OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
Page 25
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Ford Operating Costs.
The Editor, TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2433] Sir,—I am happy to have Mr. Hunt's criticism of the figure in the table of operating costs, and have pleasure in dealing with the points he raises. At the same time I would remind him, as has been stated many times in the columns of The Commercial Motor, that these are not arbitrary figures, but merely average results. It is up to any man to improve on them, in detail or on the whole, while it is equally the case that results are often obtainable in practice which do not show the motor vehicle in so favourable a light as is given by these figures.
First, then, while it is a fact that the standard Ford tourer scales less than one ton unladen, and is, therefore, liable to a tax of £10, it is also true that there are many, with heavier bodies, which exceed• that weight, thus involving their owners in £21 a year for taxation.
Secondly, at the time the tables were compiled, the average price of new one-tonners, other than the Ford, was three times that of the Ford itself.
Thirdly, the life of one-tonners, of reliable make, and costing, at that time, three times as much as the Ford, exceeded that of the Ford by about 200 per cent., reckoned on a mileage basis, which is the ground for calculation of the figure for depreciation in the tables.
am not called upon to answer the question, "Where is the advantage in buying a Ford'!" as that point does not arise in connection with the tables, which merely state the facts concerning costs of running, as observed by me over many years.
Fourthly, the depreciation is calculated on the mileage basis, and approximately it is that mentioned by Mr. Hunt There is nothing in the tables to justify the other two paragraphs of Mr. Hunt's letter. Nothing whatever is " asserted " any'where in the tables concerning relative wear of tyres. if Mr. Hunt is referring to the actual figures given for expenditure on tyres, then he has clearly overlooked the fact that one-tonners other than the Ford are much heavier and have much larger and much more expensive tyre equipment, which, however, does not last any longer than that on the Ford. The actual cost of tyres per mile, therefore, is bound to be heavier on other tonners than it is in the case of the Ford. Further, there is another factor which has a bearing on this particular matter, and that is that the prices of Ford tyres are cut to the bone. I trust I have satisfied Mr. Hunt, and, if not, hold myself at his disposal for further discussion if he so desire.—Yours faithfully, London. Yount STATISTICAL C0NTRIBVT011.