Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Official New Car Reviews (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/)

-   -   Tata Nano : Test Drive & Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/112835-tata-nano-test-drive-review-24.html)

My wife took the Nano for its first free service last week at that time complained about the charging point again. She had called our Sales Advisor as well and he called their Accessories manager as well to fix this issue. In the evening, after she collected the car from servicing, they asked the car to be brought to the showroom. Their technician worked on it and with the ignition on, he plugged in a mobile charger to the charge point, fumes started coming out from the area behind the steering. My wife was so panicked by this incident, that we decided that we will return the charge point. The technician with a sorry face returned the amount paid and tested all the other electricals in front of her. So that ends our saga with the Charge Point.

Let me also mention here that apart from this incident, we are extremely happy with the car. Though mostly it is driven by my wife, I do get occasional chance with the car and always prefers this to my Xylo when we need to go through congested parts of the city. Our car has already changed the perception of many of her coworkers about Nano and some are actively considering buying this now.

So the lesson learned, never add any accessory touching the electricals of the car even though it is from "so called" authorized accessory dealer.

As I being a tata motor employee, I had to buy a nano 4 myself. I got her in the first couple months after its official launch. So at first every person on road saw her with sparkle in their eye 'Look its Nano' that feeling was making me so proud. Also there was one astonishing question from a scorpio guy when I passed him in a ghat. He cornering me at one turn just to ask 'Can she really climb a ghat'. I was flat and just said Yeah, and then he left.

It looks like Tata haven't been able to train all their dealers on the intricacies of this car. My Nano LX has a provision for a cigarette lighter, however till date the dealer hasn't been able to source one, despite me visiting the place twice specifically for this purpose.

Ha ha! You should have seen the look on the face of the Sumo/Spacio drivers near the Rajmachi village when they encountered the Small Wonder coming down the 'road'. Well, there isn't a road anymore. A couple of them actually stopped and asked me how the Nano fared on those sections. Brilliantly, I replied. I could see each one of them was surprised to see the Nano being driven on that surface.

Are thats nothing. There was one incident with one of my colleague. He made a Rajasthan, Jammu Delhi, Punjab tour in his Nano in one go. He said, there many people were just astonished to see a Nano with a Maharashtra number plate. Even a traffic police asked him to stop for a regular check. But his main intension was to see how come a Nano ha come so far.
But in this whole tour he never faced any trouble with Nano.

I totally agree!

My Dad who drives the Manza for the week - insists and cajoles me into letting him drive the Nano on the weekeds - I drive the Nano throughout the week - if we are going anywhere in the city.
He loves the cute little wonder and the ease of driving and parking in the city!
Fabulous experience.
And yes - people around me - close friends - are also considering the Nano - after having had spin in my Stuart.

On a side note - something is fishy with this charger thing.
1. They have provided a provision
2. Earlier brochures mention that it used to have a 12v charger ALREADY there.

So somewhere Tata Motors has done a U-turn on this thing.

Like to my shock I discovered that my Manza did not have a rear 12V charger as was promised in the brochure and the Vista still does.
Multiple letters to Tata Motors - but all I received were apologies.
No one ever answered - WHY it was suddenly removed.

Great!

A Tata employee right here!

You must love to read all these threads. And the vast discussion here.
Wish you would ensure that atleast some of it - if not most of it -is passed back to our beloved TML.
Seriously, the discussions here shall only help they grow in leaps!


And yes I agree about that 'Look it's a Nano' thing. It still is common!
And yes - people have some weird and crazy misconceptions about Nano.
Essentially it has been bad mouthed a lot - probably by others with vested interests in its failure.
Probably because the 1st batch was not as good as it is now.

Everywhere I stop - random people ask ridiculous questions like:
is it safe?
Does it work?
Does it pickup with 4 adults?
Does it climb flyovers?
Does it wobble because of uneven tyres!

All I do - is offer them the key and say - have a look yourself!
And they are impressed by what they see inside.

TML needs to change not only Nano's perception - their brand perception too.
And ASAP!
Like yesterday!

Yup, totally agree with you. People have to taste the Nano to experience its flavour.

