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Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

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Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#91

Post by SkyPuncher »

SoftTalker wrote: post #6
loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

“cast bodies might be more difficult to fix in the event of major damage, such as a crash.” Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a car NOT be written off after “major damage”. The industry already doesn’t bother to fix cars, they just get scrapped, so I don’t see what the actual difference is.

There are body shops all over town here repairing collision damage every day. Yes a major crash is a write off especially on an older car, but the problem is that with cast frames, if they are more likely to be irreparably damaged in a collision, that's more write-offs. That means insurance premiums for these cars will be more costly as well.

My understanding is frame damage generally results in a write off. It’s too expand too risky.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#92

Post by thechao »

dragonwriter wrote: post #45
GenerocUsername wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So why the write off nonsense. Just send it to a repair shop directly and if it cannot be repaired, then initiate a write off. Sounds like extra steps for the profit of middle men

> So why the write off nonsense Write-off is about insurance policies, and whether it is cheaper to repair damage to the standard committed to by the insurer within the parameters (e. g., new original manufacturer parts) in the insurance contact or to pay the amount the insurer is committed to pay in the alternative. It is only tangentially related to whether it is econonically viable to restore the vehicle to usable…

When hail totaled my car, I kept it for another 4 years. Just "cosmetic" damage. It's still kicking around in New Mexico; I guess it's 17 years old, now.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#93

Post by DANmode »

jgalt212 wrote: post #88
skullone wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you rather the keys be $5 from Walmart and pair with the car without needing an OEM programmer?

I'd be fine if they offered the same security as house keys.

You can't put your house intonneutral and roll it onto a trailer silently with a set of housekeys.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#94

Post by SkyPuncher »

GenerocUsername wrote: post #11
tifik wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That the car is written off doesnt mean it gets scrapped though. It usually gets auctioned, and if its fixable, some mechanic can buy it for peanuts and put it back on the market.

So why the write off nonsense. Just send it to a repair shop directly and if it cannot be repaired, then initiate a write off. Sounds like extra steps for the profit of middle men

Isn’t that exactly what happens?

You send it for an estimate. If that estimate is too high, insurance gives you a check then sells the car as a salvage.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#95

Post by SkyPuncher »

90-00-09 wrote: post #72
oldpersonintx wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so are we at..."this is bad because it will restrict the flow of unsafe junkers passed off to someone living in Panama"?

Not unsafe necessarily. The cost of labor is so high in the US that fixing even minor damage might not be cost efficient. Also consider the possible increase in the insurance fees if you continue driving a car after repairs. Other countries have lower cost of labor overall, so it's a profitable (and, hopefully, safe) business for them.

There’s also enough people willing/able to do the repair themselves to get the car back into drive able condition.

I see this frequently driving through poor, rural communities. Very nice vehicles, with some sort of damage and repairs. You can get a super nice interior and high quality ride if you’re willing to deal with vanity flaws.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#96

Post by jgalt212 »

DANmode wrote: post #93
jgalt212 wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be fine if they offered the same security as house keys.

You can't put your house intonneutral and roll it onto a trailer silently with a set of housekeys.

fair enough, but I'd argue that

p * (cost of theft via roll onto trailer) p = probability of roll onto trailer theft

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#97

Post by bobsmooth »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

“cast bodies might be more difficult to fix in the event of major damage, such as a crash.” Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a car NOT be written off after “major damage”. The industry already doesn’t bother to fix cars, they just get scrapped, so I don’t see what the actual difference is.

I had to fight with my insurance to not have my 2005 model car written off after a fender bender. Thankfully I did because this was just before used car prices skyrocketed.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#98

Post by SoftTalker »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #91
SoftTalker wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are body shops all over town here repairing collision damage every day. Yes a major crash is a write off especially on an older car, but the problem is that with cast frames, if they are more likely to be irreparably damaged in a collision, that's more write-offs. That means insurance premiums for these cars will be more costly as well.

My understanding is frame damage generally results in a write off. It’s too expand too risky.

It often does if it's severe, but if the frame is just "tweaked" it can often be pulled back into spec with specialzed jigs and equipment. Any comprehensive collision repair shop will have that equipment.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#99

Post by 90-00-09 »

skullone wrote: post #80
90-00-09 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not unsafe necessarily. The cost of labor is so high in the US that fixing even minor damage might not be cost efficient. Also consider the possible increase in the insurance fees if you continue driving a car after repairs. Other countries have lower cost of labor overall, so it's a profitable (and, hopefully, safe) business for them.

Lots of passed off vehicles to poorer countries tend to be body on frame style. Lots of ford/Toyota trucks, where frame damage can as "simple" as welding steel bar stock or straightening with a basic frame puller. If a unibody vehicle is totaled from major damage in the US, they get scrapped of nearly every usable part, then crushed and melted down. Not even worth the shipping/hassle to send a smashed up Kia to Centr…

Yup, agreed. In the US the incentives are against repairs, not for. I don't know enough about cars to have an opinion on whether Tesla-style cast bodies will result in more cars being written off with similar damages to other fairly expensive cars.

Re: Toyota Will Adopt Tesla-Style Cast Bodies That Might Be Impossible to Fix

#100

Post by 90-00-09 »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #95
90-00-09 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not unsafe necessarily. The cost of labor is so high in the US that fixing even minor damage might not be cost efficient. Also consider the possible increase in the insurance fees if you continue driving a car after repairs. Other countries have lower cost of labor overall, so it's a profitable (and, hopefully, safe) business for them.

There’s also enough people willing/able to do the repair themselves to get the car back into drive able condition. I see this frequently driving through poor, rural communities. Very nice vehicles, with some sort of damage and repairs. You can get a super nice interior and high quality ride if you’re willing to deal with vanity flaws.

Even in the US there are enthusiasts who buy and restore super cars for cheap (relatively speaking). There are several crafty YT channels showing the process from start to finish.
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