gfxdave99 Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/12/24/afx3280775.html http://images.forbes.com/media/assets/spacer_white.gif TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, manufacturer of the Subaru automobile brand, will discontinue the use of aluminum exterior panels for new or redesigned cars released after the year to March 2007, due to rising aluminum costs, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing sources. It said with aluminum prices doubling in the last four years, the company will substitute zinc-coated steel sheet. Aluminum outer panels save weight and improve performance and fuel efficiency, and have been used on the Legacy midsize car, the Forester small SUV, and the Impreza sport sedan. If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 just one more thing gone that makes a Subaru a Subaru. bosco that means "unique" to those just tuning in, Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleBlueGT Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 They should be making more parts aluminum. Price of a suby in Canada, and nothing should be steel! Full tune of 68HTA, KSTech 73 MAF, Racer X FMIC and ID1000s................by the DataLog Mafia!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 I thought that means "safe" that too. bosco Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockerGT Posted December 24, 2006 Share Posted December 24, 2006 Sweet, Im selling my trunk and hood for $2 mill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight705 Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 damn....... that means the 08s will be heavier than the 07s..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUBE555 Posted December 25, 2006 Share Posted December 25, 2006 One thing to note is it only mentions aluminum exterior sheet panels. This isn't quite as bad as I first thought, as it still allows the use of aluminum in such components as the cast control arms which are fairly heavy. Utilizing steel in the trunk lids and hoods may not be as bad of a hit on weight as thought depending on the design of the hood and exact material composition. Too bad they'll likely use a fairly mild grade of steel and the weight to strength differential will not be favorable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iyalla Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 So what happens to replacements parts? Say you get hit or wreck your pre 08? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfxdave99 Posted December 26, 2006 Author Share Posted December 26, 2006 So what happens to replacements parts? Say you get hit or wreck your pre 08? I was wondering the same thing If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. - Mario Andretti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Se2002 Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 Well, 08 drivers will be able to put those cute little soccer mom magnets on their trunks now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 Jeeze, looks like the 06 Spec.B will be the fastest OEM LGT ever built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KayGT Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 hey it might actually not dent so easily now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heybige Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 hey it might actually not dent so easily now. Thought the exact same thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 Nothing like driving around a big iron bar with AWD. they better give us 300hp in 08 to help move the 4000lbs the legacy will have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legandrex Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 That sounds like something GM or Ford would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 hey it might actually not dent so easily now. The denting/dinging issue has been with the the sheet steel not so much the Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red beast Posted December 26, 2006 Share Posted December 26, 2006 they could make them out of carbon fiber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iyalla Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 they could make them out of carbon fiber Those carbon fiber hoods for the LGT someone posted a while back are about to become very popular. Maybe I should buy and store some and sell at a profit later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight705 Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 well that would only work if they fit the 08s or else u would be SOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZY KEN Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 ...here is a CRAZY thought! Is there a company that can take a panel ...make a mold...and pop out a carbon fiber replica??? Has anyone done a full carbon fiber body replacement??? Just a thought. Another would be to keep the aluminum and add more aluminum parts and we will be happy to pay the difference. or even better...go the zinc-coated steel plates and put another 100-150 hp and torques behind the wheel! CRAZY KEN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymesbry Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 yea in theory one could make a whole new carbon fiber shell dont know how many bazillion dollars that would be.. or even wonder how the carbon fiber would do in any kind of crash.. hrmm all aluminum parts? oh boy subys starting at 40k.. lol how bout we just infuse a little kevlar into all the panels so we can go around doing drive by's sounds good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 More torques FTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Our LGTs just went up in value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Our LGTs just went up in value. what like $50. bosco Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimy101 Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 what like $50. bosco At least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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