New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-29
HOW TO BUY A MOTOR CAR
What to Watch For and What
to Avoid.
QUESTIONS TO ASK DEALER
II Is Always Wise Also to Con-
slider Stability of the
Manufacturer.
r., Is. =. Dry sda'c.
of f.c cadillac Motor COMPANY

Tho average man who decides TO pur-
chase a motor car particularly if it be his
first experience has somewhat rerplexing
rroblem 10 solve \ hundred or more diff
fercnt makes and types are offered for his
consideration. and every salesman has just
rho ear De ought 10 buy.
TO the average drst purchaser any auto
mobile is am automobile He sees an makes
and kinds and sizes varying in price from
few hundred 20 several thousand dollars
They all go Swimming about and appear to
be carrying their occupants smoothly along
ON business or pleasure bent So far as he
can see. they all run all right His first
desire is simply 60 own an automobile
something to ride in.
But after ne has had his car a while he
begins 10 Ice more critical lie begins TO
notice the existence and absence Of things
nc had not thought Of before.
lie may find IL a hard job to crank and
start his car while some other car can he
started with case or perhaps II may have
I'm automatic starter. lie may find that it
requires about all his strength to push
o1t the clutch or 10 put on the brakes, -
while i'm some other car only a slight press
ura or the foot is all that is necessary
~. may find On q few months that the wear
ON Tho steering gear permits excessive play
o- lost motion. making steering uncertain
end unsafe and that there is no provision
made for taking mp that lost motion. while
.- some other car such danger is not pos
-hle
I.e may find that the changing Of gears
81. accompanied by q crash and a grind.
while iu some other car the change is hard
u.s. ncrcopublc
no may find that his engine heats and
ne water boils while tn engine in some
other car never overheats.
fIe may find when his car needs attention
from time to time that the dealer from
whom he purchased it is not familiar with
Hs construction or has not the facilities.
equipment and organization TO afford the
needed aIt while dealers i'm other cars are
always con the Job" TO render any service
required.
he may find when me wants to replace
some parts that the new ones will not NJ
without alterations. while I'm some other
car Tho PARTS are perfectly standardized
end Interchangeable, or he may find that
tho maker Of his car has gone out Of bust
rr-s and that lac cannot get them at all.
Again. hc may find that the supposed
maker OF his car was not the maker at all.
..t merely assembled the car from parts
bought indiscrimnately here, there and
.ssryWhere. and that the maker Of the
PARTS is no longer making them and that
-u, assembler Of the car has not the equip
rort 10 make them With a car produced
.. substantial automobile manufactures
t.e probability OF such difficulties and an
Yoyaucos is obviated.
These differences in motor cars are large
s. matters Of design and manufacture.
Ability i'm both lines is at a premium in the
motor car business. While no one maker
has a monopoly on all the brains in the
industry. il IS a fact that the demands
have been greater than the supply OF men
who know how" The result is that many
motor cars to-day are I'm reality but little
advanced over the embryonic ideas Of a
dozen years ago
0r the other hand. there IS the maker
who founded his business and his product
OH certain principles which were success
mi and his present product is simply an
evolution and perfection Of those basic
principles.
Before investing his money. the purchaser
should avail himself of every opportunity
,o investigate thoroughly such cars as he
may have under consideration. lie should
make close inquiry among present users OF
such cars. inquiriug specifically concerning
those features which may make the car
satisfactory or unsatisfactory, according to
his Individual preferences and requirements.