Evening star., 1927-04-24

lar season are looking askance
~ at the appearance and per-
formancc Of their present cars ana
are wondering Just what llfe's flavor
would be like If they were TO invest
in one of the fine new models now
on the market. In addition to TINS
several million, there are thousands
OF others who never have owned
motor cars who now are seriously
considering entering the ranks OF
motordom.
In other words. host OF progress
sive Americans are preparing them
selves for that most interesting OF all
forms OF shopping-car shopping.
VIII the same shopping technique
that was employed in the purchase
al previous cars be sufficient today
VIII it be easy to decide what make
or model one wants to buy? Is the
range OF ones possible choice so
considerably widened as to be con-
fusing
These are questions that are beng
asked BY the far-Sighted individual
who is contemplating a car-shoppmg
tourney along automobile row. Ihey
are important questions and desery-
inc of a goodly measure OF consid-
Grafton before the Jaunt is started.
Determining the correct answer IN
advance probably will serve greatly
70 simplify the actual process OF ac-
curing a new automobile.
$50
Purchase of millions upon millions
cf motor cars during the last few
wears has served TO place car buying
IN A much more intelligent plane
than il heretofore had occupied.
"Hit-or-miss" buying has gone by
the boards quite generally, but per,
petuation of this desirable end stu
requires constant alertneSs.
In some ways modern car shopping
has been vastly simplifed. In 9th
ers Il has become more complex
Either way. it has evolved into some
thing infinitely more interesting than
if ever was before. The veteran mo-
torist. in whose bonnet the new-car
bee IS buzzing, readily will attest to
this fact.
What are the factors that have
sinplihed automobile purchasing IN
this era? They can De tabulated
rather definitely, it seems. In the
first place, and perhaps most impor-
tant. the man who fares forth along
automobile row today does not have
90 worry about getting lemon.
There are about so makes OF pas
senger cars left on the market Dol
lar for dollar, every one OF the % IS
worth the money. 1t is true, OF
course. as it always has been. that
for certain usages some cars may De
a better investment than others.
* x X
Another factor that has simplifed
ear purchasing and has made IT more
expert is the public's increasing
knowledge of the subject. The av--
erage car buyer today IS quite Weli
acquainted with car performance. Ii
he has not owned an automobile, ne
has ridden in many and listened TO
the discussions of his friends. lie
knows performance in its relation TO
that of other cars, or, at least, ne
has the knowledge of the technique
necessary to acquire this important
information.
The motor car buyer of the mo-
nent. for the most part, knows the
exact application of the important
terms used in discussion OF automo-
biles. Power is not an intangible
something. 1t is a capacity to pull
hills at a certain speed and to travel
rapidly. Acceleration has a con-
crete meaning. 1t means a getaway
that has real CELEBRITY about It. FleX-
ibility is another element the aver
age car buyer is acquainted with, IN
stead of merely being something the
car catalogues and statesmen talk
about. Flexibility means a capacity
of adjustment to driving conditions.
If the car can be throttled down tor
heavy traffic and reach high speeds
when conditions permit, it is flexible.
The truly flexible car IS one that
handles with ease and performs with
minimum effort at all speeds.
These, then, are the chief aspects
of the simplihcation of motor car
buying.
The factors that have served to
make the process of acquiring sue
cessor to ones present automobile
more complex are more difhcult pre-
cisely to define. While the prospect
NAV rest assured that car values are
sound. and while he is better equipped
10 rec6gnize values, the array OF
bodv styles and the fact that there
are but small shades of difference Ill
certain car performances may make
4 Il ~ns91F1laX
In the old days the motorist had
60 conhne his choice to approx
mately FIVE standard body types.
Choosing the one of the tive that
came closest to fitting his needs was
somewhat of task before the closed
car became so overwhelmingly popu-
lar. Consider the further complex
ity brought into the situation by the
fact that there are about ~ body
STYLES available today.
In addition to the roadster, touring
ear, sedan, coupe and coach, the
market now offers the landau. the
sportif, phaeton, cabriolet, speedster,
brougham, limousine, town car, con-
vertible, victoria, collapslble, tour~
some, twosome, sporsters and Ber-
line.
The. fact that every manufacturer
Is irving to put the utmost quality
for price into his product may make
il harder for the car buyer TO de-
termine which has been most sue
cessful III this respect. In the past
this was not so difficult. Some max
ers had quite a margin in perform
ance on their competitors. If IT was
not in performance, then in beauty
or economy of operation, or general
utility or freedom from trouble OF