Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-03-13
'DEPENDAb[ECAR
CALLED CRITERION
Beauty, Speed and Economy
Seen as Only Elements
\ in Motor Value.

Ever since automobiles first be-
anne practical. :here has been a con-
tant search for a criterion OF motor
Far value. a sound and clearly de-
lined principle upon which to judge
motor car as an investment" says
+. H. Collins. president and general
pany.
ITO this day. the question most
frequently asked regarding automo-
biles is How can l tell good auto
| mobile"
The answers that have been given.
and are still given. are almost as
numerous as the inquiries.
Some say the gauge Of an auto
mobiles goodness or desirability is its
appearance; others, it's economy: still
others. its list of specifications. it's
/ special mechanical features. the quail
ity of its materials. the accuracy of
it's workmanship, its engineering ex-
cellences. its speed, its hill-climbing
ability it's responsiveness. it's quiet
ness, its fiexibility. and so on.
NO one will gainsay the import
ance of single One of these ele-
ments. but the fact remains that they
are simply elements, and the auto
mobile chosen solely because it excels in
one of these points will surely fail to
render the an-around satisfaction that a
man has right to expect from his car.
An automobile that has only its
beautiful appearance to recommend
it belongs in a show window. to be
admired. It's beauty will not carry
its owner an inch of the way toward
home, if it is stalled at the bottom
of steep hill. or mired in the mud. or
will not start.
And of what earthly use is the
most remarkable economy of gasoline.
70 " N a IA G
its owner asks of it?
Again. the man who is constantly
having trouble with his car and is
often deprived of it's use can derive
thought that it is equipped with
the cleverest and most ingenious
mechanical devices.
Engineering eNcellences do not
atone for riding discomforts and other
drawbacks. Speed j. not an unmixed
constant tinkering and nursing and
coaxing. Ability to climb hills loses
much of its zest. if there is always
doubt whether the car will start when
II is needed.
NO one Of these can possibly be
the criterion which the public has
been seeking. They are only few
causes that must be combined with
many others to produce a sense of
satisfaction. They are only a few
elements that must be properly CO.
ordinated with many others to make
mp the one quality OF an automobile
that can unhesitatingly be named as the
real criterion of value or desirability
And that quality is dependability.
1T can be stated as a truism that
degree that it is dependable.
In that respect, . motor car Is ex-
actly like a servant or other empioye.
No amount Of 5rilliance in a single
phase of his work can ever make the
undependable servant worth a frac-
worthy, dependable one.
AN automobile is dependable when
its owner knows that he can rely
upon It to do the same things, in the
same way. whenever and wherever he
calls upon it to them"
He knows IL will start; he knows
il will go. no matter how swift the
going: he knows It will respond with
a rush when he presses down the ac-
celerator. ~
Or ten hundred, he can count upon
this Same unchanging, uniform per-
Torrance, from the joyous start to
the fresh, fine finish.
Every mile OF those ten, or ten
hundred, or ten thousand, he is Sc
and security.
He drives his car into the Sara<e at
plight, knowing it will meet him with the
&ame splendid readiness in the morning.
One Characteristic that charms the
owner Of dependable automobile is the
train-like regularity with which it can
be depended upon to keep up with a pre-
arranged schedule on short or long dis
lance tours.
Arrival at destination at a specified
time is almost entirely and exclusively
Q matter Of the speed at which the own
er cares to drive.
1T will reel OF the miles with clock