re: Silverado vs Ford F150 (Steel bed vs Aluminum bed)

3. Tacoma - Plastic

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Didn't realize electro plated chrome was made of vinyl.

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I think his meaning was that instead of being chrome dipped, they are now being chrome plated.

The biggest reason for the price increase (other than market allowing them) is the engineering involved with the vehicles and the added technology. Yes the trucks of yesteryear were made from more durable materials, but the engineering was very primitive. Today's technology and convenience is far and away superior, and needs a lot of engineering and design to come together.

My first truck was a 1970 K20 step-side with a 292 straight 6. It had a steel and vinyl interior, saddle bench seat, and the fuel tank was right behind the seat . That truck in first gear would do about 2 MPH whether I was pulling a loaded 16' trailer or empty. It was also all steel. I rolled it down a ditch one night. I got out and locked the hubs and drove it home. The next morning I used a mallet to beat out the dent above the passenger door and on the right fender. That thing was solid as could be. The downside being it got 8 mpg, needed a football field to turn around/stop/get up to 20 mph, and had no AC. I loved that truck though, right up until I got a 79 LUV 4X4 with a 3 cyl. That LUV could go anywhere a 3 wheeler could, and would still go from Shreveport to Houston on a tank of gas.

Technology? The Chevy version of this?

vinyl, plastic, whatever. Its not a real chrome bumper like they used to make. My point is it wasnt long ago a vehicle cost less than $10,000 and was more durable. Now we pay 5 times the price and the vehicle is basically plastic except for the frame and drive train.

For the amount we pay we should be getting a truck with 500hp that gets 100mpg and built like a tank. It could be done but it wont be .

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vinyl, plastic, whatever

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You seem kind of ignorant on how things are made

Cars are designed to crumple now to protect the occupants. What you call more durable is actually less safe for the occupants. Would you rather your car not be safer?

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For the amount we pay we should be getting a truck with 500hp that gets 100mpg and built like a tank. It could be done but it wont be .

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If it could be done cheaply, they'd do it. They'd sell as many as they could make. Looks like I was right in my ignorant comment.

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I dont give a shite how safe my vehicle is. I didnt buy it based on safety features. I dont get in my vehicle and think to myself, if i get in an accident, I sure feel safe. I rather have a vehicle built like a tank than a plastic and tin foil truck for the same price. Crumble is right.

For so called safety features the automobile is one of the major reason for deaths in this country.

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Did your parents press on your soft spot when you were a kid?

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Plastic is cheap

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Depends on the plastic, realy but usually it is.

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and so is aluminum

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Not as cheap as galvanized steel or nearly as cheap as almost any uncoated carbon steel.