My wife's expedition has an aluminum hood and tailgate. It's a 2008 we got new and the paint still looks new, never have seen any odd things about it. (It may look new because of the way I keep it and where we live and that I am a "forum type" with some ocd issues but it has almost 120,000 miles on it).

Aluminum doesn't scare me but the price does. Wifey was interested in an F150 until we priced them. Her expedition was $32,000 I think.......

Count me happy I have a '15 SD. Agreed on all counts of GM styling and general goofy looky. It's like a brain game, if you stare at the front clip the wheel wells are square....

Here's the thing about pricing. When they crack the $90,000 ceiling I will be looking very hard at freightliners. Those sport chassis crew cab Freightliners are found $90-120k. You get air ride, brakes, and a cab we wished we had on the SD.

I really hope they re work this thing. There are issues I see coming with styling and I think I'm a little sad that the Mullaly guy isn't there anymore.

 

Um, no, it certainly won't. However, I don't 100% agree with the use of aluminum body panels. They are not usually unrepairable and accidents will cost much more to repair. Hence, insurance will go up on vehicles that employ aluminum panels.

 

When exposed to salt in the rust belt it certainly will unless maybe it is treated with something.

A body guy told be aluminum tends to crease during dent repair so the panels usually need to be replaced.

 

I live in the rust belt and the only thing that survives is aluminum and stainless. That's the reason every snowmobile trailer made is constructed of aluminum. Not sure where your logic is coming from but it can't be from personal experience and certainly not common sense.

 

I live in the saltwater belt and we have something called galvanic corrosion. It can cause aluminum to be disolved at alarming rates if not maintained properly. Maybe you don't have galvanic corrosion in the rust belt.

 

I really hope Ford re- thinks the new Superduty redesign. That thing actually made me go barf, I think I need to go again.

Can you say fugly!!

 

Wait for some more pictures of different angles and different colors. Gray doesn't do it any favors.

 

Galvanic corrosion has nothing to do with salt. It has to do with dissimilar metals being in contact with each other without being treated or insulated from each other. Some light reading for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion In any case, do you really think Ford has not addressed this by treating the steel to aluminum contact points?

Anyways, off the aluminum and back to the design. At least the headlights are finally redesigned! And, now that it's pointed out that it has a 4X4 sticker, I'm liking the lower ride height for 5th wheel leveling. As much as tall trucks look cool, they aren't the best for towing. Years ago lift kits would make trucks as high as stock trucks sit today. I remember when I got my truck my father in law (who is only about 5'2") was about to get out, looked down, and asked if it came with the parachute option...

 

This thing is ugly as sin. The bed appears shallow and the beltline of the bed doesn't line up with the lower edge of the windows and looks stupid. The front end is awful. And there's just something about the rear doors/back of the cab that I find ugly. It's clearly the same cab as the F150, because I've been staring at those trying to figure out exactly what it is that bothers me, but I haven't quite nailed it down.


Ford-- Try again! Going to have to go give my 13 a good cleaning because that ugly thing won't be in my driveway.


And keep the current dually fenders. Most of the people that hate them haven't actually owned trucks with both styles. I came from an 07 dodge dually, you couldn't reach anything in the bed unless you climbed in. I can reach over the bed and get almost anything I need in the Ford. That's a win.

 

Karl - I like that parachute option.

I'm quite a bit taller than your FIL and I could have used the catapult option until I put my running boards on. My kids had to climb into the floor and then work their way up to the seat.

Ferguson - I searched the net and found some pictures of the current SD, the 17 SD, and the new 150. I used pictures that had a similar perspective as the one 17 SD picture. There are a surprising number of similarities between the current SD and the 17. The grill being the biggest contrast. Obviously there are a lot between the 17 SD and the current 150. I wouldn't be surprised to see the final grill design being a cross between the current 150 and current SD.

I think this design will start growing on people before they'd like to admit - especially if they tweek the grill.

 

You guys are right about the dually fenders making it easier to get into the bed and especially to pull that release. But the esthetics just suck. Actually I am not in love with the front end of my 2015 either and am considering changing out the grill and lights for aftermarket.. So bottom line for me is Performance, capability and value...

On the headlights of this 2017 - I do like the fact that Ford is FINALLY going to put some decent light on the front end of the truck..

Putting on my tin-foil hat and peering into my crystal ball ----
I can see them "possibly" bumping up the 6.7 to 450-460 HP and maybe 900 TQ, but honestly, I just can't see them doing anything over that when you look at the weights of trailers and the current capabilities in conjunction with individual state requirements in terms of just what you can drive/tow before needing a CDL or other endorsement...
What I really think they will do with the driveline is to continue to refine the turbo and engine braking along with possibly moving up to an eight-speed dual or triple-clutch tranny.. That would be a manual transmission that is computer controlled with override (shift up/down) controls...

 

It was speculated a while back that much of the 150 would carry over. The interior shots look identical. I agree with the back of the cab being my biggest gripe. Too rounded.

Would love to see a 10 speed tranny for the the diesel too...

 

I thought the 10 speed was a done deal for the 17 SD.

I doubt there will be a manual option since the auto can be run like a manual. I think there is just too much electronic fly by wire stuff and too many driver variables that could cause too many problems with a traditional manual gear box.

 

I read the ten speed was a go on the gas models. Haven't read it was a lock for the 6.7? Although, nothing is done til it's done right?

 

A lot can change in a year...

And until you go look, see, and test drive it is all speculation on whether we will like it or not.

I am in the same boat as ruschejj about price... It starts to get to the point of if you need a tow vehicle, get a class 5+ tow vehicle. A friend of mine did that and will never look back at a 350/450 again.

I am waiting to see how the F150s do with the aluminum. I hear that body shops will need special parts to fix them - or - they will just have to be totally replaced. At least aluminum has a recycle value so the propensity to illegally dump them will be lower.

Aluminum corrodes, especially raw aluminum, it starts turning white if it isn't treated. It does seem to take a whole lot longer for aluminum to corrode than steel though. My aluminum finned outside A/C compressor units tell that tale....