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is the body of a prius made out of aluminum?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by tevogel, Feb 2, 2012.

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  1. tevogel

    tevogel Junior Member

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    is the body of a prius made out of aluminum?
     
    #1 tevogel, Feb 2, 2012
  2. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    It has aluminum hood.
     
    #2 32kcolors, Feb 2, 2012
  3. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    I think the hood and tailgate are, but the rest is steel.
     
    #3 adamace1, Feb 2, 2012
  4. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    You're right and plastic bumpers.
     
    #4 cycledrum, Feb 2, 2012
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    when i had to replace the tailgate on my 04, it cost me a bundle.
     
    #5 bisco, Feb 2, 2012
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Ahh yes, all replacement parts are made of gold. :eek:
     
    #6 fotomoto, Feb 2, 2012
  7. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    Someone rear ended me and the rear bumper was replaced. The shop said it was made in Taiwan.
     
    #7 Silver bullit, Feb 3, 2012
  8. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    Curious. Why the mix of aluminum and plastic? Why not all plastic or all aluminum? Weight? Strength?
     
    #8 Silver bullit, Feb 3, 2012
  9. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    Sure it was not Thailand or maybe they were confused?
     
    #9 dustoff003, Feb 3, 2012
  10. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    That's possible. Maybe I heard it wrong. Are they made in Thailand?
     
    #10 Silver bullit, Feb 3, 2012
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Bumpers are ideally deformable, but re-formable. They should bounce back.

    Body panels are judged by tight seams, a deformable part will not have tight seams, Saturn used plastic body panels but was blasted for poor fit and finish.

    Design News - Blog - Finally We Get Some Truth on Plastic Body Panels

    http://www.i-car.com/pdf/advantage/online/2007/100107.pdf
     
    #11 JimboPalmer, Feb 3, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  12. Guy in WNY

    Guy in WNY Junior Member

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    the front bumper is also aluminium under all the foam and plastic. They replaced mine after the dog/car incident as it was bent.
     
    #12 Guy in WNY, Feb 3, 2012
  13. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    Yes sir Priuses are made currently only made in Japan and Thailand.
     
    #13 dustoff003, Feb 3, 2012
  14. Eoin

    Eoin Active Member

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    #14 Eoin, Feb 3, 2012
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hood, hatch, brake calipers and I think a few suspension bits are aluminium. The rest are steel (except the bumpers which are plastic) AFAIK.

    All aluminium is too expensive (see NSX, XJ and 1G Insight).

    All plastic = panel gap issues, aerodynamics, wind noise (plastics expand/contract much more than steel. See Saturn or smart fortwo and look at the size of the gaps between exterior panels).
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Feb 3, 2012
  16. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    #16 dustoff003, Feb 3, 2012
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i only had a small dent, but according to the body shop, you can't repair aluminum.
     
    #17 bisco, Feb 3, 2012
  18. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    wait... i thought it was the doors, hood, roof, and rear hatch. the actual body panels that connect to the rocker panel are not aluminum. and of course as everyone said, the bumpers are plastic.

    i didn't think about the suspension parts...

    as for repairing aluminum... i thought you can but it requires heat and a lot of pressure?.?.?... (not 100% fixed but enough after it's repainted. mainly smaller dents)
     
    #18 V8Cobrakid, Feb 3, 2012
  19. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    You can, but aluminum work hardens. Pounding out a dent will create stress lines that will ultimately crack.

    Tom
     
    #19 qbee42, Feb 3, 2012
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I think they changed the doors to steel for 2010. They sound different from the aluminium doors of the Gen 5 Camry.
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Feb 3, 2012
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