Metal...body?

[Ty]

Okay, I'll be the man of steel.

 

[Maurtis]

I haven't had any rust problems in any of my vehicles since the 1965 Mustang. If you see any Saturn Vue's or Saturn Ski's on the road, look at all the space between panels. Apparently, the plastic expands and contracts more than its steel equivalent so bigger spaces are necessary. Steel panels should help make the Elio look more like a "Real" car. I'm happy to see they are going with steel. It'll mean for cheaper dent repair if needed!

I wonder if the Saturn's issues were more because of the price point? I do not recall gap issues with my father-in-law's C5 and C6 Corvettes.

But I understand the change to steel and have no problem with it. I was looking forward to the ding resistance of SMC, but I will just continue parking waaaaaay out and pass up the rockstar spots as usual.

 

[ecdriver711]

I've never owned a corvette. They are cool. All my many cars and trucks have been steel. Only my Datsun truck rusted. That was 1980.

 

[Elio Amazed]

At this point I really don't give a sh*t either way.
$7K was good news and if treated steel helped, so be it.

 

[floydv]

Steel away...

 

[Gregw]

If my understanding of a uni-body car is correct, all of the parts work together to create the overall stiffness and strength, frame and body panels. On a tubular frame the body panels do not add to the overall strength, the frame has to do all the work. A uni-body car should be stiffer and less likely to have parts rattle if they are part of the structure.

 

[floydv]

I wonder if the rolls of steel for making the panels will come from India.

 

[Ekh]

I wonder if the rolls of steel for making the panels will come from India.

I hope they've found a small mill that's barely surviving in this country and are sourcing the steel through this plant -- job creations, American made, etc. Specialty steel is about all there is left now in the USA.

 

[Ty]

I hope they've found a small mill that's barely surviving in this country and are sourcing the steel through this plant -- job creations, American made, etc. Specialty steel is about all there is left now in the USA.

I know this isn't the right topic but I'd be willing to pay more for my steel if I had a choice between American and "other" steel.

 

[Ekh]

I know this isn't the right topic but I'd be willing to pay more for my steel if I had a choice between American and "other" steel.

Something else I really liked -- the end-of-life-disposal consideration they gave to making the choice. Now THAT is green thinking. Go Elio.