The Washington herald., 1911-08-06

The automobile has passed the stage
when 1t was considered merely as a
plaything of the wealthy. It is as much
a business proposition with the average
man as the buying of new home or
even a suit of clothes. He feels that he
can increase his business by the use of
one. and at the same time afford himself
and his family some of the pleasures
of life that would be denied them with
out a car. For instance during the day
the car can be used in calling upon his
customers. and in the evening to take
the family for ride through the park
and a trip in the country on Sundays and
holidays Despite this fact, he hesitates
about investing his money in a car. for
he fears that the cost of upkeep will be
more than he can afford.
Two Glasses of Owners.
Stories of how it cost one man $50
per month to operate a machine and take
care of the chauffeur nave reached his
ears and he hesitates, imagining that
these expenses will have to be incurred
by him. 1t is undoubtedly true that
many spend this much and more per
month to maintain a car. The people
who do this, however, belong to the
wealthy class. and in many cases own
cars whose original cost runs up into the
thousands, and which are in constant
use from early morning until late at
night. They do not care what II costs
to maintain a machine, for 1t answers
their purpose. and they stand willing to
pay the price. They make the original
purchase with this knowledge, and do
not complain when their bills for main
tenance run into the century figure. Be
fore the day of the automobile this same
class of people maintained turnouts that
cost them large sums every month for
maintenance.
For the man Of moderate means who
contemplates purchasing an automobile
of medium price and which he plans
TO operate himself, comparisons are out
of the question. 1t would be just as
reasonable for him to compare his bills
for keeping one horse and carriage with
those of people who have several horses
and carriages of all sorts and descrip-
tiOns. To a great extent, the cost of
upkeep of a car depends on the owner
and driver.
Depends Upon Use of Machine.
He can make the cost low or very high,
depending entirely upon the use he puts
the machine to. 1t cannot be expected
that a car which runs on an average of
seventy-five miles per day, seven days
in the week-and this is a very high
average for cars in city use-can be
maintained for the same amount as
car used about forty miles a day. This
latter figure about equals the mileage
that a car covers in an ordinary days
usage. It stands to reason that the ma
chine which covers the greater mileage
will use up more tires. oil, and gasoline,
as well as suffer more wear and tear.
The streets or roads on which the car
is driven and the manner in which II
is handled in bad spots also has much
to do as to determining what the cost
of maintenance will be.
If tires are not kept fully inflated. and
this is point upon which many motor
lists are lax, II is an added expense. The
tire companies by long experience have
found that a certain size tire should car
ry so many pounds of air to insure the
best service.
In many cases the result OF their ex-
perience is not taken advantage of. Be
cause a car rides somewhat easier with
twenty pounds less air than it should
carry, they are only inflated to that
extent, with the result that roadside tire
changes become a common occurrence
and the tire company is wrongly blamed.
A properly adjusted carbureter is also
saving in the gasoline, for not only does
tne car run more smoothly, Dut there is
not the tendency to heat up that comes
from a poor mixture, either too thin or
too rich.
High Speed Is Expensive. :
High-speed driving and reckless turning
of corners are great helps to big repair
bills, as are a dozen other things about
a car, such as too little oil and hitting
ruts without slipping the clutch. There
Is hardly driver who estimates the real
cost of speed. The destruction Increases
not in direct proportion as the speed in
creases but according to the sUuare or