Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > General Efficiency Discussion
Register Now
 Register Now

Now available from EcoModder: ScanGauge II fuel economy gauge.  Click for details.  

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-07-2011, 07:04 AM   #1 (permalink)
Ecomodder Infant
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chennai, India
Posts: 4
Thanks: 1
Thanked 8 Times in 1 Post
Tata Nano: First-hand impressions from an EcoModder member

Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Raj: I don't suppose you've had exposure to the Tata Nano yet? Just curious for some first hand impressions.
Hi, Thanks for asking. Might not be much but please read below to what I feel about the nano



Image: Anugrah Adams

Nano
Looks - I rate it at 6/10. They've done well with the exteriors but still there is a lot of scope to do with the exteriors and the interiors (plastics pretty cheap though). being a car that raised Tata's share price, market value and reputation in the global scene, it is normal to expect the car to grab your looks the first time you see it. honestly it does look like the "smart" but a bit better (personal opinion)... News leaks suggest that they are prepping an upgraded version of the nano that'll fix most of the minor setbacks of the original.

Performance
It handles well in city conditions (Busy roads of Chennai), very easy to drive in stop and go conditions as the acceleration and the torque is decent. Didn't get the chance to drive it in highway conditions but owing to the tallboy design I guess it might be a bit unstable at speeds over 80 kmph (50mph) due to the crosswinds.

One thing I hated is the beat of the car. it sounds like a muffled autorickshaw (A commuter three wheeler that is used for public transit in India) from heard from the outside (you still could hear a marginal noise in the inside when the AC's on and windows rolled up)... This is the only drawback of the Nano as for I am concerned (Donno why reviewers don't highlight this as the other drawbacks as something you can live with and are common to most expensive car brands but your sounding cheap ---- that is something out of the ordinary) if they just fix this problem alone, the Nano would score really high against the other cars

Fuel efficiency - 26 Kms to the litre (3.9 L/100 km, 61.2 mpg US) under test conditions. Expected a lot more than this. When 1100 cc cars are claiming to return around 21 kmpl (4.8 / 49) under test conditions you'd expect something more than 38 kms to the litre (atleast 32 kms to the litre (3.1 / 75) as an incentive to buy the alto than the other much decently powerful smaller cars available but they've failed here) given tata's commitment towards fuel economic vehiclesfrom their cargo vehicle days. Hope they'd figure it out in the next release

Lets hope they fix the Nano up and make it into a better car than it is now, making it more of a peoples car as they claim it to be


(Support Ecomodder.com & get rid of these annoying ads!)      
 
  Reply With Quote
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to rk113 For This Useful Post:
cfg83 (01-07-2011), CigaR007 (01-07-2011), euromodder (01-07-2011), JasonG (01-07-2011), NeilBlanchard (01-07-2011), Ryland (01-07-2011), some_other_dave (01-07-2011), SVOboy (01-07-2011)
Old 01-07-2011, 11:36 AM   #2 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 12,533

Blackfly - '98 Metro
Team Metro
90 day: 67.07 mpg (US)

ForkenSwift - '92 Metro EV
90 day: 125.37 mpg (US)

U.F.O. - '00 Insight
Team Honda
90 day: 85.75 mpg (US)
Thanks: 302
Thanked 1,019 Times in 568 Posts
Thanks for posting that.

Hope you don't mind I copied your post into a new thread. I think other members will be interested in reading your thoughts on the car and may not have seen them in the other thread.

The little car has generated a lot of discussion already.

cheers
Darin
__________________
Latest project: removable Geo Metro boat tail
Latest test: Massive cardboard air dam on a Geo Metro


www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
rk113 (01-07-2011)
Old 01-07-2011, 03:13 PM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
fairdinkumfrankies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Worcester MA area
Posts: 46

Yaris - '010 Yaris
90 day: 42.39 mpg (US)

Fiesta - '011 Fiesta SE
Thanks: 6
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I read somewhere that they might try and make a US version of the Nano. Assuming the quality is up where it needs to be, I would buy one.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2011, 03:16 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
NeilBlanchard's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth
Posts: 3,940

Mica Blue - '05 xA RS 2.0
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.22 mpg (US)

Josepha - '08 xD
90 day: 30.76 mpg (US)
Thanks: 513
Thanked 501 Times in 306 Posts
I think the US version is similar to the European version:
__________________
Sincerely, Neil

http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2011, 03:50 PM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
fairdinkumfrankies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Worcester MA area
Posts: 46

Yaris - '010 Yaris
90 day: 42.39 mpg (US)

Fiesta - '011 Fiesta SE
Thanks: 6
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nice
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2011, 05:21 PM   #6 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Old Tele man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,352

Vibe - '09 Vibe Base (2ZR-FE)
90 day: 32.19 mpg (US)

Goldie Locks - '011 Cruze LTZ
90 day: 29.42 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 330 Times in 249 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard View Post
I think the US version is similar to the European version:
...what's the little silver thingee just ahead of the rear wheel--exhaust pipe?
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2011, 05:24 PM   #7 (permalink)
ooo ooo ooo ah ah ah
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 7,357

Blue - '93 Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 F150 XLT
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 636
Thanked 848 Times in 591 Posts
Nice styling. Hope they make it to the U.S.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2011, 05:38 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
JasonG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Charlotte NC / SC
Posts: 658

1 Ton - '94 C3500
90 day: 19.7 mpg (US)

Big White Brick - '03 Express Van
90 day: 15.19 mpg (US)
Thanks: 70
Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts
Geo Metros watch your back !
__________________
Support Bennelson !

I can't understand why my MPG's are so low..........
16000lb, 41' Toy Haulers are rough on FE!
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2011, 05:54 PM   #9 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 12,533

Blackfly - '98 Metro
Team Metro
90 day: 67.07 mpg (US)

ForkenSwift - '92 Metro EV
90 day: 125.37 mpg (US)

U.F.O. - '00 Insight
Team Honda
90 day: 85.75 mpg (US)
Thanks: 302
Thanked 1,019 Times in 568 Posts
I just can't see a US version happening.

OK, Tata may have a plan in place for the US, but it is stored in a wall mounted box behind a pane of glass with this stencilled on it:

"IN CASE OF $5 per GALLON U.S. GAS PRICES, BREAK GLASS"
__________________
Latest project: removable Geo Metro boat tail
Latest test: Massive cardboard air dam on a Geo Metro


www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
CigaR007 (01-07-2011)
Old 01-07-2011, 06:11 PM   #10 (permalink)
Efficiency Aficionado
 
CigaR007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Province of Québec
Posts: 459

GreenTurtle - '01 Echo Sedan
90 day: 42.53 mpg (US)
Thanks: 107
Thanked 75 Times in 62 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
I just can't see a US version happening.

OK, Tata may have a plan in place for the US, but it is stored in a wall mounted box behind a pane of glass with this stencilled on it:

"IN CASE OF $5 per GALLON U.S. GAS PRICES, BREAK GLASS"

Hahaha...Good one !


(Support Ecomodder.com & get rid of these annoying ads!)      
 
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread

Thread Tools





Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com