CONSIDERATIONS FOR A PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 March 1906, Page 114

CONSIDERATIONS FOR A PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER.

By W. Russell Grimwade, B.Sc, F.C.S., in the Scientific Australian.

This contribution is from the pen of a motorist of considerable practical experience. It treats interestingly of the salient points to be considered by an intending purchaser who desires to choose a car with his eyes open. The main difficulty in the way of offering advice to an intending buyer of a motor car is the consideration of price, and it is such a dominating factor that in this article it will be neglected, and advice on minor points offered. When it is quite settled how much money is going to be spent, and what amount of luxury is desired, the relative merits of various types of cars may be discussed. At the outset it should be understood that, broadly speaking, the bigger the car the greater the comfort and the cost of upkeep. Steam and electric cars are for the time being out of it, and, unless a man is or wishes to appear peculiar, petrol cars only are considered. Instances are often met with where a man after long delay makes up his mind to buy a car, and, after inspection, decides on a big powerful four-cylinder machine. This is always a pity for several reasons. The car is from the start in the hands of beginners, and suffers accordingly, and the owner is dissatisfied because the machine is not performing as well with

him as it should. Moreover, a great deal of pleasure is lost by an introduction to motoring by a powerful machine. If a more modest car be made the medium of initiation, the full joys of anticipation may be had, and as the car is changed for something better the goal of one's ambition is reached by stages, and each acquisition yields its own peculiar pleasures. If a car is to be used as a vehicle only, and to be driven exclusively by a motorman, this does not apply with such force, and there is no reason,why luxury should be bought bv degrees — the passenger never feels the need of " more power " as forcibly as the driver. It is 'an excellent plan for a man wishing to enjoy the full pleasures of motoring to start off with a single cylinder, carry on to a twin cylinder and so work up to a four. Experience in driving and the general management of a car can be well and inexpensively gained by driving somebody else's machine, but as owners are inclined to be exclusive this is not always possible. It is preferable to be reasonable with one's desires, and buy a small second-hand car for a start, and when some knowledge has been gained, to exchange it for a larger one. That is, of course, assuming that the owner wishes to drive himself, and does not intend to employ a professional driver. When an owner is driven only, and never drives, more than half the pleasure of motoring is lost, and the car becomes merely a vehicle of convenience, and, moreover, it is well for an owner not to be absolutely dependent on his motor man, as many fine cars are not doing themselves credit because their entire management is left in irresponsible hands. Upkeep is a very important item, and should be considered before purchase. Apart from depreciation, it is a fair thing to assume that in Melbourne a small runabout car can be run for a total cost of not more than twopence per mile all the year round, on figures of a year's running, and includes everything — i.e., petrol, lubricants, tyres, renewals, repairs and insurance. Depreciation is a decreasing item, and may be considered to approximate the total running cost, so an expenditure of fourpence a mile will easily cover the maintenance of a small machine. These figures are only approximately true for an annual mileage of from 6000 to 10,000. The maintenance of large cars is, as a rule, more than proportional to their size, and m many instances runs up to over a shilling per mile. Tyres are a very expensive item, and alone cost more than fuel, but the expense they entail is dependent upon the care and skill of the driver, In selecting a car, special attention should be paid to: — (1) Accessibility of the engine and running mechanism ; (2) clearance of the car above the ground ; (3) ability of the car to run slowly on the top gear ; (4) type of gear box and the ease with which gears are changed ; (5) the efficiency of the water circulation and the cooling powers ; (6) electrical connections and wiring. Accessibility is a very important point, as the running mechanism should by its position invite inspection. If access to vital parts necessitates the dismantling of rods and levers, their attention is unconsciously postponed, and the lack of a drop of oil leads to wear and early replacement. Some cars seem to be put together m a very awkward manner, and the writer has known an instance where the whole crank chamber had to be removed to allow of a bolt in the pump mechanism being replaced. The cost of such small replacements is often considered excessive, because the time spent m getting at the job and the subsequent reassembling is overlooked. For country use the height of the undergear from the ground should be noted, but it must be admitted that it is surprising what rough tracks can be negotiated with good driving, with a clearance of only a few inches. Some makers apparently design with speed as the only object. This may be very desirable on occasions, but for town or rough country use a car should not be fast beyond its power on its top gear. The lower the gear the more latitude there is in the range of speeds obtainable, and the car that is moderately geared is infinitely more comfortable to drive than the very fast one. The gear box of a car is perhaps its most crucial part, and special attention should be paid to it. Several makers fit patent gear boxes, and those that are successful ' are vastly superior to the original Panhard gear box. With the latter type the skill of the driver is everything, and m expert hands they wear well and suffer no damage, but there are few gear boxes of this type that do not show heavy wear after having been in constant use for a year or so. The water circulation and cooling of the engine should be ample, as they are often severely taxed on north wind summer days. Radiators fitted with fans for a forced draught are m vogue at present, but the fan is an additional running part that is apt to be a nuisance, and, as some big firms contrive to do without it, why should it not be omitted altogether ? The^ngine should be able to run in the, car when stationary for at least thirty minutes without causing the water to boil.

The details of the electrical portions of a car are big factors in its reliability. Cheap wires, poor switches, and insecure terminals often cause a stop on the roadside, and although they do not take- long to rectify when discovered, they are often difficult to find, and are always a cause of annoyance. The carriage springs of a car should be tested by a buyer by riding in the back seat when driving over a rough, road at a moderate pace, and it should be remembered that, apart from the comfort of good springs, they are largely responsible for the life of the contained machinery.