THE SALOON VOGUE

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3538, 21 February 1927, Page 10

THE SALOON VOGUE

• I IS THE TOURER DOOMED? The appearance of a popular car at'a lower price is always interesting, but there is something about the latest price reduction which is, perhaps, a straw to show which Way the wind is blowing. The new range of Essex cars includes a twp-door coach and an open touring model. , For the first) time, to our knowledge, the closed car is priced lower than the tourer. Which gives one furiously to tAink. How has it happened? In the first place the coach has been tho most popular Essex model for some years, so that the factory has probably got right down to tin tacks on this job . and have-been able' to cut manufacturing costs to the finest possible margin. ; , t . In jthe second place the tourer has been elaborated ■ in many respects and has become an open car, de luxe.- •• The example of thd EsScx, however, brings us up against ( the wholequestion of closed and open cars. We have all met the man who wouldn’t have a closed car on his mind. Will he be able to stand up to this principle when ; he has to pay more for his tourer than he is asked for a coach ? Closed Bodywork. Something like eightly per cent, of the total American output last year was closed bodywork, and practically every British . manufacturer, now produces this class of body, even tho tiny Austin seven being available as a saloon. Will the tourer and the roadster eventually fade out altogether? , When wo use the common expressions "open” and "closed” bodies, we really give a wrong inpression of the saloon, coupe and coach. They are not so much “closed” as readily able to be closed, and in the best, .types there is really very little difference between the saloon and the tourer except the rigid top. ~ What then, are the points for and against the two types? From the point of view of-effiolency the tourer scores all along the line. On account of its lower weight and smaller wind resistance, its fuel consumption is less, its speed greater and its tyre wear less than in the case of the closed car. The tourer is the safer of the two for good reasons also; the greater visibility and the absence tof glass at the sides of the body in case of collision. On the other hand, the saloon can show points to tho tourer in regard to visibility when the latter has its celludoid side curtains erected. One other point in which, the tourer with Its greater range of vision when passing scenic beauties. Nothing can approach the open car with its hood stowed away especially when travelling through gorges and mountainous country such as forms most of New Zealand’s beauty spots. On tho other hand, the saloon scores over the tourer for everyday town use. i For shopping, running to business in all weathers and short running generally, the car which can readily bo closed against the elements, left on tho parking place protected ’ from

dust and unexpected showers, yet easily opened up- again for - ventlla-, tion, scores all round. “ »*.; ■, Another advantage of the saloon for work of this kind la that it is usually made to lock up, so that small parcels, coats, 'and odds and ends -of that kind, can bo left in safety in th* car, when even the tools may not ibe safe in the open car, 'A One convention which is growing up around the closed car seems to unfortunate, and our American , friends arc the f particular; cplprits v in this direction. ' , ; Elaborate ideas. * This is the idea that>'all closed car* must be upholstered in stuffy, dust- « collecting material after thd style L df moquette. 1 From the point of view of cleanliness, comfort on long and smartness, there is nothing, in ■ our Opinion, to equal leather, whether; for closed or open cars. , • Many ebaborate ideas, have been:' developed which attempt to Incijr-. Rotate all the goods points of both the tourer and saloon. .M Will tho solution eventually come in some such form as this, or shall wo continue to have Cars ranging from the sports model with no hood at all, to the saloon with ■ winding windows, plush seats, silk blinds and hot and cold water laid on? | : At present, the closed car seems to have matters all its own way, ~b ut perhaps .with, the advent of more easily erected hoods and better side curtains the tourer will come into it* own again. Time will telL