The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-02-29

How many motorists have their
Bid cars gone over before they set
out TO trade them?
How many appreciate that, in ad-
Alton to buying a new car, they
ere selling an old one?
Is there any conscious salesman
ship on the part of the general
public when old cars are being
Araded In?
what. il anything. does the motor
Sst do to make his old car more
valuable when he goes to use it as
IN asset?
with so many people using their
present cars as a form of currency
when they shop around for new
ones, 1t would seem that there
would be q conscious effort to mer.
chandise the tradeable commodity
to the best advantage. That moth
ing OF the sort develops, however.
Is matter of simple observation.
The average person seems to be
30 intent upon acquiring the new
car that he allows the old one to
run down at the heel.
Cheaper Used Car
with & little more attention to
the old car, it is believed that motor
lists would do better in their pur-
chase offnew cars and. in addition.
would 90 q long way toward bene-
fitting motordom by relieving the
used car problem. According TO
one authority. an important reason
why used cars present such q prob
lem Ii because so many motorists
cheaper the used car and render It
less salable.
IN many instances 1t has been
found that where a motorist plans
to trade in his car he goes so far
~ e. neglect the important job OF
keeping the engine we'll filled with
oil. He overlooks lubricating the
chassis altogether, and would not
consider having the valves ground.
He takes the position that he does
not see the point in passing along
any benefits to the person or the
company that win acquire his old
car. apparently missing the Iact
that low bids on used cars are much
concerned with this attitude, which
ID virtually general.
Those who are taking in the used
car stock know we'll enough that
they are buying a huge amount or
neglect. and that it is necessary to
figure on this when offering an al
1OWance.
Better Price Possible.
Suppose the average automobile.
dealer could take in car knowing
4haf II had received excellent treat
YneYlt up to the last day it was used
and that the owner was selling it
only because he was financially able
to purchase a newer and better car.
ard not because he had something
he was eager to dispose Of? Is it not
true that such a used car would
hiring 4 better. price, and therefore
command q better allowance?
a majority OF persons who own
ears do not try to keep them rum
ming and looking like new, but seem
TO Be content to let their property
s.rI1n down. Observers are at
loss to understand the reason Tor
this attitude, since it is not general
in the ownership of other valuable
properties. When person sets out
III sell his home SO that he may buy
! new and better one, he makes It
as presentable as possible. The ex-
terror gets a coat of paint. he
probably selects time Of year when
the garden In in bloom. He tries
to sell the house while 1t is fur
nisI1ed, knowing that furniture and
draperies are Is per cent of the lure
Of home.
What a contrast when he comes
TO sell his old car! He drives up to
the Dealers show room in an auto
mobile which hasn't been washed
for months. with tires underinflated
and with upholstery badly in need
Of cleaning The dealer doesn't need
10 drive the car to judge its worth:
hA sees All he needs to know and