CHEAP TRAVEL

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 13

CHEAP TRAVEL

When Motoring Spells

Economy

There is no extravagance in i running a car, as is still apparently believed by a section of the public. Economy is an appropriate term to use in connection with motoring, for the pastime is an economy in itself. ONE man in a large motor-car may spend more money than if he travels by train, but a family in their inexpensive family car travelling to the seaside for the week-end, or for the annual holiday, are well in pocket. In addition to saving on the railway fares they also save tram and taxicab fares, for the car takes them from, their doorstep to their destination. And it is the family car extensively used that provides the most economical form of motoring. I The comparative cheapness of motoring to-day is a modern miracle of industry. No other product can show such a decline in price since the war. The curve of motoring costs since 1920, when the peak price was reached, I shows a steady and regular decline year by year. In 1927 the curve is still descending-. Cars themselves are down to pre-war level, and they are infinitely better motor-cars. If we take into account modern car equipment, cars are really a third below pre-war prices. Car accessories and components show an even greater decline when quality is taken into consideration. Tyres are slightly above prewar figures in price. But it is still possible to-day to run a tyre for 15,000 miles, whereas before the war 5000 miles was considered good service. They are, therefore, really three times cheaper than pre-war — a really remarkable achievement. Even greater life than that indicated above can be obtained if the motorist has his old tyres retreaded. Experience shows that the life of the walls of a tyre is longer than the tread. Retreading is an art that has been brought to perfection after 25 years' research work, and thousands of extra miles can be added to the life of the tyres by this process. While motoring is really cheap it can be made even more economical by the expenditure of care on the part of the owner-drivers. Strict attention to proper lubrication is one of the most paying duties that the owner can perform, for it ensures far longer life for the car.

Do not run a new engine or one that has just been overhauled at a high speed for at least 500 miles. The friction of the moving parts creates heat, which expands the metal and frequently causes damage difficult and expensive to repair.

The car on the right has the right of way, even if yours is on the main road, and it is coming out of a side track. .#* * .

A simple way of curing rattles which emanate from ' the clutch or brake pedals is by fitting a. light, pull-out spring near the base of the pedal and bolting it to the floorboards, or to some existing handy nut and bolt.