THE SEARCH FOR PERFECTION

Southland Times, Issue 23586, 13 August 1938, Page 18

THE SEARCH FOR PERFECTION

OPINIONS OF MOTOR EXPERTS RIDING QUALITIES AND PASSENGER COMFORT Although every year sees better cars produced, perfection, even according to experts, is still remote. With the object of obtaining the views of some of these in U.S.A., several pertinent questions were submitted recently to members of the Society of Automotive Engineers at Detroit about improved riding qualities and greater passenger comfort. Some of the questions and answers were: Is further reduction of noise important in increasing passenger comfort? —Twenty replied “Yes” and four “No." Will better visibility result in greater comfort to the driver and hence less fatigue?—Twenty-one replied “Yes” and five “No.” Is increased riding comfort justified, if such improvement results in increased roll of the body when cornering, nosing down on brake application, or other occasional body movement incidental to “soft” suspension (assuming that all increased movement does not affect steering, braking, and other factors essential to operation)?—Twelve replied “Yes” and thirteen “No.” Is improved ventilation of the car body of major importance in improving passenger comfort? —Nineteen replied “Yes” and eight “No.” What percentage of the “ride” in present-day motor-cars is accomplished by the tyres, by springs, by shock absorbers, and by seat cushions?—Replies were average, and indicated that tyres are responsible for 21 per cent., springs 33 per cent., shock absorbers 21 per cent., and seat cushions 19 per cent. What percentage of total vibration or movement in the car affecting passenger comfort results from road irregularities?—While one expert estimated as low as 15 per. cent., the majority of all estimates was 85 per cent., or above. Is riding comfort seriously interfered with by short, sharp vibrations such as occur with road surfaces having raised joints, rough surface, cracks, etc?—Seventeen replied “Yes” and nine “No.” Is riding comfort seriously interfered with by car motions resulting from wavy road surfaces? —Sixteen replied “Yes” and ten “No.” If you were engineering a motor-car what new provisions would you make for increasing the comfort of passengers?—Nine would provide better visibility, six better seats, five adjustable seats, five improved ventilation, two improved window defrosters, two less noise, and two softer suspension.