Consumer Test Results

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 7

Consumer Test Results

QTANDARD-TRIUMPH has announced the results of the company’s consumer survey on the Triumph 1300. Since the Triumph 1300 was first shown to the public at the London Motor Show last October, 100 people have test driven 30 different cars, all samples from the production lines, each driver covering more than 400 miles under varied driving conditions.

The persons selected to take part in the survey—the object of which was to uncover minor faults which did not occur in prototype testing but which show up on the first cars from the production

lines—included a wide selection typical of motorists likely to buy the new car. Participants in the survey had to award up to 10 marks to 12 different aspects of the car. The average of marks awarded was: Appearance, 8.15; driver comfort, 9; visibility, 9; controls, 8.50; instruments and switches, 9.20; power, 8.70; silence, 8.30; roadholding, 9.10; manoeuvrability, 9.20; fuel consumption, 8.20; passenger comfort, 8.61; luggage accommodation, 9.71. Apart from awarding marks to these aspects of the car, all drivers were asked to comment in detail on individual features and to offer criticism where necessary. Almost all participants commented favourably on the interior layout of the car, passenger comfort, ease of control and manoeuvrability, good road holding, and many made a special note of the high quality of finish, both internal and external.

Many people commented on the clean simplicity of the lines and applauded the lack of gimmicks and unnecessary chromework.

There was a wide variety of opinion on certain new aspects of the car. For example, although most testers liked the innovation of the “all-systems-go” warning light dial, others did not like the new foldaway window winders. Fuel consumption also varied widely according to different styles of driving. The maximum was 40 miles a gallon. Each of the reports was studied in detail by Standard-

Triumph engineers and several faults in the cars were discovered. They have been corrected, and the modifications will be incorporated in the cars sold to the public.

The fan guard has been modified to solve a cracking problem caused by vibration; the spring which holds out the foldaway window winder has been' increased in strength on both the driver and front passenger doors; a new clutch lining has been fitted to give a smoother take-off: new shock absorbers with a firmer setting have been fitted to improve ride characteristics: a modified baffle has been introduced in the fuel tank in answer to complaints that the low-fuel warning light was flickering prematurely.