1932-02-25 — Page 11

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1932.

THE CHINA MAIL.

11

MOTORISTS THIS IS YOUR PAGES

HOW TO CHOOSE A CAR SUITABLE TO

YOUR NEEDS

CHOICE OF ENGINE SIZE

ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION

SOME HELPFUL HINTS FOR POTENTIAL PURCHASER

of course, the Ford. Ever since the a wheelbase from 10 ing. to a foot) Oll Consumption Compared. introduction of "Model A" two en-, longer than that of the smaller cari As regards oil consumption, there gine sizes have been available, rated to allow for the greater length of is usually very little to choose when at 15 h.p. and 24 h.p. respectivaly, the engine. In some cases, too, a cars are fairly new. As time goes the only other difference being that difference is made in the gearbox,jon, however, an engine with a small a higher back-axle ratio is used with but as a general rule the bodywork bore usually the larger engine. To encourage and all other features are identical, than one with a big bore, so that wears more rapidly people to acquire the car with the so that the choice depends almost its oil consumption tends higher rating it is listed at £5 less entirely upon the engine size de-ercase.

to in- Here it is worth nothing. than the other for all body styles. sired.

also, that small engines require de- Other examples of more recent Here, again, the plan can be made carbonizing at more frequent in- introduction are the Vauxhall Cadet, suitable for econòmical production, tervals than do larger ones. announced about a year ago, and by cutting down the number of Tyre wear depends so much upon the Hillman Wizard, which was different parts required. Further-driving methods that it is difficult brought out last Easter. In the case! more, if the same bore and stroke to draw any accurate comparisons. of the Cadet, the larger engine, be used for both sizes of engine only On the whole, however, it would be rated at 27 h.p., is fitted mainly for one size of piston and connecting fair to say that the greater the! export, but can be obtained by rod is required to cover both types.jpower available the more likely it British purchasers without increase) With competition becoming ever is that wheelspin will help to con- of cost as compared with the normal keener, the desire of the manufac- tribute to the 17 h.p. job. In the Wizard, like-turers to

wear of the rear offer the best possible covers. wise, the two engine sizes are avail- value for money and to appeal to the too, are encouraged by a big engine Higher average speads, able without difference in price, the widest possible market will ratings being in this case 16 h.p.doubtedly lead to an extension of tyres in various ways.

un-and increase the work done by the The Motor tells us that of the adays are more strongly influenced and 21 h.p. questions which haruss the minds by the bodywork than by the chassis

(this quite justifiable practice. After In passing it may be explained all, in bare essentials, the problem to mention a point which must sure- In conclusion, it seems necessary of those endeavouring to choose a when choosing a new car. This is that in these four cases the differ-to car suited to their needs, the most no doubt perfectly true, but what is ence in engine power is primarily priced car is to provide comfortable choice of engine size must be in- be solved in designing a low-ly be fairly obvious, namely, that prominent is often: "What size of one to do when, say, two models of obtained by using two cylinder transport for, say, five persons. If Auenced by the locality in which a engine should I go in for?" This differing power are fitted with bores ie, the diameter of each the atmost economy in operation be ear is to be run. point of view is really inevitable exactly the same coachwerk? This cylinder is owing to our taxation system, which is the case in a growing number of than in the other. This is an econo-is really all that is needed. On the between driving a small car and a larger in one engine desired a small four-cylinder engine miles over level roads the difference On a run of 100

naturally results In cara

being instances and many a potential pur-mien plan from the point of view other hand, for the luxury repre- large one is not very great in re- classified according to their rated chaser has had to think vory hard of production, because the same sented by a higher average speed spect of either the average speed power.

before making a selection.

stroke (pistan travel) is used For a man or woman requiring

in and more pleasant running, a six-maintained or in driving fatigue. This fashion for alternative en-i cach case; the crankshafts absolutely the least expensive mode gine sizes

can, cylinder engine of higher power in hilly country, on the other hand, may really be said to therefore, be made the of transport, mainly for two people, date from

same must be made available. There is, there is a very great difference in the old days of the throughout and there is no change however, no earthly reason why the both these respects. the situation ia comparatively Morris-Cowley and Morris-Oxford, in the external dimensions of the bodywork should simple, because there is a certain when both were fitted with four-power unit.

not be just the The charm of the big engine is number of so-called "baby" cara cylinder engines differing mainly in. Apart from these four special ence in first cost need not really be auch elight work of all its tasks, and same in each case, and the differ- largely due to the fact that it makes from which to choose, rated at rating. It is interesting to notice examples, there are very many cases very great. between 7 h.p. and 9 h.p. So soon a reversion to this practice in the nowadays where the alternatives of

this feature, naturally becomes most as this size of vehicle is exceeded, new Morris programme. The say, a 10 h.p. four-cylinder engine

This brings us to a consideration prominent in hilly country. however, rather a baffling number Morris-Cowley is now made in alter- and a 16 h.p. six-cylinder engine area to what size of engine to choose.

of how best to make up one's mind; of makes, sizes and types must be native engine sizes rated at 11.9 offered at different prices, but with Admittedly, a bigger power unit given consideration.

the same range of coachwork; pro-puts up costs in various directions, Another outstanding example is, bably the six-cylinder job will have but if financially practicable it is usually found advantageous to have

It is often said that people now-

h.p. and 13.9 h.p.

