Comparisons

Having once been told that it is unethical for a journalist to compare one make of car with another (an opinion with which we disagree, because what the journalist does not do for the customer, the customer will do with the journalist’s facts and figures) we were amused to note that L. E. Dove, Ltd., Standard and Triumph dealers of Wimbledon, have issued folders relating to the cars they handle, in which they compare these cars with rival makes. They explain that they believe people are tired of having to take what they are offered and of having to make their choice from catalogues only.

In their Standard Eight folder they publish figures, quoting m.p.g. from the Autocar, to show that this car beats the Austin A30, Morris Minor and Ford Anglia on “first-cost, running cost and weight.” In their Standard Ten folder they similarly claim superiority over Ford Anglia, Hillman Minx and Austin A40 in respect of petrol consumption, housing space required, and initial cost in four-door saloon form, reminding us that the Standard Ten was outright winner of the R.A.C. Rally.

Dove’s Standard Vanguard folder compares this car with the Vauxhall Velox and Austin A70, claiming advantages in respect of manoeuvrability (based presumably on turning-circle only), seating capacity and optional overdrive. The Vanguard Diesel folder contains no comparative figures “because there is no comparison,” while the Triumph TR2 folder offers Autocar road-test figures for Allard Palm Beach, 220 Mercédès-Benz, Sunbeam Alpine and Aston Martin DB2, concluding “There is no comparison by value/performance standards anywhere.” We notice that no Austin-Healey figures are given.

No doubt Messrs. Dove will encounter criticism and continent over their “gloves off” policy, just as Motor Sport does, and possibly the Trade won’t exactly love them, but theirs is a rather refreshing publicity approach. Incidentally, they opened recently the first TR2 Centre.