The Washington herald., 1916-02-27
MOTOR GOSSIP
Nv .sI, GRoGAN.

Why does an auto dealer take a last
years car in trade for the new one?
Because he knows the car better than
the purchaser.
And in this lies way for wise buyers
to beat the car shortage which already
Is facing sellers of automobiles.
Many models of certain cars cannot
be obtained for affection or financial
consideration even now for less than a
two months delivery, and some cannot
be purchased at all.
Yet many persons are going to- want
automobiles this year who viii not be
able to buy them because they won't be
turned out fast enough by the factories
There Is too little knowledge on the
part Of the public regarding the capacity
and quality of automobiles Race meets
have pointed out one thing more than
another, yet the public seems to have
missed the point entirely. That point !:
that no car Is at its best for hard
heavy racing until its second year OF use
Why don't car buyers realize that their
machines, given more eonsiderste care
are at their best in their second, third
fourth and even fifth year?
Because they don't the dealers take
used cars in trade. Then some wise buy
ers with the investment OF SIS for paint
have fne machines in the prime Of theii
usefulness which were obtained at from
20 to 30 per cent less than the cost oil
new machine.
These same buyers drive a car original
ly costing from 500 to 1890 more than
they originally could have afforded. Thu.
they take used car Of ample proper
tions instead of buying a new car.
Moreover, persons who have not fell
the ability to purchase even a small
car at list price have found them selve:
able to obtain a great bargain in uset
small car which has been made as fresh
appearing as new for so.
The car shortage Is not myth thit
year, as buyers already are learning. II
will be more and more poignant as the
weeks go by. Finally the market will be
nearly closed. Many factories already
have abandoned plans for their annua
close-down for cleaning up the plant.
So the new car market will be closed
Great Waste Here.
Yet in dozens of dealers storehouse.
many better-requiring not even a new
coat of paint. il one is not too fastidious
and good for half a dozen years of the
most gruelling wear.
II Is a sad waste and a sadder com
mentary on the wisdom of automobil,
buyers that they allow these cars to bs
dismantled and made into trucks which
with the lack of car given such vehicles
still do good service for six and sever
years.
Body lines are little different In many
models thihe year than last. II /.
agreed everywhere that 1915 motors were
an exceptionally well-made lot of ma
chimes.
Mr.. Prospective Buyer, the next time
the dealer best known to you or to tbs
situation with him.
Don't rely entirely on his word. Have
him show you the cars he has on hand
Ask him to lift the hood on the ma
chine so you can look at the condition
of the motor. Look at the upholstery
Picture the car with a coat of paint oil
varnish or even polish. II interested
have a look at the differential bearings
and the gear box. The price will be en-
tightening.
"All cars are built for a minimum OIL
seven years of hard wear" said a prom.
inent manufacturer-salesm regarding
this. Their average life is about ter
years IL atcually used that long But
when one Is turned in for a new car
there is from FIVE to eight years of iti
best service left in the machine, all OF
which Is lost to some one because hs
doesn't know enough to take advantag Il
of the situation