*Image source: megatruckcollection.com *
Car manufacturers commonly use aluminum to maximize fuel economy and reduce cars’ weight. Ford uses aluminum body parts to make a strong F-150 pickup making it the most best-selling vehicle.
Ford F-150 has a tough-nosed design, great resale value, and a number of luxurious features. Learn more on the benefits and limitations of the vehicle before making your buying decisions.
Pros:
**1. Strength: **The new F-150 aluminum body is made of high-strength steel material with a military-grade aluminum alloy to make it strong. The alloy is a combined metal that provides extra strength needed in building military vehicles and aerospace.
**2. Fuel economy: **Using aluminum alloy reduces the weight of the vehicles as well as improving the fuel economy. The new aluminum F-150 vehicle is more fuel-efficient.
**3. Fast pickup: **Ford F-150 pickup has a new 10-speed automatic transmission which enhances the performance of the vehicles making them more powerful.
**4. Towing enhancement: It uses trailer sway controls to pull the load. The smart trailer tow connector enables you to keep tabs on the trailer’s lights. **
**5. Dent resistant: Ford F-150 pickup body parts are designed to be dent-resistant and the paint is applied using a new process to reduce premature paint issues and corrosion of aluminum body parts. **
**6. Uses Raptor model: **The new truck has standard FOX racing shocks to produce more power and a complex 4WD system.
**7. Potent 3.5L EcoBoost engine: With a 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet torque, you have a more powerful vehicle. The additional torque enables the vehicle to pull a heavy load. **
**8. FX4 off-road package: Although optional, the FX4 off-road package provides an extra degree of ruggedness to F-150. This allows you to take full advantage of the pickup in handling the harsh terrain, drive through remote campsites or enjoy your weekend hunting and go on road trips. **
9. Luxurious features: Ford F-150 is equipped with user-friendly Sync3 touchscreen system, amplified Sony sound systems, leather upholstery, and panoramic sunroof among other features.** **
**10. Family vehicle: **It has ample space to accommodate your family. The full-size doors make it easy to get in the pickup.
Cons:
1. No manual transmission: Ford F-150 uses automatic transmission and if you prefer a manual transmission, you will be forced to pick another truck from a different manufacturer.** **
**2. No diesel engine: **The truck does not have a diesel engine which enables drivers to save more on fuel and have extra pulling power.
**3. Corrosion: **Premature corrosion and paint issues are the most common problems associated with aluminum body parts.
**4. Aluminum body repair: Although aluminum saves on weight, repairs on the vehicle made of aluminum body parts are more expensive and difficult to repair. The repair costs are competitive with other pickup trucks. **
**5. Expensive: **Aluminum is more expensive in its raw state compared to steel thus making an added cost of $500 per F-150. This increases the initial cost of the truck compared to other truck designs.
**6. **Higher insurance cost: Due to the high costs of repair, aluminum vehicles cost more to insure.
**7. Long repair time: Repairing aluminum trucks takes long compared to repairing steel trucks. Proper tools and training are required to do a perfect repair on aluminum body parts that rust easily. **
**8. Oxidation of raw aluminum: **When a raw aluminum material is exposed, it becomes oxidized making it appear cloudy and weak.
**9. Metalwork tools: Aluminum requires a whole set of metalwork tools to avoid contamination of aluminum body parts with other body parts. **
**10. Special repair shops: **Manufactures recommend special clean repair shops for aluminum vehicles and trained personnel.