Evening star., 1928-11-25
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

impossible to estimate. New York
dealers declare that in numerous
instances when they have ap-
preached an owner relative to
trading in his old car for new
model, the answer is: mo, I shall
keep my present car a while
! longer, but in January, at the
, show, intend to look around with
a view to buying a second car for
my wife and youngsters to use. "
This is especially the case with
many owners of large, expensive
cars: also with those who employ
chauffeurs for their large ma
chimes, but who also desire a
small, inexpensive car that any
one in the family can handle.
The popularity of golf and other
outdoor sports Is largely response
BILE for the coming of the two-car
vogue. AS a rule the golf club is
some distance from the car
owners residence, and. frequently
it is not convenient for a member
of the household to accompany
the golfing head of the family to
the links, then to drive home and
return to the club a few hours
later, after having used the car
for a trip to the beach or another
purpose. Two cars eliminate this
situation.
Marked Increase Noted.
There are now more than
100000 passenger cars and
nearly 100000 trucks registered
in the United States, marked
increase over former years. Much
of this increase has been made
possible through modern automo-
bile financing, either by the selling
organizations marketing the car
or outside financing organizations.
Many prospective purchasers at
the coming automobile shows will
expect to buy new cars on the de-
ferred payment basis, and yet 1t
is interesting to note that while,
in 1925, rs per cent of the cars
produced were sold on time pay
ments, two years later, in 1927,
only 81 per cent of the cars sold
were handled on the inStallmert
plan. The majority of sales made
on time are negotiated with a first
payment of less than Is per cent
of the price of the car. In some
sections of the country dealers
declare that the percentage Of
cash sales will increase and time
oayment sales diminish materially,
whereas in certain industrial Sec
tions, where prospects are largely
factory workers, the reverse will
hold true. Installment buying,
however, has resulted in thousands
of persons of limited means visit
ing automobile shows-people who
only a few years back did not feel
that they could afford a car. Many
did not realize that paying for a
car on inStallmentS was just as
sound a proposition as paying
their rent monthly instead of
annually.
There are many other reasons
why the shows of 1928 broke all
previous records for attendance
and sales. In the United States
there Sare now 100000 miles OF
surfaced highways, out Of a total
of 100000 miles. This is some
100000 miles more suited to motor
travel than was available only e.
season or two ago. This means,
of course, that many more cars
will be sold to be used for business
or pleasure purposes on highways
that formerly were not attractive
to motorists. It also means that
many will purchase cars for the
purpose of going to and from work
rather than use the trolley or
railroad for committing.
Aside from the general public'S
interest in the coming shows,
these expositions are being made
more and more attractive to the
various branches Of the automc-
tive industry Since the inaugura--
ton of the shop equipment and
accessory sections. Garage pro-
prietors, repair shop men, service
station personnel and accessory
merchants cannot afford to let
the shows pass by without visiting
them. There is too much that Is
new and improved to be seen
things which cannot be ignored
by the trade.
Foreign Car Display.
Another interesting innovation
in this seasons exposition in New
York is the participation of for
eign cars in a national show for
the first time. The cars that the
European makers offer afford in
teresting comparisons when placed
side by side with domestic manu-
facturers' products.
At the New York show 49 makes
of cars will be displayed, A being
domestic manufacture and 5
foreign products. At the Chicago
show in the Coliseum there will
be "a makes of domestic cars ex-
hibited. More than 180 displays
of accessories and over 100 eX-
fibits of shop equipment will DE
offered at each exposition.
Many Washingtonians will at
tend this show. Members OF the
local Automotive Trade Associa-
ton will make their annual pill
grimage. But before that their
thoughts will be turned to the
annual banquet of the organiza-
tion which will be held December