[ghaff]

Aluminum has some advantages--albeit at a price. [1] though it's not clear cut for a variety of reasons. It's also not just the structure but everything carrying fluids around or making up the suspension system. Corrosion is nasty--I used to be involved with the design and maintenance of offshore drilling rigs--and it's pretty much a constant battle that you never win.

[1] https://www.engineering.com/AdvancedManufacturing/ArticleID/...

[Scoundreller]

An aluminum car is kinda like a gold car: Higher up-front cost, but higher resale value when it goes to the crusher.

We're short-sighted to require cars to show MPG before purchase. They should all require a spreadsheet showing Total Cost of Ownership dependent on expected annual highway/city mileage as input.

What's gas cost? How much extra is the hybrid? What's the scrap value?

Though I guess you can lookup insurance rates to figure out the scrap value (some cars are worth more parted-out than running).

[technofiend]

It makes me wonder what the designed and realized life times will be for new Fords with aluminum beds.