The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-04-17
MOTOR CARS STANDARD.
Near Perfection, Barring New lnven-
tons, the Dealers Say.


Kansas City Star: Have the manu-
facturers reached point in the devel-
opment of the motor car which is as
near perfection as is possible, or will
a new car which ! may buy this year
be out of date a year hence? This
question is heard frequently among
motorists. Another point OF discus
sion concerns the prices and whether
they are likely to be materially re-
duced Inquiry among Kansas City
dealers brings this consensus OF
opinion:
Barring some discovery or invention
which cannot be foretold, and which
will make plainly desirable radical
change in structural methods, it is
safe to say that the motor car manu-
facturers of the world have attained
a standard which is likely to be fol
lowed for many years.
There are bound to be improvements
in details. in fact the latest models
prove this, but it is practically GER
tain that the day has passed when the
type of construction will undergo rad
ical changes from year to year, and
the time has come when a person Sc
lecting a motor car will consider his
purchase with view to driving the
same car for a series Of years, rather
than for a single season. That time
has already come abroad, and in Eng
land and Europe motorists take pride
in using the same car year after year,
instead of having a new model every
twelvemonth.
AS to the matter Of price; that is
a difficult matter upon which to make
predictions. The general tendency, as
far as there is any, appears to be
towards a lower level. In several in
stances manufacturers who have each
year added a little to their price to
pay for improvements, have this year
announced reductions. This Is par
ticularly true of the imported cars,
some of the leading importers having
cut their prices materially in order
to bring their cars into direct price
competition with the best of the Amer
lean product. Comparatively few
American makers have added to the
price of the models for 1908 cores
ponding to similar models of last year.
There is, however, an upward ten
dency but 1t represents increased
power and greater capacity. Thus the
siX-cylinder car of much power and
with capacity for seven or eight per-
sons, which stands at the top Of the
line OF several manufacturers, costs
more than the large four-cylinder, Ave
passenger car, which formerly was in
the top place.
In the same way there has been a
downward tendency by those manufac-
turers who have entered the field with
motor cars for the masses. Whereas
couple OF years ago a new car, well
constructed and reliable, with reason
able carrying capacity and speed,
which could be purchased for less than
81 600 or $1,000 was a rarity, now the
person who desires to become a motor
ist and who does not wish TO invest
more than 81 200 in his car has a
choice of several well known and re-
liable makes These low-priced cars
are mostly of the runabout variety,
Out in construction they are OF the
most modern type and that they have
given excellent satisfaction is appar-
ent from the number already in use
and from the undiminished demand
for them. New concerns have en-
tered the low-priced field this year
and they have demonstrated that a
motor car can be built at low price
which is in every respect satisfactory
for the person contented with a small
car, reasonable speed and with whom
light expense OF maintenance is very
desirable There are runabouts whose
price is as low as $500 and from that
figure the low-priced class may be said
to include those cars listed at $3.50.
$3.50. $3.50. 1925. 1900. $1,000 and 80
nm mr. tn EAn