Changing the perception of brand actually lies in the customers hand. As you have experienced with ur Nano, we can give a quote to her like 'Ride it to believe it'. Same lies with the other vehicles. Not only Tata but with other OEMs too. So its a matter of time for a brand to get evolved. But by seeing the past history of Tata Motors there is a huge leap for a Indian based company.

Give time and you get a lot more than expected. Theres still more to come....

"Ride it to believe it" is a good idea!

Seriously. People are apprehensive about the lack or power steering, space, pick up and brakes.

But once they feel it - they go back amazed! And often in love.

Usually what stops them from buying the darling is actually the perception of their family members or others around them against buying a Nano.

Ratan Tata sir has accomplished his dream of the world's cheapest car,
and someday I believe in the pages of history the Nano shall have a similar mention as the VW Beetle.
The PEOPLE's car.

But - now I think TML can move on and expand on this platform...

HIGHER and more EXPENSIVE versions of the Nano -
With even more refined versions, higher cc, more creature comforts.

It is the IDEAL shape for urban commute. The size outside. Space inside.
Like a scooter with 2 wheels & a roof.
They may still keep the lowest version - but why not move up!
Leap ahead!

And yes indeed - hats off to TML for the phenomenal growth.
There are plenty of fan boys here - including me.
But still there is a lot more to go!

And some OBVIOUS, BASIC & SIMPLE improvements that are long overdue.

e.g. Manza CS, Manza club class with rear sensors / cam, DRLs across the range, Storme with 2 DIN HUD....
Just keep reading across this awesome forum and so many comments.

I am too surprised with some of the queries dished out by people on the road. Never knew Nano's reputation is this bad! I always thought people stayed away from this because of the fire catch accidents.

And I am really sad that people form such opinions without even TDing the car. TATA definitely have a lot of work to do (much more than what I thought).

1. I think they should start with an ALL INDIA NANO DRIVE or something which have a vast coverage spanning villages, best roads & worst roads, hills & valleys and also market these initiatives really hard.

2. Publish the places covered with the load carried & also FE figures.

3. Go & conduct TDs in a lot of rural places. Probably go visit homes and literally force people to take a drive.

4. Probably offer some service package like GM's 3 year maintenance plan or some free petrol vouchers like Mercedes.

If you remember last year Tata had conducted a All India Nano Drive with 3 Nanos covering each and every states of India. It had a over whelming response.

And lastly what GM is offering, technically is another name of 'Warranty'. Where GM is offering 3 year plan, Tata is giving 4 year plan. I don't know whether GM is offering it free of cost.

To be fair, the nano is not the problem. The biggest problem is the image TML has. If I had to buy a Tata the only I would buy eyes closed is a nano. Every other tata scares me because we seem to be the guinea pigs in their improvement process. Yes, their vehicles have improved, but they still have a lot of work to do if they intend to compete against Maruti, let alone companies like Toyota and Honda.

Here is a story of a 63-year old from Kerala covering all the state capitals and union territories of India in a Nano. His 78 day old journey of 26,500 km took the nano to all sorts of terrain, including the top two highest motorable roads in the world - Khardung La and Tanglang La.

http://www.cardekho.com/india-car-ne...nwide-8308.htm

Day by day story from Nano's Website.

Also read the nano adventure section of Nano Diaries, users have put their experiences covering really long journeys on their Nanos. Mumbai to Jaisalmer, Bangalore to Cuttack, Delhi to Gandhinagar are some of the stories mentioned there.

Nano Diaries

So these are the proofs for the quality that TML delivers. Its only up to people to accept this brand. Like I had said earlier, Ride it to believe it.

Indeed it was the blower. I complained about the blower fuse issue at first service and they replaced the blower under warranty. No questions asked. The blower assembly costs about 1-1.5k. I wonder if it was some kind of specification tolerance issue.

The headlight assembly on the right side has some scratches on the inside and therefore the light output is dim and sort of diffused. So much for my PDI check at time of delivery. I complained about this as well to the SA, replacement under warranty has been applied for, but due to want of stock not replaced.Lets see how that pans out.

Onto brighter things (pun not intended), a consistent tankful average of 20 km/l so far till the first 1000 km !clap:

Has anyone tried to put a more powerful horn on Nano, can the electrical system handle it??

Excellent question.

I too am inclined for the same.

The "peep peep" horn is too minuscule sometimes!

I will try asking my dealer when I go to fit the Autocop next.