The One-Eyed Owner

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 408, 17 July 1928, Page 6

The One-Eyed Owner

Danger to the Inexperienced Everything Is Relative

Without a doubt both the methods and ideas of every motorist are influenced by the type of car he drives. Consequently those people whose motoring activities have been strictly confined to one particular make or type are hot competent to pass an opinion upon the merit or otherwise of any other make of machine. These people are apt to be “oneeyed” and biased in their judgment, and so they do a great deal of harm in a general way. Loyalty to their own particular type is very often carried to extremes, and without being able to give any

definite reasons they adversely criticise quite excellent cars. Unfortunately, while the experienced motorist merely smiles at these half-baked statements, the novice, seeking information before purchasing his first car, is apt to be wrongly impressed. It must be distinctly understood that such rapid strides have been made during the last few years, both in design and construction, that almost without exception cars have no inherent faults now. AJI these wild assertions, made by irresponsibles, when traced to their origin, will be found due either to ignorance or bias. THE OTHER SIDE It stands to reason that anyone who has exclusively motored in one of the heavier types of car cannot visualise the motoring viewpoint of the light car enthusiast. To the biased big-car man, the small machine is sure to give its crew a rough ride; and he claims that it is merely a mechanical toy. Inversely the “one-eyed” small car driver swears he would never own a large machine, as it is too cumbersome and unwieldy to handle. Yet each in its own particular sphere gives unbounded satisfaction and achieves its purpose. The only way a true criticism of any car can be made is to take into consideration the fact that every machine, irrespective of price, has its particular uses and limitations. Obviously a two-ton limousine will be more comfortable to ride in over rough going than a 12 h.p. light car, but then it is only a matter of degree, and the advantage is gained at the expense of enhanced fuel and tyre bills, to say nothing of capital cost. Further, when it comes to parking in some awkward positions, or wriggling through dense traffic, the little fellow has it all his own way—and without any qualifications whatsoever. There are thousands of motorists today who have never driven anything but their own car, and they are perfectly satisfied with its behaviour. A COMPROMISE Before criticising any other type, however, they should bear in mind that riding comfort, and safety at high speed, are so intimately connected from the point of view of design that at best the practice adopted in nearly every case is in the nature of a compromise. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too, in this matter. In order to illustrate this compromise in a practical manner, let us take any of the medium priced “family cars” and compare its riding qualities and stability at speed with one of the numerous “semi-racing” machines. The sports car will ride stiffly, and harshly up to say 35 miles an hour, but

from then on to the maximum everything seems to “loosen up.” So that at really high speeds over almost any road surface, one has a comfortable passage, and, what is more important, a feeling of security and control. Now for the family car. It seems to glide along with a delightful swaying motion at any speed up to 35 miles an hour. But every 10 miles an hour above this speed lessens the safety factor to such an extent that unless road conditions are exceptionally favourable the tail begins to sway and the machine progresses in a series of bounds.

Naturally, when progress is made, in this fashion, control is reduced to a minimum, and those aboard are in danger of a serious mishap. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT Apart altogether from mechanical considerations, there is a psychological aspect involved, wherein the “one car" driver will find himself all at sea if he should by any chance change over to a different type. Drivers of large heavy cars are, for some reason or other, shown a good deal more respect and consideration on the road than those in smaller cars. In time they become so used to this respect that they take it for granted. But let them take one of the smaller light cars out for a week-end trip in heavy traffic, and see how they fare. A rude awakening would be in store for them: and if they adopted a similar attitude while'at the wheel of the larger car they would return home sadder but wiser men. Again, although even the baby light cars of to-day are capable of putting up a very high average speed, yet there is a world of difference in maintaining a high average in the larger machines. Doing “40” on the open road in the larger car seems merely pottering along, as the engine is throttled back and is just purring, while the same speed in the lighter car is accompanied by considerable fuss. IT'S ALL RELATIVE To sum the position up, every driver should realise that everything in motoring is merely relative. Some cars are more silent than others, yet there is no such thing as a “silent” car. One car may be more comfortable than another at certain speeds, or at any speed, yet we have yet to see the car giving absolute comfort ... it isn’t done. And so on throughout every performance of the machine. Plainly, therefore, anyone must either be ignorant, or biased, should he attempt to criticise any make adversely without having had a very wide and practicaly experience beforehand.