Lack of aluminum on Prius V....rather disappointing!

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by farmecologist, Mar 10, 2018.

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  1. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Hi all,

    I was working on our Prius v (wagon) the other day and it dawned on me that the doors feel much heavier than our 2010 liftback.

    I then poked around with a magnet and it appears that the only aluminum body part on the v (wagon) is the hood. All other parts are steel. On the 2010 the hood and hatch are aluminum. The doors on the liftback are, in fact, steel but do feel much lighter.

    Why is this? Seems like Toyota wasn't as concerned about weight on the v (wagon)?

    I didn't see any discussion of this here on PriusChat either...which seems odd as the Pruis 'enthusiasts' here usually like to discuss these things. :D

    Thoughts?

    Edit : The doors on our 2010 are, in fact, steel (my bad). They sure seem much 'lighter' though.
     
    #1 farmecologist, Mar 10, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2018
  2. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    Even given that both "cars" have steel doors, might additional safety standards and understandings explain why the door itself was more robust? Or the strength of other side structures might vary between a wagon configuration and a hatchback and the doors have been strengthened to compensate? Or they are stolen from and older design to keep development costs low?
     
    #2 mikefocke, Mar 10, 2018
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  3. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Even the Tesla 3 is mostly steel. Steel is still the strongest and cheapest metal to buy and repair.
     
    #3 padroo, Mar 10, 2018
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  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    While off topic (prefacing early in the post;)), I passed by the Tesla operation in Fremont and saw plenty of the model 3’s out and about:).

    Then passed 4 model X’s en route to and from San Jose.

    They are out in droves here(y).
     
    #4 Raytheeagle, Mar 10, 2018
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  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Another concern is repairability. Most body shop are familiar with steel. Exotic metals are no often repairable. (the hood would be replaced, not repaired)
     
    #5 JimboPalmer, Mar 10, 2018
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  6. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

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    From personal experience, the "B" pillars between the front and rear doors on a v are extremely heavy multi-layered steel. I am sure Toyota was concerned about getting the best side crash rating they could, thus the steel doors.

    [​IMG]

    Bill the Engineer
     
    #6 Bill the Engineer, Mar 10, 2018
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  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Note that ultra high tensile strength steel can reduce the weight over standard steel (or high tensile strength steel). While not as light as aluminium, it's a reasonable compromise. (Some people might find utlra high tensile steel flimsy since it's thin and pliable but the strength is there)
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Mar 11, 2018
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  8. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    I guess I just 'assumed' that the doors on the 2010 liftback were aluminum.

    This is in part due to some misinformation on the internet...along with the light weight. The doors are far, far lighter than any of our other vehicles.

    I guess I better get my touch-up paint ready as we had a couple door-edge scrapes that happened over the winter and was thinking I didn't have to worry about it as much!
     
    #8 farmecologist, Mar 11, 2018
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  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...might be steel but it is thin...my dent says.
     
    #9 wjtracy, Mar 11, 2018
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  10. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    They don't just use one type of steel. There are different grades used for different jobs. I worked in a steel mill for 40 years and our most profitable steel is for the automotive industry but I am not a metallurgist.
     
    #10 padroo, Mar 11, 2018
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  11. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    Production cost mark up to retail would be my guess.
    I'd also guess ease of repair is also a factor.
     
    #11 Kenny94945, Mar 11, 2018
  12. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Aluminum repairs are really nothing new. One of the earliest cars I know of that was made out of aluminum is the Plymouth Prowler.
    Chrysler experimented with the Prowler and built it with an aluminum frame made by Alcoa, all the major body panels were made out of aluminum and the second year of production came an aluminum engine and aluminum wheels. It was used as a test bed for the use of aluminum and even had rear rotors made out of an aluminum alloy. If you bend the frame the car is scrapped.
    The Prowler weighed a little over 2,800 pounds.

    The biggest problem with aluminum in cars is that people aren't trained to work on it. Look how long aluminum has been used in aviation.
     
    #12 padroo, Mar 11, 2018
  13. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I am not sure I regard that as a repair.
     
    #13 JimboPalmer, Mar 11, 2018
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  14. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Actually the frame can be unbolted and replaced but it is too expensive. I have see Prowler frames on eBay.

    Still the frame is not repaired.
     
    #14 padroo, Mar 11, 2018
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Our 2002 Camry doors are super light (as in the trunk lid). Because of that, that's how I knew my 2010's doors were steel (because they were smaller than the Camry's and yet heavier).

    Toyota changed the trunklid on the Gen 6 Camry (2007-2011) to steel.
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Mar 11, 2018
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