The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-20
REPAIR ECONOMY CHIEF
FACTOR IN AUTO INDUSTRY
Construction. Material Weight and
Balance Are the Things That
Count, Says Hugh Chalmers, Presi-
dent of Chalmers Company

:
"If the year 1918 is to be marked
by one tendency more than another in
automobile buying, that one thing, l
believe will be greater discrimination
than ever before on the part of the au-
tomobile buying public" says Hugh
Chalmers, president of the Chalmers
Motor Company.
'People these days are exercising
better judgment in their selection of
motor cars. They are far sighted. They
are choosing their ears on the basis of
the economy they will secure in the
long run-which, after all, is the log
ical way.
"The difference of few dollars in
first cost between one car and another is
no longer the determining factor. Meth
er is the difference of few dollars one
way or the other in the cost of gasoline
or oil during the course of the year.
Even the slight saving which one car
may show over another in the item of
tire expense no longer clinches the de-
cision of motor car buyer.
''It is the saving possible in repair
expense that is the big, important saw
ing. One way in which good design
and good building evidence themselves
is by cutting down repair expense. One
reason why some cars are better than
others is because they do not roll up big
repair bills.
$50 when / predict that this year
will be remembered as year of econ
omy in the automobile industry, | do
not mean to imply that people will buy
lower priced ears than they did before.
First cost is only one phase of the ques-
tion, and wise motor car buyers, when
hesitating between two ears of almost
equal price will buy the more expensive
machine of the two providing that car
can show better performance at a low
er all-around cost of operation.
"To the argument advanced in favor
of one ear over another that it is econ
omical in gasoline consumption, the
best thing to do is to admit it-and
add that in an entire season the entire
saving of one light six, for instance
over another in gasoline is less than
$25.
Economy in oil consumption is a
still less important item, for the great
est possible saving in oil expense is a
negligible factor
"Repair economy is the economy
that counts. One repair bill may wipe
out all the saving of year in gasoline
and oil. That is why motor ear buyers
to-day are casting their verdict in IA
vor of ears that keep repair expense at
minimum. There are four things that
people these days look for when seek
ing motor car economy which is real
motor car economy.
"In the first place, the car that is
the most economical in the long run
must possess right construction. 1t
must be we'll built. The workmanship p
in it must evidence painstaking care;
it must be absolutely accurate.
"Closely associated with construct ton
is the matter of materials. So in the
second place, the really, economical car
must be built of high quality materials.
The best car in the world will not hold
up unless the materials in it are also
superior.
"My third point suggests the ques-
tion of weight. | can dismiss the too
heavy ear merely by stating that peo-
pie are not buying such cars any more.
On the other hand, however, they
should not run the risk of buying a
too-light car. In my opinion a too
light car is a worse purchase than ono
that it is too heavy. Surely, it wears
out more quickly. Right weight, then,
is the answer.
"The matter of proper balance and
scientific distribution of weight de-
serves place among the 'big four. ,
The car that is so designed and built is
the car that provides better riding
comfort for longer time, and holds
the road more easily than any other.
"These, then, are the things that
motor car buyers seek, because in these
things are embodied true motor car
economy. This year will be remem-
bered as an economy year. BY that l
mean that it will be known as the year
of the newer and saner way of Judging
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