MOTORING NOTES
ON 'BUYING A
- CAR
TuE purchase of a motor-car is an important episode in most people's lives, not only because 'a -considerable sum of money is involved, which may have taken many months, perhaps years, to accumulate, but also because upon the choice depends whether the full pleasures and benefits of motoring will be secured. The question is not one that should be decided in a hurry ; it is well worth while inspecting a dozen or more cars before a decision is made. To buy a car because it possesses one or two features which specially appeal to you is foolish. A woman friend of mine bought a new car recently —one with by no means a good reputation—just because she liked its colour. One might as well choose a wife because she had rosy cheeks. A motor-car is a very complex affair. It is made up of a huge number of small parts. The best car is the one that combines the largest number of good points. The range of cars is enormous ; so large, in fact, that if you have made up your mind to buy a car it is really difficult to decide which one to choose.
The first consideration is price. The best plan is to fix upon the maximum limit, whether this be £150 or £1,500, and then rule out of your calculations all cars which cost more than you are prepared to pay. The actual price of the car is not its only cost, however, for there is another point to be considered when fixing upon the amount. This is the equipment. Some cars are sold complete ; with others there are many accessories which have to be bought as extras. The first car I bought, now more than twenty years ago, did not even have a windscreen, lamps or a horn, and though I paid £375 for the car the essential accessories which had afterwards to be bought totalled up to over £80. Although all cars nowadays include such things as a wind- screen, lamps, tools and horn, some are much more complete than others, and this is a point that should be considered. Among the essential or non-essential accessories, according to the notions of the owner, I should include side-curtains, rear windscreen in a four-seater car, speedometer, petrol and oil gauges, clock, electrie and bulb horns, electric starter, 'five lampS, screen-wiper, licence holder, complete lit of .tools, jack and spare wheel and tyre. - • ' But more important in some respects than the initial cost of the car is,the question of running expenses. These depend .very largely, of cotu•se, upon the mileage covered, but the type of car also governs this greatly. Take the case of one that travels 5,000 miles a year. A car which will run 40 to SO- miles to the gallon of petrol will cover this distance !Or a cost of 125 to 130: - A medium-sized car will probably cost double this amount, whereas a large car will cost round about £100. "
Another consideration is the size and type of car that you need. You can get a two-seater, with dicky, or a four-seater in practically all horse-powers ; a five-seven-seater can be secured only in the larger types. Then there is the question of protection against the weather. Perhaps only a saloon body will suit your needs ; on the other hand, a touring car with hood may satisfy you. Quite a different type of car is required by town motorists from that required by those who live in the country. The town motorist is accustomed to go for much longer runs. His car is commissioned only occasionally for town driving ; the use of his car is largely governed by the weather. Not so the country man. He is absolutely dependent upon his car. He uses it for all shopping expeditions; it is on the road most days of the year. His journeys are genera* shoiter, and lie has to take his car over roads that are often anything but good. Main roads are not much in his line. For these reasons a large, closed-in car is not suitable. A heavy car means a heavy tyre bill, and the fuel consumption is out of all proportion to the value received. A small-powered car, giving a big mileage to the gallon of petrol, is what is required. The body needs to be more substantial, the doors better constructed, and the upholstery More suitable for all-weather work. The modern "all-weather body is-just the type that should appeal to the countryman. It can be converted into a closed car 'at will in a Vesy few_ Moment's, it hia not the massive. weight of a
closed car, it is smaller in power, and much more economical to run and maintain.
* SPARE PARTS ABROAD
A few weeks ago the R.A.C. instituted a scheme whereby members and associate members travelling abroad are able to obtain spare parts for their cars or motor-cycles with a minimum of delay. During the past week three requests for spares were received from motorists on the Riviera. In each case the spares reached the member within thirty-six hours of the dispatch of the telegram from the south of France.
TYRE LIFE A few years ago we thought we had done extremely well if we succeeded in getting four to five thousand miles from a tyre. But since the introduction of the cord cover in place of the canvas more than double the mileage is possible. A few months ago I fitted four Avon Tricord 815 by 105 covers to my car, which weighs unladen 29 cwt., and I ran the tyres to death, as I was anxious to see of what they were capable. The following is the actual mileage covered by each : 13,216, 13,789, 14,206 and 15,728. This represents an average of 14,233/ miles a tyre, a remarkable achievement, especially in view of the fact that the car travelled over all sorts of roads and that a high average speed was maintained.
A MODEL CARBURETTER The Sunbeam car driven by Major Segrave which broke the world's record at Southport was equipped with a Solex carburetter. This model was standard with the exception of a special inlet in order to allow for the working of the super-charger.
E. T. BROWN.
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