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THE HAULIERS' INQUIRE WITHIN.

15th July 1924, Page 25
15th July 1924
Page 25
Page 26
Page 25, 15th July 1924 — THE HAULIERS' INQUIRE WITHIN.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Comparative Operating Costs of New and Second-hand Vehicles.

ICOMMENCED to deal, in last week's article, with the problem which has so often to be faced by the man who is considering the purchase of a motor vehicle, namely, as to whether he should buy a new machine or content himself with a second-hand one. I pointed out that, in a general sort of way, the best advice to a man who is thinking of buying a secondhand motor vehicle is the same as that which Punch gave to those about to be married, namely, " Don't! " At the same time, although it is easier to follow this advice in the case of getting married than it is when the purchase of a motor is being considered—the second may be a necessary corollary to the process of earning a living—the problem may not, in either case, be dismissed so summarily, and last week, when• I arrived at the end of my allotted space in this journal, I had got so far as the beginning of the consideration of the fin anical aspects of the problem, in relation to the actual costs of operation of new and second-hand machines.

I did manage, before concluding last week, to make a comparison between the cost of running a new machine and the average costs as given from time to time in these articlesi and I showed that, whilst the average cost of running a four-tonner should be, today, about 7d, a mile—the actual figure was 7.11d.— that of a new machine, after it had been run-in, would very likely be no more than 5.15d. The difference is brought about by reduced petrol consumption, consequent upon the better fitting of the pistons in their cylinders, the better alignment of the parts in the chassis, so that there is no power, and therefore fuel, wasted in overcoming resistances brought about by lack of that alignment (which is nearly always absent ipan old car), and by general all-round fitness of the chassis. Oil consumption will be less, because all the joints in engine-case, gearbox, rear axle and elsewhere will be tight, allowing no lubricant to run to waste before it has done its work. Moreover, all bearings will be well fitted, and any oil delivered to them Will be directly used for lubrication ' instead of one'half of it being thrown out immediately, without performing its proper function. No oil will leak past the bearings, along the shafts and out on to the road, and none will get past the many felt washers and other devices which the chassis contains, which are designed to prevent such leakage, and which do prevent it whilst they, are comparatively new and whilst the chassis itself is in goodcondition, or even after it has been overhauled by competent mechanics. -There is one item of expense in particular, however, in connection with which the buyer of a new machine is sure to experience a very considerable saving-over what would have been his. portion had he bought second-hand, and that item -is inintenanCe The experience of users of modern heavy motor vehicles is that, given reasonable treatment, the maintenance charges in connection with new vehicles are very small. One user told me only the other day that he commenced by using second-hands, and, although his buying was done with every care, he was disheartened by the cost of keeping the chassis on the road, and, after a few efforts in this direction, he turned his attention to new vehicles and has been overwhelmingly surprised at the results. The low figure which I quoted last week is the experience of another user, who actually showed me his accounts in connection with three Leyland lorries which he had had for three years, buying them new.

Twopence Per Mile Saved by Using a New Vehicle.

These and other minor considerations are such as to enable the user Of a new machine to economize, as the figures proved, to the extent of almost 2d: a mile, comparing his expenses only with average figures. Actually there is no guarantee—rather the reverse, in fact—that the cost of running a second-hand chassis will exceed the average. We have to remember that all that has been stated above, in favour of the economy of the new chassis, could be re-stated in favour of the average machine, as compared with the second-hand one, purchasable at round about £200.

As regards petrol consumption, it so happens that we have some very recent and authoritative figures before us in last week's issue of The Commercial Motor, wherein, on page 658, are given the running costs of some second-hand lorries of a capacity which is stated to be 3-4 tons. Now, just what 3-4 tons actually means, in the case of a motor lorry, I am utterly unable to explain, but presume that I am justified in stating that its, capacity is somewhat less than one which is labelled just plain four tons, and that, therefore, its petrol consumption should be—other things being equal—rather less than that of a 4-ton chassis. Now, the figures to which I refer give the consumption for eight such chassis, and the actual amounts vary from 2.40 miles per gallon to 4.75 miles per gallon, the average being 3.26 m.p.g. These vehicles are, however, engaged on municipal work, and the conditions are almost always such as to make for high consumption, largely because the work upon which they are engaged involves a large percentage of waiting time, and also many stops and starts per mile run.

It is probable, therefore, that the experience of a haulier will be better than the best which is shown here, and that he will get five miles to the gallon. His cost per mile for fuel, with petrol at is. 7id. per gallon, will, therefore, be 3.9d.

The oil consumption will probably be as much more than the average as that of the new chassis is less, so that 0.4d. per mile, which is equivalent to 120 miles per gallon for engine, gearbox and rear axle case7 as well as sundries, will be the expense in that direction.

Maintenance, as I have pointed out, is the item which will tell most against the second-hand machine, and in this connection I have been informed by large users of second-hand vehicles that it is their experience that my average figures are actually doubled in the case of quite good second-hand chassis. If I double the average amount, then 3.3d, per mile would be charged. I think that 2d. a mile will be ample to allow for this, -however, notwithstanding the unfortunate experience named.

The Incidence of Depredation.

Depreciation is an item in connection with which the buyer of second-hand machines scores, for, although his machine may be worth no more, and is probably worth even less (considered from the point of view of the man who had it when it was new) than the 2200 which is now asked for it, the chances are that the buyer will be able to make it answer his purpose for at least three years. On that basis, and assuming that the tyres which are fitted to it when it is bought are worth 225, then the annual depreciation is onethird of 2175—that is to say, 258 6s. Bd., which is equivalent to 14,000d. In considering the depreciation of the new chassis we allowed for 15,000 miles per annum, so that, in chassis, present case, it is fair to

take depreciation as being at the rate of id. per mile. ' The total of all these costs—petrol 3.9d., oil 0.4d.,

maintenance 2d., depreciation id., and tyres, which I have not mentioned and which remain as before at 0.95d.—is 8.25d. an increase of more than 3d. per mile over that of the new machine and well over Id. in excess of that in connection with the average type

of machine.

I have, as yet, made no reference to the standing charges. They will remain practically the same, in

• any case, with the exception of insurance, which will he heavier in the case of machines which are more than five years old, and the interest on first cost, which will, of course be more in the case of the new machine. The actual increase in the insurance premium for an old machine cannot be stated, since different insurance companies have different standards. It should not, however, amount to more than a pound or two. The interest will amount to 140 on the new machine, and only 210 for the second-hand one. In round figures, it may be stated that the standing charges in connection with the new vehicle will be 25 15s. a week, and those of the other £5 5s. Assuming that each travels 300 'miles per week, the total cost per week will be, for the new lorry, 212 3s. 9d. This works out at a total of 91d. a mile. The second-hand will involve a total weekly expenditure of 215 Ifs. 3d., so that the case in favour of the new machine is a strong one. It amounts to a difference of 23 7s. 6d. a week, or £175 a year, which is more than any difference in Interesi or other i

charges, involved n the purchase of a new machine, and is nearly enough to pay for the new machine on an instalment arrangement covering three years, assuming that the first payment was the 2200 suggested as the price of the second-hand one.

THE SKOTCH,

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