SIZE OF THE CAR

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 17

SIZE OF THE CAR

JUDGE BY WHEELBASE

OUR TOURIST ROADS

Owing lo the common method of describing cars in terms of horse-power motorists tend to lose sight of the f"ct that wheelbase is by far the most useful guide to the size, weight, and body space of an automobile. It is a pity that this invaluable dimension should bo neglected, particularly iii view of fthc fact that the modern tendency is to provide a choice of engines in .chassis which otherwise are well-nigh identical.

For example, we may take a number of medium-sized cars, all with a wheelbase of between Oft Gin and 10ft, the ratings of which may vary, according to engine size, between limits as far apart as 14 h.p. and 24 h.p. Tho body and the general size of the car is practically the same in each case, yet people automatically tend to think of a 24 h.p. car as necessarily being much [bigger than a 14 h.p. car. Naturally, [the rating is useful as giving an idea of the size and power of the engine, but it should not be taken as a guide to ear dimensions.

Another advantage of getting to know tho wheolbaso is that it gives :i good idea of the overall length of the car, which is often very important, when garage, aoccinmodation is limited. Similarly, although to a lesser degree, the track is a. useful dimension to keep in mind, as it is a measure- of tho overall width, and also gives an idea of the internal dimensions of the coachwork. The wheelbaso and track arc invariably slated in the manufacturers' specifications, and the .following average figures will show how they vary in the car types which are most popular nowadays.

The size of tlie car, judged by wheelbase, is of great importance in a country like New Zealand. It takes a. very expert driver to manage a big machine on the narrow, steep, and winding roads that lead to most of our worth-while holiday resorts. The ordinary motorist may bo quite capable of driving such a car on the ordinary highwaj', but on difficult routes, while perhaps Jiofc directly dangerous to himself, lie may be a potential source of trouble to other users of the road. Tho shorter the wheelba.se the easier it is to manage the car in difficult places. To go unrestricted about New Zealand the motorist should select a car with short wheelbase, good steering lock, and as powerful an engine as lie can afford, with this happy combination. A. single mess-up in-tho course of one day may completely destroy the pleasure of a whole tour, anrl no tour pan ever be a pleasure so long as the driving is diflicult and the occupynls of the cur uneasy, p.irlieulnr]y with regard to men) ing other Iraffic —the chief 'trouble when taking a big machino into difficult country.