The Washington times., 1912-08-03
NEW [OW.PR|CED
CAR CONTRASTED
TO USED MACHINE
Knotty Problem Often Con-
fronts Purchaser Whose
Means Are Limited.

To every prospective purchaser of
moderate means the question suggests
itself whether II Is best to buy new
car or one that has seen a couple of
seasons service, but Is still in fairly
good condition. The class of purchasers
which Is particularly wont to ponder
this question is that which, IL they
bought new cars, would have to con-
tent themselves with machines selling
at the very lowest prices, and the ques-
tion then usually assumes the form
whether 1t is preferable to buy a new
car at given figure or a used car
which originally cost from twice to
three times that amount and can now
be had at the same price as the low
priced car. -
However, the case also often occurs
where a prospective purchaser has set
his mind on a given make or general
class of machine, and hesitates in his
decision between a new and second
hand machine. says Horseless Age
The last mentioned case is one which
should not be very hard to decide In any
particular instance. 1t is to be noted
that this question confronts only those
purchasers whose means are limited
and who have to be careful in respect
to their expenditures. The wealthy
naturally purchase only new cars. Hence
economy Is the controlling factor In
the question of new versus used cars.
Automobile operating costs naturally
divide into two classes, viz, those
which increase more or less directly
those which are practically Independent
or the amount of usage a car receives.
The latter class of expenses include
such items as interest on investment,
depreeiation f,epres tdo OF car insurance and
comparatively little, these so-called
fixed charges may greatly outweigh the
running expenses-those for fuel, oil,
etc. The fixed charges are much
for this reason the man who has only
little time to enjoy his automobile, as,
for instance, the commuter who has
practically only his Sundays for driv-
ing, will be we'll advised to buy a used
car-provided always that he Is In such
circumstances that he must count his
dollars
For instance, after two years use
car can generally be bought at less than
half it's, first cost. and II 1t has been
properly looked after It has still much
more than one-half its period of useful
ness before 1t. The item of interest on
investment will then be less than half
and that Of depreciation will be equally
reduced. or course, 1t Is logical to ex-
pect that q car will cost considerably
driven only little, and II these 1000
miles Of service than during the first.
But we are supposing that 1t is being
driven only little ,and II these 10000
miles are spread over, say, five years,
the annual expenditures for repairs will
still be small. In fact. the item of re-
pairs increase in substantially direct
proportion with the mileage. and II the
latter Is low tho repairs will be low.
C'n the other hand. II the car is to be
driven day after day. SO as to run up a
mileage of 10000 per year or more. then
the increasing cost of repairs with
growing age will soon become an i'm
portant factor. and Is likely to more
than offset the saving resulting from
the decreased rate Of depreciation and
the smaller capital investment.
Moreover. the greater. chance of an
noyance from breakdown In an old car
and of loss of service owing to needed
repairs make 1t inadvisable to buy an
old car where continuous usage Is re-
auired. Therefore. the man who has
occasion to use his car practically every
day in the year and VINO rolls up mile
age of many thousand a year should by
all means buy new car. whereas he
who has use for car only occasionally
will. in most cases. save money by buy
ing a machine that has already seen q
couple of years service.