[travelwriter]

Mr Tata has said in a press conference that he is committing to the Rs 1 lakh price tag for the first 100,000 cars. "I am not a philanthropist," he says.

Now it will make it easier for others to replicate. Bajaj is also coming out with a 'people's' four wheeler which will be priced more but will deliver 30+km per litre.

Here's what I see happening in the next 5 years.
- Registration charges to go up
- Toll fees to increase and more toll fee charging points to come up even within city limits
- Higher charges for parking
- Road tax may be levied every two years
- Inter city travel to involve more fees and charges

[srishiva]

The most important aspect is how people will perceive this car. It should be thought about as a car.
For this to happen to me, I need to see one live. See how is compares with 800 or Alto.
I am disappointed about the FE.

[Rahulkool]

here is another test driver report from carwale.

Tata Nano First Drive - Small Wonder - CarWale.com

[anekho]

guys, autocar video review of nano! enjoy!

YouTube - Tata Nano driven - first drive

cheers

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by GTO

1. The air-conditioning is effective. Effective enough for four to not sweat. It won't chill, just like in the 800. TML claim a 5-7 per cent drop in power with the AC on. A 3/5 rating overall.

That's a self-contradictory statement. If the AC won't chill and is like 800's AC, how can it be termed effective?

Ineffective airconditioning is 800's biggest and the only major drawback. If Nano's AC is like that of 800, customers may prefer buying the base version and get an effective after-market AC fitted later.

Originally Posted by rrsteer

Two questions. If Nano comes with 2 different tyre sizes does it mean it will carry 2 spare tyres?

Only one, with front wheel tyre.

Originally Posted by rrsteer

Distinctly remember R.Tata saying that higher versions will come with a power brake? What is it? Or did he just fumble and thus mentioned power brakes and power windows in the same breath?

CX and LX have vacuum assisted brakes like in Alto. Base version has hydraulic-only brakes like in M800. So RT didn't fumble.

[watashi75]

Originally Posted by anekho

guys, autocar video review of nano! enjoy!

Thanks for sharing! The car seems to behave pretty well at speed and at corners.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by directinjection

That's a self-contradictory statement. If the AC won't chill and is like 800's AC, how can it be termed effective?

Ineffective airconditioning is 800's biggest and the only major drawback. If Nano's AC is like that of 800, customers may prefer buying the base version and get an effective after-market AC fitted later.

Its all called expectation management. At that price, an AC that prevents sweating is very welcome and more than sufficient.

And regarding people preferring after market ACs, I don't see that happening. Even if it did, it would happen due to:
-- Someone did not have enough dough to pay for the AC model upfront
-- Someone who did not realise that an AC was needed earlier.

In my opinion, I don't see people who buy Nano go for aftermarket ACs due to the poor performance of the OE.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by directinjection

That's a self-contradictory statement. If the AC won't chill and is like 800's AC, how can it be termed effective?

Ineffective airconditioning is 800's biggest and the only major drawback.

Actually that is a realistic statement - the logical benchmark for the Nano to meet is the 800, which for whatever faults it may have is India's single largest selling vehicle till date.

If the vehicle is able to meet that benchmark, it could be considered effective enough because millions drive with nothing but the Maruti's a/c.

Finding an effective aftermarket replacement a/c for this vehicle may be more than a challenge - even if available, it will definitely cost more than the OE a/c by a large margin.

It is going to be very difficult to buy accessories or aftermarket parts for this vehicle that wont kill the logic of buying it in the first place. What they could do if they are smart enough is to make 'upgrade kits' available, where the owner of a basic vehicle can gradually upgrade the vehicle himself. Gradual purchases wont hurt the target as much as a one-time lumpsum.

[shuvc]

Originally Posted by GTO

4. It drives like a car, and comparisons with two-wheelers is meaningless. The real deal is if potential two-wheeler buyers can cough up the kind of deposits Tata expects at the moment.

AND these potential 2 wheeler customers also need to rent/buy a garage space for a car. This would be a stumbling block for purchases in the big city. Next rung big and small towns will probably face a relatively lesser issue.

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by directinjection

That's a self-contradictory statement. If the AC won't chill and is like 800's AC, how can it be termed effective?

Why do you need an A/C that 'chills'. Is comfortable not enough considering the price?

Originally Posted by directinjection

Ineffective airconditioning is 800's biggest and the only major drawback. If Nano's AC is like that of 800, customers may prefer buying the base version and get an effective after-market AC fitted later.

Yeah after market unit with a bigger compressor on a car which has a 624cc twin cylinder engine?

[sandeep.mishra]

Hey...how doest it pull especially with four people onboard and AC switched on ?

[Lightning2]

Hi
I wud rather disagrees with SS Traveller

1.Stripping Down (M800 in consideration) is not that easy thing ,, other wise things Look Ugly / Cheap


2. Already M800's quality has been degraded since almost last 1 year


3. Paint work on Underside of M800 is so flimsy that the metal surface is Visible at many places/Spots

4. Ofcourse M Suzuki can come up with Re-Engineered M800 with Modified Body shape & Design


5. but their A-Star product has Exposed how good (read Bad) M Suzuki is on designing a "Small" car. A-Star ended up Looking Ridiculous, has created a Lot of safety concern for Rear passengers besides Seating Comfort (Discomfort), Dark ,cramped room etc


6. Only if M Suzuki had been Covertly Re-engineering their small cars can they come up with a product in relatively Near future to Jeopardise the NANO product lest NANO proves & plants itself in Indian Markets & Indian Minds/Hearts

Originally Posted by RX135

While you have a point there, TML builds prototype cars in 10s, while most foreign (Japanese/European) manufacturers build them in 100s. That's the difference of scale and hence, available data points.



Far easier said than done.

Remember, Nano is built from scratch with a very very specific goal in mind, that is to keep the cost under control. Several parts are redesigned, the vendor model surely is different and so on. Even dealer margins are going to be lower and will be compensated through volume.

Even if Maruti Suzuki wishes to sell stripped down version of 800, I do not think that it they can pull down costs so much.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

An entry level bike is available at 30K today, which when compared to the base-level Nano is less than 1/5th the price. While for most of us here, a Nano might be just small change, IMO it does not work that way in the segment he is targetting.

Welcome to the world of EMI's . I see Tata's tie-up with State Bank of India as a brilliant move! Consider this : It is VERY difficult to procure 2 wheeler financing today (risk factor etc. etc.). And if you do, the maximum tenure is 4 years.

For the Nano, SBI is offering a 7 year loan! And at an interest rate far lower than that for motorcycles. EMI per month? Rs. 1,700 odd only.

[manson]

Credit to anonymous individual behind the review. Can't wait to TD this gem of a vehicle.
The first impressions seem very promising, and everything seems like a complete car. Kudos Tata, job well executed.

manson.

[druva]

My serious worry is the different wheel sizes. This is going to hurt TATA/ Nano in the long run.

What am I supposed to do, if I get puncture or will the tubeless tyre will allow me to drive to the nearest puncturewalla?