Evening star., 1927-05-15
garages.

A MERICA rapidly is getting on
" two cars to the family
n S.;i,: IS, ss' ,e,z vii, see hi. def,
mite trend make exceptional prog
ress is the confident belief, not only
OF motor car manufacturers, but eco
nomic observers and others who
have kept a hgurative finger on the
pulse of the Nations greatest indus
try. This confidence is very soundly
based. 1t does not require prophetic
vision to see the next results OF the
swing toward this end, and that has
been going on for the past two years.
Emphatic reflection of the trend IS
to be found in the fact that OF the
100000 odd motoring families Ill
the country 100000, or Il per cent,
already are on the two-car basis.
These figures probably will prove
surprising to those who associate
ownership of two cars only with
families Of wealth The wealthy
family, of course, does own two cars,
or more, but it is the average well
off family that makes up the bulk OF
those who are on this progressive,
far-sighted transportation basis.
y x X x
What is the reason for this trend,
and why is it expected that the cur
rent year will see All amazing spread
of the two-car idea?
The force that is driving the Amer
lean family of average means to pur-
chase two cars where once 1t glori-
fed in the ownership OF but single
automobile is an irresistible one: IT
is, according to- the most searching
study OF the facts. nothing more or
less than economic necessity. The
automobile, beyond doubt. has lett
the luxury class forever. 1t has be-
come an essential to life, like TODD
and shelter, although, OF course. not
with exactly the same effect. Trans
portation is a fundamental OF lite, and
the automobile is personal transpor-
tation. There are other units OF per-
sonal transportation, of course, but
none of Americas 20000,O0 motor
car owners ever could be convinced
that these can fiji the bill with the
economy and efficiency OF the auto
mobile.
W
phenomenal advance of the automo-
bile. 1t provides pleasure, it IS true,
but. first of all. it provides transpor-
tation. That it does assure a pleas
ant and convenient form of trans
portation is d fortunate circumstance
and not really a basic consideration
in the explanation of the great pro-
duction strides made in the automo-
bile industry within the past few
years.
Looked at from this angle. one
gets the only reasonable explanation |
of the argument advanced IN sup |
port of two-car ownership-that its |
cheaper" 1t may not be cheaper III |
actual cash outlay-although with !
car prices at rock bottom and up |
keep costs reduced to minimum it
rapidly is becoming so-but IN COM |
fort. convenience and many other |
qualities it is less expensive to own |
two cars than one. This is the point |
10 be considered when debating the |
adyisability OF getting on the two
car basis.
The goal of life is comfort, happi-
ness and success, not discomfort, |
misery and failure. America is buy !
ing two cars for the same reason |
that it buys electric lights in prefer
ence to the old kerosene lamp. 1t
knows the best is cheapest. 1t { es
not dodge the expense of electric
frigeration or ice merely because it |
might, under some circumstances,
hang the butter, milk and other per-
ishables in the old we'll, where 1t is
rather cool. The lamp and the well
may represent cheaper ways of get
ting light ond preserving food. but
no one in these progressive times
thinks of utilizing them merely be-
cause they are less expensive.
The electric light represents prog
ress. One car, too, represents prog
ress. Two cars, however, still more
contribute to the richness of life.
They are a good investment, and
because they are, cost is less OF an
item than many would regard it.
1t was the automobile that made
the great suburban movement pos
sible, and now the suburban move
ment is repaying the favor by help
ing the automobile industry to sell
two cars where it sold but one be-
fore. Transportation to the suburb
ante does not mean merely provid-
ing a means of travel for the head
nf %he fap,;fv Tt rant,ires that every