Car Tech: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars?
- 6/6/07 1:57 PM
what are the pros and cons of plastic cars
by lacydog2 - 6/21/07 7:06 PM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
Won't go into the arguments but everyone probably knows
the 'Vette was only sheet metal one year so there's a good answer
for all although a car made from carbon fibre would be nice if
in the publics price range.
Plastic Cars?
by paultaut - 6/21/07 7:46 PM In reply to: what are the pros and cons of plastic cars by lacydog2We are still talking massive carnage....
Lets put a steel bolt into a paper envelope, speed it up to 60mph. and stop abruptly. Do actually believe that the slug will remain in the envelope?
That is a metal ENGINE in a plastic car.
Better yet...put a plastic car into a Roller Derby and see if anyone would be willing to drive it.
PS. Plastic Trailer Trucks anyone.
Plastic trailer trucks??? Absolutely!!!!
by john3347 - 6/21/07 10:58 PM In reply to: Plastic Cars? by paultautPaultaut, You better do some reasearch. Kenworth and Peterbilt are currently building complete glued-together plastic truck bodies and having very good success with them. These are regular production trucks that are in normal service right now, not some futuristic experimental models. Yes, plastic is the future because it has many advantages over steel or aluminum. You might as well get used to it and start liking it.
plastic cars
by douglaszargham - 6/21/07 7:40 PM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
who wouldn't want one?
i'd like malleable plastic! i could mould my hyundai into a bentley- what a hit that would be at the country club. i could shed my gardner's clothes and pose as a member...
Plastic Cars!
by marquis - 6/21/07 8:02 PM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
I am a 62 year old male and I am still trying to find vehicles that offer some comfort, safety, and handling. These plastic "things" they call cars today are nothing more than cookie cutter types. When I learned to drive, you learned the rules of safety by knowing how to handle a vehicle with some weight to it. The shear weight of the vehicle being constructed of "real metal" gave the margin of safety we needed because we learned to drive...not aim our vehicles. Something that might have metal that might be thick enough to hold a can of peaches and then surrounded by plastic and inappropriatelly being referred to as a car is a joke. Heck even the plastics we had back in the day were heavier than they are today. I continue to drive the older vehicles and I will until I cannot drive any longer. Buy a plastic car? Why?
these cars are dangerous
by PanthersClaws4 - 6/21/07 9:17 PM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
these lighter cars are way more dangerous to the tune of 7000 more deaths per gallon of gas they supposedly conserve. and what are the statistics on the true cost compared to steel over all. and what is the long term of using plastics of these kinds---we are already polluting the planet almost beyond repair ---we need solid unbiased objective data and answers and fast --and where are the engines that can get 100 miles to the gallon -- why aren't we more concerned with better economy and 100% consumption than going to lighter poor utilitarian cars that are only "safe and green" on the surface and not in reality
Get Real
by Kurt Saldutti - 6/21/07 10:29 PM In reply to: these cars are dangerous by PanthersClaws4Come on now lets get real. No one in any right frame of mind is saying that the car is plastic as in the total structure etc. The fact is metal or steel called the outer skin or what ever you want is not any stronger in protecting anyone than a plastic skin car with a solid well-engineered cage for the greenhouse. The so-called steel body panels are just plain soft tin material incapable of protection and if anything a point of lacerations. I will say this again, I can cause serious damage to car or truck of most any make or model with my bare hands, a knee or an elbow to today’s tin like body panels. Do you really believe that those panels offer any protection in a minor or major accident? The only thing they provide is help with wind coefficients stats and weather protection. Sorry but the steel body panels on vehicles today is just trash and where stuck with it no mater how much you spend. Unless of course you can afford an H-1 hummer that is now discontinued to the public.
DANDEROUS?????????????
by Rick1600 - 6/22/07 4:03 AM In reply to: these cars are dangerous by PanthersClaws4Do u read reviews on autos?? Think, before u talk. Saturn, voted America car of the year for 2007 models. That includes SAFETY! Thank u very much.