MOTOR

ACCESSORIES

HEADQUARTERS

SOUTH CHINA MOTOR CAR CO.

33, Des Voeux Road Central,

Everything you need for your Motor Car you can obtain it right in the heart of Town from us.

HERE ARE A FEW ITEMS YOU WILL NEED

SPARK PLUGS MOTOR OILS

POLISHING WAX REPAIR TOOLS

TUBE REPAIR PATCHES

STORAGE BATTERIES TYRE VALVES

CIGARETTE LIGHTERS

LAMP BULBS TYRES & TUBES POLISHING CLOTHS TYRE PUMPS

MOTOR CAR HORNS DOOR HANDLES MOTOR CAR JACKS AUTO CLOCKS.

GENUINE CHRYSLER HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID

&

་ ་་

HYDRAULIC BRAKE PARTS

AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER THINGS.

Come to us for Anything for your Car. We operate Our Own Service Station. We sell only the Best in Quality. But Our Prices are the Most Reasonable.

SOUTH CHINA MOTOR CAR CO.

it.

Estimating Running Costs.

It is not very difficult to estimate) with reasonable accuracy what dif ference in running costs is to be! expected. First of all there is the Treasury tax, which, of course, bej comes the more oppressive the bigger the engine. For the benefit of the uninitiated, we may point out that it is levied at a rate of £1, per annum per rated horse-power, so that where a medium-sized four- cylinder car may cost £10 yearly, the six-cylinder model may cost any- thing from 12 to over £20, accord-! ing to size. Next, of course, there!

is the first coat of the car, which aften, but by no means always,

increases considerably with the size of the engine.

We now come to a very important question which has...undoubtedly, a big influence upon the decision in many instances. The point is whe ther the larger engine will cause any marked increase in running costs. The items most obviously affected by engine size are petrol consumption, oil consumption and tyre wear.

Taking these factors in order, petrol consumption depends upon the weight of the car and the wind resistance; the latter is in turn governed by the frontal area and the cruising speed. Therefore, compar- ing two cars which differ mainly in engine size, the alight increase in weight with the larger engine will make practically no difference to consumption. The frontal areas will be much the same, but, of course, a higher average speed may be kept up with the larger, engine lowing to the ease with which It runs and accelerates Against, this can be set the fact that a high top-gear ratio tends towards eco- nomy. Consequently, comparing two engine sizes without regard to type, the petrol consumption is often found to be much the same in esch

case.

Here it is necessary to Inter polate, however, that owing to vari ous technical factors, aix-cylinder engine is rarely as economical as one of four-cylinder design. Con- sequently the fuel consumed per mile by a 16 h.p. cylinder car will often be some 25 per cent greater than that used by four cylinder car carrying the same

33,

Des Voeux Road Central.

Telephone 25644.

Telephone 25644:

body,

Buick

DR

CRMGUAR

THE NEW Chrysler-Plymouth delivers its power absolutely without vibration due to Floating Power, a new, exclusive development in engine suspension. Floating Power gives to the Chrysler-Plymouth the smoothiness of an eight with the economy of a four.

CARS NOW ON DISPLAY AT

587

THE NATIONAL MOTOR CAR CO.

71, 73 & 75 Hennessy Road, Wanchai,

Telephone 27914.

THE MAJOR AUTOMOTIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR 1932

The Outstanding Feature of the Industry for 1932 19

entirely new Bystem

operation and con-

of car

trol Wizard Control. The 1932 Buicks not only have Conventional Drive-They not only have new and advanced Free Wheeling―They not only have new Silent Second Syn.

CTO-Mesh Transmission They have still another vitally im- portant englacering develop-

ment--The Automatic Clutch- making possible smooth shift- ing of all gears, without the use of the clutch pedal- and the instantaneous change from Free Wheeling to Conventional Drive or

vice-versa at the Driver's will.

These are only part of 'the advancements so soundly and. skilfully built into the sturdy Buick for, 1932 which add still further to Bulck's traditional, staunchness and reliability.

THE WIZARD CONTROL.

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.

Telephone 80228,

WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY