New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06
NEW CAR REQUIRES CARE
Excessive Speed May Ruin 1t in
First Thousand Miles.
HILLS ION HIGH" HARMFUL
Repeated Washings with Cold
Water Will Tend to Keep
the Paint Bright.

This is the season for the delivery of
new cars to owners and a large percent
age of them will go into .nexpert hands
and lose much of their value through poor
handling. Much of the satisfaction to be
derived from an automobile depends on
its handling in the first few hundred
miles, until the bearings have been run
in" and the paint has set" Properly
handled at first. motor car should i'm
prove steadily and be at its best at the
end of 1900 or 5000 miles
Unfortunately, there are cars which, in
stead of improving by use. steadily de-
teriorate from the moment they are taken
over by their owners. and in the major
lily Of cases such disappointing results can
oe traced TO rough handling on the road
and lack of attention in the garage.
Over-drivinS and insufficient fabrication
are the two most potent causes of prema-
ture deterioration, and of the two over
driving is probably the more common.
Too many owners and drivers are anx-
iOus TO ascertain at the earliest possible
moment what their new cars will do, "
and having discovered that a given speed
is attainable on the level. are tempted TO
make constant efforts TO squeeze an extra
i've miles or so out Of q too willing en-
CINE.
4 little scif-restraint will be well repaid,
particularly If the car is a small one.
There are many small cars on the market
which will exceed forty miles an hour on
the fiat, but their owners would be well
advised to fix their working limit at
thirty miles. except on special occasions
and the fewer of these there are the bet
ter for their pockets.
High speeds should be vigorously avoid
ed for a month or so after the car ar
rives from the makers, so that when the
car is tried right out TO its limit of power
both engine and transmission may be in
the best possible condition for withstand
ing the strain. High speed, however. is
not the only form of ill-usage TO which
the new car is subjected on the road.
There are few drivers who can resist the
temptation of trying to learn how steep
a gradient can be negotiated on the top
gear Experiments of this description are
as damaging to the engine and transmits
SIGN as burst of high speed on the level
and may rightly be classed under the head
Of unfair treatment
Most modern cars are fitted with grease
or oil caps at every point where friction
takes place, and they should be attended
10 before every run.
What is true of the chassis is equally
true of the body. Paint and varnish will
mature with careful treatment and rapid
" deterorate under i'll usage. Much de-
ponds on the treatment the car receives
for the first few weeks. Even the most
conscientious Of cleaners is greatly haE'
dicapped If the car first comes into regu-
lar use in wet weather. Rain drops or
mud allowed to dry on new varnish will
almost inevitably stain IT.
Careful and repeated washings with
plenty of clean cold water will help 70
harden the surface Of new coachwork in
such a manner that it will retain much OF
its pristine brlliance for many months
A few days neglect, on the other hand
will ruin its appearance forever, and a
really good driver will never allow mud
10 dry on a car newly arrived from the
coach builders.