coating of steel panels have eliminated the need for aluminum.

Comparing an auto body aluminum to house trim isn't very informative. I think the only people who could really know at this time how dent resistant the new F-150 will be would be Ford. I hope it works out well. My Dodge certainly has a few hail dents and my next truck will probably be an F-150.

Can't say I have ever seen an aluminum roof. But they do make aluminum soffit. wonder why? Impact resistance. That is why Ford has indicated they are adding more material to strengthen the aluminum panel for hail resistance.

The properties of sheet aluminum are well known at this time by more than just Ford engineers. Plenty of companies use aluminum sheet metal for different applications and have been doing so for many years. I'm sure that by adding material they can give it more strength but also with additional costs. Always going to be a tradeoff. Anybody who tells you that aluminum body panels are lighter, cost the same or less to make, cost the same or less to insure, cost the same or less to repair, etc.. are simply not being realistic and ignoring the reality of the material. Glad we have gotten back to reality with this discussion.

 

[Ford850]

I think some are upset about aluminum trucks because it will raise the price of aluminum, and they'll be spending more on their aluminum foil hats.

 

[mikehaugen]

I think some are upset about aluminum trucks because it will raise the price of aluminum, and they'll be spending more on their aluminum foil hats.

Hey, we recycle our cans... I guess this could be a good thing for us. Maybe be able to afford one someday!

 

[Ford850]

Hey, we recycle our cans... I guess this could be a good thing for us. Maybe be able to afford one someday!

Yeah I have been watching the scrap yard, waiting for that huge scrap aluminum price increase that was predicted due to Ford "locking up all the aluminum" in contracts. The price here hasn't changed in 6 months. Maybe when GM and Fiat start building aluminum trucks I'll be able sell my can accumulation and retire.

 

[Msamt]

Nice....