Evening star., 1935-11-03
USED CAR BUYERS
URGED TO BEWARE
Recognized Dealers Warn
of Prevalence Of Old
Tricks.


crease in new-car sales and with the |
secondhand market offering many |
inducements to shoppers, the pubic |
finds itself faced with problem m |
knowing how to select car IN TINS
specialized market. The problem has
been brought into still sharper focus |
as a result of warnings from estab-
Hshed automobile dealers that not all
of the used-car merchandise Is flt for |
purchase.
In spite of efforts to prevent the sale |
of doctored cars the trade finds 1t
necessary to warn the public that |
many Of the old tricks are still being
used to accelerate the unloading of
unwanted used cars. Gears are found
with cork filings mixed with the
lubricant Extra heavy oil Is found
in motors to check knocks and to
prevent the exhaust from smoking
during a brief demonstration. Weak
tires are retreaded to look like new;
paint freely used to cover breaks. BY
far the most insidious danger in un-
desirable used-car merchandise Is a
frame thrown out of alignment
through some previous accident.
Points to Be Considered.
The safest rule in buying used car
still is the policy of buying it from
a reputable place of business. How
ever, even where the purchaser knows
he will be honestly treated there are
points to be considered in making the
selection. wide variation in the
characteristics of various makes OF
cars renders it desirable to avoid buy
Ing a car that will not suit ones
special needs. In making a selection
It Is well to outline to the used-car
dealer or to the new-car dealer ham
ding used cars just how the car is TO
be utilized. 1t also assists the buyer
to discuss the merits and dement's
of cars with friends who may be
driving the makes and models IN
which he is interested.
Many Good Cars Available.
Many cars are turned in, not be-
cause they are worn out or thelr
original owners are desirous of buying
something new, but simply because
these cars have failed to meet their
owners motoring needs. The used
car market is filled with sedans that
we're too big for owners who traded
In for coupes and convertibleS. There
are many good open cars which original
owners traded in for something more
practical for every day service. Some
cars were discarded because they were
tiresome to drive for any great dis
tance, although they might serve
admirably for use around the city.
Conversely, many cars have been
traded in because they were hard to
park, their original owners requiring
a car that can be used comfortably for
short runs in congested districts.
Without a more intimate knowledge
Of cars and their characteristic it is
not so easy to select a used car with
assurance that it will meet ones
specific needs. A demonstration in
the used car will, of course, prove
helpful in judging whether or not
these needs will be met. If demon
stration is not cheerfully given there
would be good reason to suspect that
the car is not as good as advertised to
be- Demonstrations are expensive for
the dealer, however, and it is only fair
to him to make the test tell as much
In as short time as possible.
For instance, it is not necessary to
take the car away from the dealers
premises in order to determine wheth-
er parking is easy enough. However,
see that the tires are up to proper
pressure, since air is likely to be lost
where the car may stand around for
weeks unused. If the engine does not
start promptly or run smoothly at the
start, this may be due to the fact that
1t has stood idle. If the dealers sales
man prefers to start the motor him.
self, this is no sign that the car needs
special handling, but merely indicates
that he feels the car is entitled to
avoidance of the handicap of the shop
per's lack of acquaintance with its
controls and its individual features.
Try Out Gear Performance.
Try the cars low and second gear
performance. Running at IS miles per
hour in second will tell more about
the motors condition, its power and
the speedability of the car than driv-
ing at its top speed in high gear. Pick
nearby grade to test slow speed
pulling, acceleration and braking.
Note the condition of the motors
compression by taking your foot off
the accelerator pedal when going down
the test hill. If there Is considerable |
smoke from the exhaust when the |
throttle is opened again at the bottom |
of the hill. the engine is pumping oil. |
This may be due to a number Of mo- |
tor conditions and should be a cue |
to go into the matter more thor |
oughly.
If there is no smoke at the ex-
haust, watch the motor temperature |
indicator to make sure that too heavy |
oil is not being used. Oil that is too |
heavy will cause the motor to run |