What are the pros and cons of plastic cars?

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jun 22 2007, 08:48 AM) [snapback]466343[/snapback]</div>

I am getting VERY interested in ELECTRIC vehicles.......
Does your Xebra look something like this:
[attachmentid=9133]
or more like this model:
[attachmentid=9134]
Do you only "charge" it at home?
Any Commuter parking lots near you that will allow charging (actually have charging stations)??
Down here in Florida, near Tampa, an electric vehicle would be perfect as long as it can easily travel 60 miles between charges....
[/b]

My Xebra is like the upper photograph, except it's a garden-pest green rather than blue. It's known as the SD, for "sedan." Allan has the PK ("pickup) which is the lower picture, but his is white. Pictures are in this thread. Where the picture you posted says "ZAP" on the side, mine has a lightning bolt, and below the doors on both sides it says "Electric," and on the back it says "ALL-ELECTRIC ALL THE TIME."

Maximum speed is 40 mph. Not a freeway car, so that issue is moot. Maximum range is 45 miles, but that's because both Allan and I have upgraded battery capacity. They charge overnight from a standard 110-v outlet.

Spokane does not have any charging stations that I know of, but with a 45-mile range I don't need it.

[Godiva]

I owned a car with a plastic body. I had a Saturn SC2 coupe 1996. Only the hood, roof and trunk were metal.

No problems. In fact less dings. The paint was fine. No problems.

I must say my Prius has a much more solid KaChunk when the door closes.

[Pinto Girl]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Jun 22 2007, 05:33 PM) [snapback]466603[/snapback]</div>

My Xebra is like the upper photograph, except it's a garden-pest green rather than blue. It's known as the SD, for "sedan." Allan has the PK ("pickup) which is the lower picture, but his is white. Pictures are in this thread. Where the picture you posted says "ZAP" on the side, mine has a lightning bolt, and below the doors on both sides it says "Electric," and on the back it says "ALL-ELECTRIC ALL THE TIME."
[/b]

You're really, really making me want to get one of these.

I drive to the transit station, which is about 8-10 miles, roundtrip, daily...I don't need to go faster than 35mph...

I have a soft spot for slow and/or unusual vehicles...and this one's BOTH!!

I am concerned about how effective the HVAC...or should I say, the HV...is. Can do without A/C, stereo, and all the other junk, but I would need to have a heater of some sort...and, most importantly of all, a defroster.

OMG, my size 13EEE carbon-footprint neighbors would probably just shake their heads!!
[laughing]

[ozyran]

Well, honestly, I can think of only one thing I don't like about a plastic body:



Yes, that is an extreme case; however, I can't count the number of times I've seen a Saturn with a busted door panel caused by the occasional curb smack when you get out of the car.

It's interesting seeing the inside of a door panel of a vehicle as it drives past.

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Jun 22 2007, 04:49 PM) [snapback]466636[/snapback]</div>

You're really, really making me want to get one of these.

I drive to the transit station, which is about 8-10 miles, roundtrip, daily...I don't need to go faster than 35mph...

I have a soft spot for slow and/or unusual vehicles...and this one's BOTH!!

I am concerned about how effective the HVAC...or should I say, the HV...is. Can do without A/C, stereo, and all the other junk, but I would need to have a heater of some sort...and, most importantly of all, a defroster.

OMG, my size 13EEE carbon-footprint neighbors would probably just shake their heads!!
[laughing]
[/b]

The Xebra does have a heater. Really a defroster, as the only vents are up on the dashboard, aimed at the windshield. Of course, use of the heater will reduce your total range, but probably not by terribly much. Note that it goes slower up steep hills, and SF is notorious for hills, but I believe there are Xebra owners there.

But if your daily round trip is only 10 miles, you'd be a candidate for the stock version, which sells for around $10K. I needed 40 miles, so I paid a lot for additional batteries and other improvements.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FloridaWen @ Jun 22 2007, 09:51 AM) [snapback]466389[/snapback]</div>

My good friend had TWO Saturns, and both had extremely large "gaps" between hood and fender, fender and doors, etc. It was very unsightly. It was so large (about 3/8" - 1/2" gaps) one could almost put your finger in it !! I wondered just WHY did Saturn have to make these gaps so darn large? Was it sloppy workmanship or just an inherent design "flaw" of a plastic panel vehicle? I never found out why. Can you shed some light as to just why they leave such large gaps ??
[/b]

Because plastics apparently expand and contract more than steel. The gaps are large to allow the panels to expand and still operate properly (e.g. the door). Remember, it'll have to withstand -50°C to +50°C temps. (Say Canadian Arctic to Death Valley)

[JimN]

Does it really matter whether or not the plastic panels have gaping holes from the hail? That metal hood will be scrapped just like the plastic fender.

[PA]

Hopefully the plastic car still has enough metal to trigger the traffic light loops!

[ozyran]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 23 2007, 08:09 PM) [snapback]467036[/snapback]</div>

Does it really matter whether or not the plastic panels have gaping holes from the hail? That metal hood will be scrapped just like the plastic fender.
[/b]

Actually, what I was really trying to point out is that I've seen the same thing happen to door panels. It was a mishap that just destroyed the door panel when a metal door would have only dented.

Besides, do we really need another way to use up the oil we're suppose to be conserving?