We might as well like plastic
by john3347 - 6/21/07 10:47 PM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
Plastic has been in automobile bodies in front and rear ends and interiors and various other locations for years. Plastics (and other materials with characteristics similar to plastic) really have many advantages. Whether we embrace the movement or not, as present day motor fuel becomes more and more expensive, more and more plastics and similar materials will find their way into our automobiles. (it takes less fuel to get a lighter vehicle up to speed) We are just going to have to accept the fact. Besides, your steel body is in auto heaven while the plastic body has a few more years, and at a lower initial cost.
Is it lightning proof?
by radiojerry - 6/22/07 1:19 AM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
One of the safest places in an electrical storm is inside an automobile. What happens to that safety factor om a plastic car? Imagine getting hit by lightning at 60 mph with no protection.
electrical
by wcoffey81 - 6/22/07 5:58 AM In reply to: Is it lightning proof? by radiojerrysome of the newer high mileage tires lack an important ingreediant needed for proper grounding. that is carbon black. if the tires don't ground electricity has a bad habit of searching for a ground.
What About Those Plastic Cars!
by JCipo - 6/22/07 6:41 AM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
I too drove a 72 Dart. They look tough but not as tough as a 1949 model. However, the steel rusts and gets damaged. I drive a plastic car called a Corvette. They don,t use fiberglass any more. It is ding and dent resistent and can be touched up easily if need be. Here is the problem.....F = M A . The bigger a vehicle is and the faster it goes, the greater the force it creates. Inertia is another form of the problem. Once something goes, it doesn't want to stop. In the big old cars of the past, without seat belts and air bags, the passengers would bounce around in the vehicle like a ping pong ball upon a crash. The force created from the mass of the collision and the speed of the vehicles had to go some where. To lighten cars and get good gas mileage plastic is very important in a vehicle. But what about that force that happens almost instantly in a crash. It has to go somewhere and to prevent it from going through the passengers the auto engineers created the crumple car. Mercedes perfected this in the 1960's. The force is absorbed by the impact and the vehicle or parts of it (like the bumper) collapses. Thus making the passengers who are in a specialy designed cage in the vehicle, safe.
I have seen how in an instant, a sports car at high speeds hit a large SUV became a pile of rubble. The driver walked away. Yes the SUV had a lot less damage but you have to make compromises.
Plastic Parts on My Toyota
by softwarecritic - 6/22/07 9:24 AM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
I drive a 2003 Toyota which has been dinged several times. The first time it was repaired by a tech using a 'magic color' technique and the second I dinged it myself which I plan to fix with underwater epoxy which sets up fast. As for the plastic parts the door panel plastic guards are useful in preventing dents except from the over prevalent SUV's. The plastic bumber covers are virtually useless since a hard whack will damage the shock absorbers which is an expensive deal
epoxy
by wcoffey81 - 6/23/07 10:42 AM In reply to: Plastic Parts on My Toyota by softwarecriticmost cured epoxies sand like the floor so be careful when you use it! a bump of epoxy looks just as bad as a dent. even with a damaged bumper shock your toyota will survive to fight another day
todays cars are much safer
by styleline52 - 6/22/07 10:44 AM In reply to: What are the pros and cons of plastic cars? by wcunning
To me this is a silly topic as almost all of todays cars have metal subframes and bumpers. Todays fullsize cars are much safer than old cars.I have three cars, a 05 Chrysler 300, a 99 Mazda pickup , and a 1952 Chevy Styleline. I would much rather be in a wreck in either of my new cars than the 52. Yes the 52 is all steel and has big chrome bumpers but safety wise is a lot more dangerous. There is a misunderstanding that old cars are stronger but if you look at the weight of the vehicles ( where most damage and protection comes from) the 05 Chrysler weighs over 1000 pounds more than the 52, (4400 vs 3350). Small eco cars are the most dangerous and if you care about your family think before you buy. All the safety equipment makes these cars heavier. My 52 has no plastic except the knobs on dash and I would hate to hit the dash in an accident, but I do love the old look and feel of vintage vehicles.
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