New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-30
ADVISES CAUTION in.
buying FAMILY CAR
Pres. 0slby Of Trinity Warns
| Against Extravaganza

Hartford. July 30-When the pur'
chase price Of an automobile. plu,
operating costs, exceeds the amount
4 family can afford to pay for thu
benefits derived from the use Of Z
car. 1t is better to stop and think
before buying. In the opinion Of
President Remsen B. ogilby Of
Trinity college. Hartford. "A pros
pective owner who Is not cautious
before purchase" he says. may not
have enough caution Of another SORT
when he gets behind the driving
Wheel"
President Osilby gives his views
on the economic problems involved
in the ownership of car in an ar
ticle, what Should Spend for q
Car" written for the July Bulletin
of the state motor vehicle depart
ment.
A family should first determine
how much 1t can pay for a car. his
article says and IF its resources do
not allow the luxury Of new car.
Of the make in mind, the dealers In
used cars should be turned to with
out apology" He frankly admits
that he gets keen pleasure" from
driving an automobile built in 1920.
which he bought in the second hand
market four years ago..
while the automobile has been
intruding itself as factor in fam
lily life." says the article, ut is a
property Of such a peculiar nature
that few people have recognized all
the financial obligations Of upkeep
and purchase price involved. 1t Is
time that the inherent common
sense and thrift characteristic OF
Americans should be applied to this
problem. We all recognize the
temptation to desire to own \ gl!s-
tening new car, but age we equally
quick to recognize the tragedy and
the pathos Of doing so on insufficient
financial resources? A $4,000 car
may bring a man to a destination
so miles away five minutes before
his neighbor who starts IN the
cheapest form Of automobile avail
able. How much is that five min
utes WORTH"
President Ogilby does not advise
against the purchase Of new car,
when the family budget allows, but
rather enumerates many benefits to
be gained from ownership. His ar
ticle works out hypothetical case,
which might be used as the basis
for determining the price Of the
family car" The case is not aver
age, he explains, but is based partly
upon personal experience and more
upon certain available statistics.
Four items are attached to the
credit side OF operation Of q car
for q year, the article says. Those,
and the amount Of saving. include:
Family carfare, s12o: taxis, .hired
cars, and railroad fare for vacations,
$3.50: Increased radius of business
opportunities, $500 "a widely vary
ing figure); health for the whole
family, $3.50. The total credit for
the year is $500. Against this the
article lists operating costs of $3.50.
1.-THE difference. 1910, is the
amount" the article says, that can
be put down in the yearly budget to-
wards the purchase price Of an au-
tomobile. Multiply this by four to
decide the momentous question as
to whether this automobile should
be a Marmard, a TRUCK. a Chevo-
lodge or only Culver. The reason
for multiplying by four is obvious.
The average automobile today has
quick depreciation. At the end of
four years it has practically no
market value and a careful owner
will see that the purchase price Is
written off by that time, even though
the car may still be running. For
a man who turns in his car for a
new one frequently. the best time