I have my eye on the 18 Expedition which will have an aluminum body. Are dents, dings, scratches etc more difficult/expensive to remove? I've been told that's the case but I don't know anyone who has one so would appreciate your input.

I was told that it was definitely more expensive to work on by 2 different body shops, and they both recommended a 2014 model if I was going to buy an F150, so that's what I did.
I know that it doesn't answer the question directly, but I was wanting a 2016 F150 with the aluminum parts. Ed

15k on my '16 F150 XLT. Luckily no dent or scratches so far, so can't comment on repair costs.

That said I like the look of the new Expeditions, but my wife is solid on another Flex when we retire her 2013.

I haven't had to repair any dents, dings or scratches on my 2015 F-150 yet so I can't comment directly. However my insurance premiums decreased from my steel bodied 2013 F-150.

My dealership runs an advertisement saying they want 2014 F150's and will pay top dollar for trades.

That says something to me and why I am keeping my 2014 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew.

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:
I have my eye on the 18 Expedition which will have an aluminum body. Are dents, dings, scratches etc more difficult/expensive to remove? I've been told that's the case but I don't know anyone who has one so would appreciate your input.

I'm also interest in a 2018 expedition. I don't have an aluminum F 150. But based on my experience in my own industry (yachting) and my father previously owning a body shop.

Aluminum does not dent nearly as easy as steel. Scratches would be exactly the same to fix as steel. Fixing dented aluminum after an accident, it depends, there is filler for aluminum, but aluminum tends to tear easier and you'd most likely just replace the panel in a collision situation. Some vehicle manufacturers have been using aluminum body parts since the 60's. Jaguar comes to mind, the ac cobra's, some range rovers, etc. Aluminum does not rust, but it can get corrosion bubble between the aluminum and paint. My 2008 expedition has on the aluminum parts (hood and tailgate) and the paint has bubbled in a few small areas and has stayed the same the last 5 years and the paint hasn't perforated.

quote:

Originally posted by LBTRS:
My dealership runs an advertisement saying they want 2014 F150's and will pay top dollar for trades.

That says something to me and why I am keeping my 2014 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew.

That's an old car sales trick to get people in to sell them a new one. I can promise you they aren't collectors.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:

quote:

Originally posted by LBTRS:
My dealership runs an advertisement saying they want 2014 F150's and will pay top dollar for trades.

That says something to me and why I am keeping my 2014 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew.

That's an old car sales trick to get people in to sell them a new one. I can promise you they aren't collectors.

^^^^^sales trick is right

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:

quote:

Originally posted by LBTRS:
My dealership runs an advertisement saying they want 2014 F150's and will pay top dollar for trades.

That says something to me and why I am keeping my 2014 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew.

That's an old car sales trick to get people in to sell them a new one. I can promise you they aren't collectors.

Of course they are not collectors, the implication is that there is demand for 2014 F150's in the used market and they want inventory to sell.

I've heard people (not dealers) looking for a used 2014 and it has even been mentioned in this thread.

I know there is a "sales trick" but in this case I really believe there is some demand for 2014 F150's that are in great shape with low miles.

quote:

Originally posted by LBTRS:

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:

quote:

Originally posted by LBTRS:
My dealership runs an advertisement saying they want 2014 F150's and will pay top dollar for trades.

That says something to me and why I am keeping my 2014 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew.

That's an old car sales trick to get people in to sell them a new one. I can promise you they aren't collectors.

Of course they are not collectors, the implication is that there is demand for 2014 F150's in the used market and they want inventory to sell.

I've heard people (not dealers) looking for a used 2014 and it has even been mentioned in this thread.

I know there is a "sales trick" but in this case I really believe there is some demand for 2014 F150's that are in great shape with low miles.

There is demand for all used pickup trucks in great shape with low miles for people who cannot afford new ones. The problem is, by nature, most used pickup trucks have a ton of miles or are beat to hell on the used market.

The question is, will the 17 Expeditions be discounted because people want the newly redesigned 18,or will they command a premium because people don't want the aluminum body?

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:
The question is, will the 17 Expeditions be discounted because people want the newly redesigned 18,or will they command a premium because people don't want the aluminum body?

They're deeply discounted now, between rebates and dealers willing to sell them at invoice or below, you can pretty much get any brand new 2017 expedition right now for around $11k off of sticker and attractive financing.

A little thread drift chuckle for you all...A guy I know, who voted for Obama twice, has one of these trucks. He bought magnetic signs for his side business. I laughed like an idiot at him. He couldn't believe they wouldn't stick.

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:
A little thread drift chuckle for you all...A guy I know, who voted for Obama twice, has one of these trucks. He bought magnetic signs for his side business. I laughed like an idiot at him. He couldn't believe they wouldn't stick.

The guy is clearly an idiot on multiple fronts. I hope he can manage to chew gum and walk at the same time without fucking that up.

I have a '16 F150 Lariat with no dings yet. I was offered a $500 scratch and dent package when I purchased it, I declined, but you might check on that and see how much is covered.

It depends on the thickness of the aluminum used as for denting. Those old A/C Shelbys will dent just looking at them wrong. Audi has been using aluminum for quite some time and they are expensive to fix. Weather it is because it is an Audi or not, aluminum is challenging to repair therefore expensive. As time goes on and more technicians get trained on the repair process the cost should come down. Audi only has a few repair centers in the states so the cost is extremely high.

quote:

Originally posted by petr:
It depends on the thickness of the aluminum used as for denting. Those old A/C Shelbys will dent just looking at them wrong. Audi has been using aluminum for quite some time and they are expensive to fix. Weather it is because it is an Audi or not, aluminum is challenging to repair therefore expensive. As time goes on and more technicians get trained on the repair process the cost should come down. Audi only has a few repair centers in the states so the cost is extremely high.

Aluminum really is not that hard to fix. It's super easy to cut out a small section and weld a new one, grind it down, fare it and done. Body shops are just uneducated on it, just like they are at fixing fiberglass corvettes. It's not brain science. They're been building yachts out of Aluminum since the 1950's and tons of them, and they're fared and painted like a car finish...They make faring for Aluminum (bondo more or less), the trick with aluminum is using the correct primer for aluminum......Generally you can heat aluminum a little and the dent pops right back out. I manage and maintain a 1989 Striker Aluminum 62' Sportfish right now, and you'd never guess it's a 1989.....

I've driven a 2001 Ford F150 for the past 17 years, and a Ford Explorer for nine years prior to that. To say I'm a Ford fan would be an understatement. I'll likely be replacing my terrific F-150 sometime next year, and I've already decided its replacement will 'not' be a new F-150. I'm one of those old guys that believe water is wet, the sun is hot, and trucks are made of steel. At this point, my hope is that Ford will make available a terrific new Ranger truck (in steel) next year, which would afford me the option to stay with the brand I've been in for over 25 years. Short of that, I'll be shopping the competition for my next truck.

The hood and rear gate have been aluminum since 2000 at least. Body work is take it off and replace nobody is massaging metal anymore. Your insurance will be paying for the work. Very likely that the rate will drop too. I'm paying $35 less per 6 months on a 16 f-150 than I did on an 11 Nissan Altima.


If it makes you less apprehensive semis have been aluminum for at least 20 years.

quote:

Originally posted by reflex/deflex 64:
The hood and rear gate have been aluminum since 2000 at least.

Unless my magnet is fibbing to me, the hood and tailgate on my 2001 SuperCrew are both steel.