On the Road

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 16

On the Road

A Try-out With the 1 1 .9 Morris-Cowky

Stands the Test Splendidly

We have recently had the opportunity of testing the 11.9 Cowley during a long run over well-known roads, during which, careful notes were taken of the performance of the car.

The route chosen for this test was the Waikanae-Akatarawa round trip, which embraces several severe hills and sonic of the worst roads around Wellington. The G.P.O. was left at 11 a.m., and the run as far as Porirua was accomplished without incident. Here most atrocious roads were encountered, at which the driver of a five-ton truck would have looked askance. We dropped down into second gear; and proceeded for about two miles at about five miles per hour. The surface around the Porirua Inlet is worse than a ploughed field, covered with ruts feet deep and deep m mud. The inhabitants of Pahautanui ; and Paremata appeared to be astonished to see any car coming from the Wellington direction, and certainly we saw no other vehicles during this part of the trip; and yet this is the main

road from Wellington to Palmerston North! The Morris ploughed through the morass m splendid style, and the ground clearance seems to be ample, the only part of the vehicle which actually touched the ground being the N.Z. registered number plate. From the foot of the Paekakariki Hill to Waikanae the road was , m splendid condition, and Waikanae was reached at one o'clock exactly, making two hours for the forty-three mile run, an excellent average over give-and-take "colonial" roads, including the Paekakariki Hill (780 feet). Now the Serious Part. Lunch at Waikanae, and away for the serious part of the test at 2.20 p.m. Soon after reaching the foot of the Waikanae Hill some soft clay was encountered on the unmetalled road, but the light weight, of the Morris proved of great assistance, and^ ■ prevented it from sinking m as a heavier car most probably would have done. The climb to the top of the Akatarawa Range involves rising nearly 1500 feet m four miles and is a severe test for any car, especially when the road is m poor condition, as it is after heavy rains. The Morris climbed at a fair turn of speed m second gear, and m spite of the long gruelling she appeared to, be no more than efficiently heated up by the time we reached the summit.

The rest of the journey was accomplished without incident, advantage being taken of the long run down to Akatarawa to take particular notice of the brakes, either of which proved capable of holding the car on any part of the hill. Although of simple type, they are certain m action, and operate without snatching m any way. ■The G.P.O. was reached at 4.50 p.m., giving a total running time of four and a-half hours for 88 miles, during which' we had climbed hills amounting to 3000 feet. The fuel consumption for the trip worked out at 33 miles per gallon, an excellent average considering the state of the roads and the amount of hill climbing done. Engine Not Pushed. The car which we tested out was nearly new, and the usual red label

warned us not to push the engine too hard' during the first two hundred miles. We were therefore unable to obtain an accurate idea of the car's maximum speed, but for a short distance, when the engine was thoroughly warmed, we could not resist the temptation to "open her out" for a few minutes, and found it quite easy to bring the speedometer needle over to the 40 M.P.H. mark, and we have no doubt that the little 11.9 -h. p. engine is capable of propelling the vehicle at considerably higher speeds when called upon to do so. The secret of maintaining high average speeds, however, lies not so much m the maximum speed, but m flexibility and ease of control. In these respects the Morris excels. It. is a car which quickly inspires confidence, probably on account of the comfortable driving • position and the lightness of the steering. The engine is very sensitive to the throttle, and changing gears is child's play. On this account the little "Cowley" model should make a strong appeal to ladies. To Sum Up: — The H.Jj-h.p. Cowley is a sturdy car, eminently suitable for New Zealand conditions on account of its flexibility, ease of Handling on poor roads and. good hill-climbing powers. On account of its low fuel consumption and comparatively ismall tyres it will prove economical to run, and should be an excellent car for all-round, every-day use.