[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Venture is positioned like the Omni - it can comfortably seat 6. Moreover, it's pricier than the 3-wheelers, at 4L+

I know it costs too much but is safer for driver, passengers and other road users. May be Tata can launch a de-tuned engine for the Venture and cut some OTR to get it fixed in for that 'Auto' segment.

Originally Posted by silversteed

I guess not. Nano is a monocoque, while Iris is a body-on-frame, AFAIK. It's more like the Ace and Super Ace

Shall check on this.

Originally Posted by silversteed

Nano is a proper car, designed for personal transport. At 2.5L+ and also a proper ECU controlled petrol motor which cannot be serviced by just about anyone

Oh ya! So the autos are serviced by the regular Joe on the road but the Nano being sophisticated for them, the servicing and troubleshooting could be an issue. But there can be done way out of we Indians want!

Anurag.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

I know it costs too much but is safer for driver, passengers and other road users. May be Tata can launch a de-tuned engine for the Venture and cut some OTR to get it fixed in for that 'Auto' segment.

Don't you think you're asking for the moon?

So the autos are serviced by the regular Joe on the road but the Nano being sophisticated for them, the servicing and troubleshooting could be an issue. But there can be done way out of we Indians want!

Autos are rarely serviced!!! I thought you knew it already!

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Don't you think you're asking for the moon?

Autos are rarely serviced!!! I thought you knew it already!

We dreamtoo reach the moon anyway and I know they are not serviced but some hope!

Anurag.

[ACM]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Nano is a proper car, designed for personal transport. At 2.5L+ and also a proper ECU controlled petrol motor which cannot be serviced by just about anyone, it won't be a good replacement for the 3-wheelers which sell because of the simplicity in design. Whereas, the Magic Iris sells for maybe 20-30 grands more than a Bajaj RE 3-wheeler, runs on diesel/CNG, and has an IDI engine with lesser electronics, thereby keeping it simple, just like the rickety auto-rickshaws

Nope don't agree to a fair bit of this:

The Base model Nano is less than Rs. 1.5L OTR not 2.5L+ and is cheaper than the Bajaj Auto Rickshaw infact OTR. Its parts are real cheap and it can indeed be repaired by any local garage while it needs to be said that TATA original spares are not really to expensive either.

[Ashley2]

The problem of auto's not maintained properly is not in all areas. In Chennai, auto rates earlier were considerably higher and that lead to better maintained auto's. Infact many drivers spend considerable amount of money for custom painting, chrome finish tail pipe, mud guard, bumpers etc, interior rexin and seat modifications etc. This cost them anywhere between 25000 to 40000 depending upon their taste and level of modifications. Having spoken to many of them, they are very proud about their auto's and become very interactive once you start to speak about them. But now post implementation of meter, any are feeling that they may not have enough money to spend on decoration.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

The problem of auto's not maintained properly is not in all areas. In Chennai, auto rates earlier were considerably higher and that lead to better maintained auto's. Infact many drivers spend considerable amount of money for custom painting, chrome finish tail pipe, mud guard, bumpers etc, interior rexin and seat modifications etc. This cost them anywhere between 25000 to 40000 depending upon their taste and level of modifications. Having spoken to many of them, they are very proud about their auto's and become very interactive once you start to speak about them. But now post implementation of meter, any are feeling that they may not have enough money to spend on decoration.

I would like to bring out one important aspect. Most of the autos are owned by cops and rented out on hire. For them collection at the end of the day is all that matters. That being the case i dont think the drivers will be worried about the maintenance. After all it is not their own property.

[Ashley2]

Kindly rephrase the statement

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

....Most of the autos are owned by cops and rented out on hire. .....

This is not true (most of the auto's). I am using auto's regularly and do have contact with many auto drivers. What you are saying is true, but its only small percentage and that includes rental auto's run by others. Normally daily rent is between 250 to 300 and the rest earned will be retained by driver. Minor repairs, accident repairs, will be handled by drivers, where as FC, Insurance, permit charges rest with owners.