why must cars be made of metal? woudln't some other substance be much safer?

Answer 1

Cars have not been made of metal for the most part for a long time now. Don't get me wrong, some reinforced parts are but all car makes are now mostly made of fiber glass. The only part on a car that's fully metal is the frame itself. The body like I said is mostly fiber glass. Using stronger metals such as titanium would cause a chain reaction therefor making you pay more. There are reasons why car companies spending billions a year on testing use metal.

Answer 2

Metal is generally best for both durability and safety. A few use fiberglass; Corvettes are a good example of that. But have you ever seen a Vette wreak? Damn body explodes!

Somebody mentioned paper-mache. Actually, there used to be a car made in East Germany that had a paper-mache body. Called a Trabant. Had a 2 stoke engine and smoked like an oil refinery on fire. Environmental disaster on wheels and a deathtrap as well.

Answer 3

Cars have been around for over 100 years. What 'substance' as you put it would possible make a car safer?

In most cases, it isn't a car that kills a person. It is the unfortunate act of a person in a car that kills. No 'substance' would change that.

Cars used to have wooden bodies like carriges. No fewer folks died then in accidents. But if you can come up with another 'substance', you'll be richer than Gates.

Answer 4

What other materials would be safer?

Plastic doesn't have the strength.
Wood would have to be pretty bulky and would also ultimately be heavier among other drawbacks.


Which part of cars are you talking about anyway? A lot of cars already have fiberglass/plastic panels in certain places.

The engine is a nobrainer. There's nothing that would have more strength/size ratio in the frame than metal.

Answer 5

Cars have been made out of fiberglass (Corvette) and many have plastic panels (Saturn), sure, Paper-mache would be safer in a collision, but wouldn't hold up well in a rainstorm. Likewise, styrofoam would cushion shock, but the car wouldn't last more than a few weeks.

Answer 6

actually an all plastic car is lighter, safer, better on fuel, better on collisions, etc than a metal car.

saturn was the turning point for this, the trial. but after almost 10 years, the masses just didn't get on board w/ the idea. most assume that plastic is weaker than steel so they perfer a metal car instead. Today, 2007, saturn is no longer plastic but metal like all the rest.

Answer 7

The majority of cars made now have some metal, but alot of the materials are being converted to alternatives. The question is economy, steel is relatively cheap for its strength. The corvette body has a great deal of carbon fiber, as do the viper, and ferrari enzo (among others) this material is light and rigid, but very expensive by comparison. so basically the answer to your question is cost.

Answer 8

Corvettes are made of fiberglass. I guess the important thing is not what the vehicle you are in is made of but what the other vehicles are made of if you get in a collision. Concrete would be safer but not fuel efficient. Great question. I always wonder..what ever happened to bumpers?

Answer 9

Cars today are made of more than just metal, they incorporate Plastics, carbon fibre even ceramics, cost is a factor, and consequently a lot of plastic is used, it is easily formed and doesn't rust, I believe the Chevrolet Corvettes are practically all reinforced fiber glass/plastic so far as the body goes.

Answer 10

Even in plastic cars, the framework is always metal. This is because metal strain-hardens. If it gets bent, it stiffens. This is the reason so many people correctly said that metal is "durable".

No plastic with that property has ever been created. Maybe someday.