Got a newer Ford? Dont dent it....

[KennyG]

:

I see plenty of copper roofs but I' can't say I've ever seen a aluminum roof installed.

50 years ago aluminum was pretty common as a shed roof in the midwest. At that time the only steel alternative was galvanized and it was less than perfect because of corrosion at fasteners and cuts. The aluminum used was very thin (because of the high cost of aluminum at that time) and it sometimes had problems with wear at the fasteners and wind failures. When the modern steel paint treatments became available the aluminum kind of disappeared. It's just all cost and performance and it changes with the technology.

Speculation on cost of repair is interesting, but for me, like most people, it really wouldn't make a difference unless someone can show a significant difference in insurance cost. I don't pay for repairs, I only pay the deductible.

 

[ultrarunner]

Amazing the furor, misinformation, and consternation about aluminum body stuff. Commercial heavy trucks have been using aluminum bodies for several decades. One can even spec aluminum frames and drive axle housings. Like most things, the auto/pickup folks are the last ones to the party.

We've had a number of AC Ace roadsters in the family going back to 1953 and all were aluminum body...

Some of the old 1920's Rolls Royce cars used massive amounts of aluminum for body panels... nothing new under the sun.

 

[Garandman]

The first Land Rovers (1948-1985) had aluminum bodies. Rover claims 70% of them are still on the road. Jaguar Land Rover claims to be the world leader in aluminum bodied vehicles. Ford owned Jaguar for some time. Many Model T hoods were aluminum.

Ford used aluminum tailgates on Expeditions from 2000-2007. Audi has used aluminum body panels on some models since 1984 and aluminum body structures since the early 1990's.

We've had a number of AC Ace roadsters in the family going back to 1953 and all were aluminum body... .

Sweet.

This was at a vintage event at Lime Rock. Lotus.

 

[Diamondpilot]

21 body shops out of over a hundred shops give you choices but do you really think they aren't going to charge more for going to the trouble to get certified with training and equipment so they can service aluminum vehicles?

Who do you think ends up paying the extra costs? Manufacturer, Body Shop, Insurance Company, or Consumer.

I can tell you when I got a quote on a 2016 Aluminum F150 it was something like $4 more per month. We now have 2 in our families fleet.

I also got a qoute on a Ram and a GMC. Interestingly enough the Ram was cheaper but the GMC was more.

 

[Sysop]

I see plenty of copper roofs but I' can't say I've ever seen a aluminum roof installed.

Look at any of the older single-wide trailers built from the 50s through the 80s.

 

[clemsonfor]

What's your zip?

I am not familiar with the Ford dealers capabilities but I know that I have no choices within 2 hours. Rapid City is just over 2 hours away.

I checked Casper Wyoming and there are no choices.

I checked Billings, MT. No dealer options there either but there are a couple of independent shops.

Nebraska there are only 3, Lincoln, Omaha and Crete. All 8 hours away.

Colorado has a few with Greeley and Ft Collins being closest, about 4 Hours away.

Im pretty sure if you call the first reputable body shop in the closest town you go to and ask can you fix the door panel or quarter or whatever on my 2016 ford truck , they will tell you no problem, and I bet it would be close in cost to if that truck was a 2013, only difference would probably be in actual part cost and maybe a bit more in labor....maybe if there is an extra process to fix it or remove a panel vs the old one.

 

[clemsonfor]

I can tell you when I got a quote on a 2016 Aluminum F150 it was something like $4 more per month. We now have 2 in our families fleet.

I also got a qoute on a Ram and a GMC. Interestingly enough the Ram was cheaper but the GMC was more.

More subtle GM bashing?

I don't care , I think its funny and just poking at you since so many say you do it all the time. Ha

 

[Diamondpilot]

More subtle GM bashing?

I don't care , I think its funny and just poking at you since so many say you do it all the time. Ha

Call your guy and compare smart azz...

I did so when all the experts started talking about the aluminum bodies.

If it makes you feel any better our 2016 Honda Civic Turbo cost about the same as our 2013 Edge Sport that's worth twice as much and my 2012 Eco Boost that's more than twice as much.

Insurance rates have lots of factors. Trust me, we owned a Farmers Agency for a year before my wife went back into banking. Zip Code is the biggest variable, followed by driver demographics.

 

[GLyford]

Do people think shops are beating panels to repair them? The closest thing your going to get to that without going to a custom car shop is the dentless guys. There are few if any accident repair shops that are going to have a guy panel beating with a hammer and dolly fixing dents in either AL or FE panels or reskining doors and beds.

My brother used to do some work on the side for a guy with a frame jig. Was talking with him about both the technicalities and economics of that level of repair.

On the tech side, especially for unibody stuff, he pointed out that if you use the jig to get the car absolutely straight and perfect the car has basically had all the force from the accident applied to it twice, once to bend it, then once again to straighten it. Once it was straight, every part of the car bent by the jig was cut off. He said it was still worth doing because this meant all your new panels would fit correctly.

But on the economic side, not many insurers were willing to invest the amount of money it took to do that and were just writing them off instead. Last I heard, he couldn't keep the jig busy enough to justify tying up a service bay and had sold it.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^Never though of it this way but makes sense.