The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-03
Going to Buy Car? Considerations
Enumerated to Help You Make Choice

It rs probable that more than 1,500,-
600 motor cars will be purchased dur
ing the remainder of 1919. The aver
age mans investment in a car will
run somewhere in the neighborhood Of
81, 900. This is q substantial sum, an
amount OF money which the business
man would take care was spent with
much circumspection in his own bust
ness.
And yet that same man in the pur-
chase of motor car will lay out his
81, 900 without taking even the sim
-plest precautions to see that he is
getting his moneys worth.
For the average man the question
Of price is settled automatically with
the condition OF his pocketbook. The
prospective buyer knows just about
how much money he can spare for the
purchase, and his first care should be
to get list of cars classified by price.
This will give him a list Of the cars
selling between the price limits that
he has set for himself From this
basic list a few cars that seem to
meet the conditions involved may be
selected for closer scrutiny.
Is Company Sound?
First and foremost the intending
purchaser should be certain that the
car he Is sweet or" is manufactured
by a company that is financially sound
and we'll managed The precaution is
necessary because there is nothing
else SO burdensome as to find oneself
with an orphan car on ones hands.
When the company manufacturing
a car goes out of business the matter
of requirements and spare parts be-
comes a problem that is difficult OF
solution and surrounded by annoyan-
ces. Be sure then that the maker OF
your car is going to stay In business.
Next the prospective purchaser
should scrutiniZe the dealer, his stand
ing, equipment and general reputation.
particularly among his own clients.
If you find the patrons of a dealer
apparently well satisfied with the
treatment they receive you may be
sure that you will receive the atten
ton and service that you want.
In this connection it is well to i'll
spect the dealers establishment to
see IL he had facilities for turning ont
quick repairs. Also find out whether
the dealer has the reputation of Civ,
ing quick service on spare parts. Some
manufacturers OF otherwise excellent
repute have extremely poor service de.
partments, so that a dealer with the
best will in the world is not able to
give his patrons quick service in this
respect A few inquiries among users
of the car will quickly establish this
fact.
Friend May Help.
In considering the mechanical quail
ifications of the car under examination
the ordinary buyer who knows prac.
ticalley nothing about this phase of the
matter should have the advice of some
one qualified to pass on the cal
and in whose disinterestedness he
can trust. In other words, do not let
the glib salesman be the only arbiter
of the cars mechanical makeup.
In this phase Of the selection will
come consideration of the perform
ance that the car must show. For in
stance, car that Is to be used in a
hilly country must be a good hill
climber; it must have some superflu-
GUS power. For service anywhere the
owner wants vehicle with a respect
able turn of speed; quick acceleration
and good flexibility. Any car should
be able to throttle down to sow pace
while it is being driven in high.