I think an LS7-swapped Lotus Elise would be mighty swell
Is the use of plastic on new vehicles out of control?
- Thread starter grampi
- Start date
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
A Hellcat swapped K-Car, lolI think an LS7-swapped Lotus Elise would be mighty swell
Cost cutting is not for the benefit of us, the customers.
That’s a roller skate with a rocket put in it…
On street Outlaws Shane had that Blackbird Vega that was very lightweight but he really struggled keeping that car in a lane… He wrecked a few of them quite bad. Chuck in there said too light with all that power was unmanageable.
That would be hot; I can’t believe Chrysler hasn’t done an AWD Hellcat-swapped 300C. I would actually consider that; the 300C in some iterations actually looks pretty sweet.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
How much more would you be willing to pay for a car with all alloy parts where you think "plastic" isn't appropriate? Does it matter, do you buy new cars?
Might prices go up even more were there no such savings?
I saw a video about the development of a Mustang from a few years back. There was a meeting of the development team in which there was a discussion about whether a part needed four or five bolts to secure it and the decision was to use four bolts. The savings per car was minuscule, pennies if I recall, and when the meeting was concluded one of the designers said, "Well, we just saved Ford $500,000."
My point is that sometimes there's not much savings per vehicle to pass along, but overall the company can save quite a bit.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Another first world problem to solve on BITOG N Stuff …
I believe that he owns an example of the BITOG Holy Grail- a Corolla with 400k miles on it.
Back in 1980 I owned the fastest car Chrysler Corp sold- a 1979 Plymouth Arrow GT 2.6; 0 to 60 in a blistering 10 seconds flat. It averaged 25 mpg.
43 years later I have a 4 door sedan that weighs @1,200 lbs. more and runs 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds; it also averages 25 mpg.
I hate progress.
43 years later I have a 4 door sedan that weighs @1,200 lbs. more and runs 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds; it also averages 25 mpg.
I hate progress.
Not all plastic are cost cutting. I've worked with some (the correct term is composite) that cost more than their metal counterparts.
Metal corrodes and rust overtime, I think that's the main reason a lot of salt belt cars got scrap. Imagine if someone has a plastic with fiberglass or carbon fiber reinforcement capable of the same load replace it, that corrosion problem would disappear.
I've seen enough low quality metal parts that are worse than plastic. One example would be the CSF "Brass" radiator that slowly leak, vs an aluminum with plastic top and bottom that lasted 160k and 12 years with no problem.
Metal corrodes and rust overtime, I think that's the main reason a lot of salt belt cars got scrap. Imagine if someone has a plastic with fiberglass or carbon fiber reinforcement capable of the same load replace it, that corrosion problem would disappear.
I've seen enough low quality metal parts that are worse than plastic. One example would be the CSF "Brass" radiator that slowly leak, vs an aluminum with plastic top and bottom that lasted 160k and 12 years with no problem.
I know I'm tempting fate, but my Club Sport still has the original radiator (and coolant hoses).
dnewton3
Staff member
Allow me to quote myself in response to a similar thread elsewhere on the site
Talking about the concern for "plastic" parts in cars today is so grossly undefined that it's nearly laughable, IMO.
The same could be applied to the word "glue". People reel backwards often when they think their car body structure is often "glued" together with adhesives.
I remember about 40 years ago, when Gaston Glock introduced his "plastic" (polymer) guns to the world.
Do these objections sound familiar?
- "I don't want one of those; it's cheap plastic and will probably break."
- "These plastic guns will never catch on."
- "Metal guns can never be beat."
.
dnewton3 said:
Talking about the concern for "plastic" parts in cars today is so grossly undefined that it's nearly laughable, IMO.
The same could be applied to the word "glue". People reel backwards often when they think their car body structure is often "glued" together with adhesives.
I remember about 40 years ago, when Gaston Glock introduced his "plastic" (polymer) guns to the world.
Do these objections sound familiar?
- "I don't want one of those; it's cheap plastic and will probably break."
- "These plastic guns will never catch on."
- "Metal guns can never be beat."
.
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2021
- Messages
- 209
I wish more of my vehicle was plastic, especially the body panels.
Plastic means no rust, which is a huge thing where I live.
I currently own a 2003 Ford Ranger as a spare vehicle. It has some big ugly rust holes in the rear fenders. My truck before that one was a 2001 Ranger with more miles on it and way less rust.
The difference was that one had a step-side box which was made out of fiberglass on the outside of it.
I also previously owned a couple of Saturn's, which are known for their use of plastic body panels.
Most Corvettes were also made with plastic body panels.
I really wish there were more vehicles made with plastic body panels, but that's about as far as the list goes (at least until you get to the exotic's that are made out of carbon fiber).
I do agree that real metal is better for many parts though. I don't think I'm sold on their use as an oil pan or other important engine parts that get hot. Plastic radiators have been a thing for a long time, but I think I'd still rather have an old-school metal one if given a choice. Although once again, plastic does have the anti-corrosion advantage there too.
Plastic means no rust, which is a huge thing where I live.
I currently own a 2003 Ford Ranger as a spare vehicle. It has some big ugly rust holes in the rear fenders. My truck before that one was a 2001 Ranger with more miles on it and way less rust.
The difference was that one had a step-side box which was made out of fiberglass on the outside of it.
I also previously owned a couple of Saturn's, which are known for their use of plastic body panels.
Most Corvettes were also made with plastic body panels.
I really wish there were more vehicles made with plastic body panels, but that's about as far as the list goes (at least until you get to the exotic's that are made out of carbon fiber).
I do agree that real metal is better for many parts though. I don't think I'm sold on their use as an oil pan or other important engine parts that get hot. Plastic radiators have been a thing for a long time, but I think I'd still rather have an old-school metal one if given a choice. Although once again, plastic does have the anti-corrosion advantage there too.
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AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Just replaced the plastic OEM radiator in the 2002 Wrangler. Piece of crap only lasted 21 years. 
The major gripe I have with plastics is their use in the interiors of even higher end machines.
This is cheap pure and simple.
It was not so long ago that if you bought a midline car, like an Accord, you could expect padded fabric on the door interiors. Today, you get molded plastic with maybe a small padded overlay on the higher trim models.
Higher end German cars aren't any better.
OTOH, while this is no doubt a cost saver, how much more might a car have to cost with a more attractive interior?
This is cheap pure and simple.
It was not so long ago that if you bought a midline car, like an Accord, you could expect padded fabric on the door interiors. Today, you get molded plastic with maybe a small padded overlay on the higher trim models.
Higher end German cars aren't any better.
OTOH, while this is no doubt a cost saver, how much more might a car have to cost with a more attractive interior?
Most of this airplane is plastic.
Costs more than metal, but allows a lighter weight, fuel saving, stronger, corrosion-resistant structure. It is transformational - and so much better than cheap metal airplanes that Boeing has already sold every single one for the next ten years of production.
If you would like to buy one, delivery will be in 2034 or later.
https://www.boeing.com/commercial/787/
Costs more than metal, but allows a lighter weight, fuel saving, stronger, corrosion-resistant structure. It is transformational - and so much better than cheap metal airplanes that Boeing has already sold every single one for the next ten years of production.
If you would like to buy one, delivery will be in 2034 or later.
https://www.boeing.com/commercial/787/
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These artificial textiles and blow molded plastics smell absolutely horrible I get bad headaches driving a brand new vehicle
It's not dollar store Tupperware plastic. It's built for the task at hand.
