[gt3t0uring]

Greetings everyone!


Finally the time has come to write down a long ownership review of our ten year old papaya Orange Tata Nano which has just done over 100,000 kms! I was waiting for her to either reach the 100k mark or turn 10, coincidentally, she reached 100k the day after she turned 10. So here I am presenting this review. There have been a few hiccups here and there but for most of the part it's been our reliable friend.


1,00,000 milestone reached.

The search started in the year 2012, we wanted the cheapest possible way of getting onto four wheels and Nano met the requirements. For the first 3 years Nano was strictly used as a city car for weekend drives to grandma's place, covering only 11000 kms but since grandma shifted to another state it's been our mile muncher.

Variant and Pricing

2012 was also the year when the facelift was launched with various improvements based on customer feedback along with 10 new vibrant colours. We narrowed it down to Papaya Orange and Neon Rush Green and eventually went with Papaya Orange.
Nano was offered in 3 variants; Std(base), CX and the range topping LX. We opted for the CX variant as it had A/C (a must in NCR summer) without breaking the 2-lac-barrier. The on road price was 1,90,000 but final price came to be 1,65,000 after giving our old CD100 bike in for exchange.


11-year-old me really wanted a customized brochure and made sure to get one!

Test Drive

There's not a lot to write about as I was not present during the test drive. I did ask my father how it went, he told me that the SA showed all the basic stuff (like driving with the A/C On) Nano could do just like any other conventional car. In the end the overall performance was satisfactory and the car was booked the same day.

Delivery Day

The 21st of March was set as the delivery date and everything went as planned. We reached Autolinks Tata Motors in Saket at noon. Interestingly, while the paperwork was being done there was a yellow LX Nano stationed inside the showroom, me being an 11 year old at the time, went to check it out and was told that it was kept as a driving simulator. I was let inside the car and I drove around in the simulator for a few minutes.
After all the paperwork was done we clicked a photograph and drove off with the new family member.

Here are some of the good and the bad of owning and driving a Nano which I have personally experienced:

Positives

1. Ingress and egress: Being a tall boy design, getting in and out is easy
   
   
   
2. Fuel efficiency: In city, 19-20 with A/C, 20-21 without A/C
   On highways: (without A/C) 29 kmpl if driven at 55-60 km/hr, 27 kmpl if driven at 70-75 km/hr and 24-25 kmpl if driven constantly at 80 km/hr. (With A/C) 27 kmpl with the speed of 70km/hr.
   
   
   
3. A/C: The air conditioner is really effective. Most of the time fan speed is set at 1 and it does its duty well, only in peak summers one might have to set it at 2.
   
   
   
4. Legroom and headroom: More than enough for people with average height like me.
   
   
   
5. Small footprint: Ended up at a dead end on a narrow road? 3 point U-turn and you are good to go. In the city just a single point U-turn is sufficient most of the time. Can get through the narrowest of spaces leaving big cars in the rear view mirror.
   
   
   
6. Lightweight: Not really a positive per se but is really helpful when the car needs to be moved around or push started.
   
   
   
7. Handling: Being a non assisted steering, the wheel feels heavy and the car stays planted(relatively) despite having a tall boy design.
   

Negatives

1. Poor NVH levels: Every rough patch is translated into the cabin. There will always be the mechanical sound of the 2 cylinder engine inside the cabin. Lots of wind and road noise at Highway speeds as well.
   
   
   
2. Engine: the 2 cylinder engine should strictly be used in the city. Although it can cruise at 80 km/hr doesn't mean it should. The experience isn't as pleasant as it should be for a long journey.
   
   
   
3. Safety: Although the Nano was never meant to be the safest, still, only the seat belts are there to protect you, not even the crumple zones.
   
   
   
4. Gearbox: the 4 speed manual is well gated and does the job just okay Also, Tata could've given Nano a 5 speed unit for a more relaxed cruising even though it was never meant to be a highway cruiser.
   
   
   
5. No openable hatch: Only applies for Nanos made till 2014. An openable hatch does come in handy. Also, small boot space is provided but being just above the engine, the area gets too hot.
   
   
   
6. Suspension: Stiff suspension just makes the road felt even more inside the cabin, but it is expected given the tall stance.
   
   
   
7. Steering: While the non-assisted steering feels good on the highway, in the city where a lot of maneuvering is needed heavy steering can be troublesome for most, although personally it's manageable for me.
   
   

Driving Experience

Nano is the simplest form of ICE car that one could get their hands on today. The rare rear-engine-rear wheel drive layout and out-of-the-box styling is where peculiarities end, otherwise it's a no-nonsense vehicle. After spending some time with Polo I've realised how ideal the Nano is for city travel, you don't have to worry about taking U-Turns or watch out for the long hood because there is none, you sit in, crank the engine and start moving. It's like a bicycle compared to today's turbo charged premium hatchbacks. Talking about the engine specs, Nano is propelled by a 2 cylinder engine that produces 37 hp and 51nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 4 speed manual.
In the city the engine feels peppy especially in 1st and 2nd gear, and has enough grunt to keep up with the traffic. At 50km/hr (avg speed limit) engine feels relaxed and the noise creeping into the cabin is controlled.
As soon as it's taken up on a highway, the small capacity engine shows its limitations and climbs up to highway speeds rather slowly. But
It can easily cruise at 70km/hr without breaking a sweat and the engine feels relaxed too. At 80 km/hr it starts to feel that the engine is working hard but can sustain the stress. Above 85 km/hr the engine is working just too hard for the liking with spinning at high RPMs, I don't think it can sustain such speed for long distances without overheating. (If anyone has done the same let us know!)
Another thing noticed while driving on the highways is, the accelerator pedal has to be pressed ever so slightly to keep cruising at 80 km/hr or even 90 km/hr, if it is pressed further the car starts climbing instantly. The engine is capable of doing more than the (limited) top speed of 105 km/hr but is restricted because of the 4 speed MT, structural limitations etc.
We've also taken our Nano to the mountains on several occasions and the performance is strictly okayish but not inadequate as most would assume. It's been to Mussoorie, Devprayag, Chamba to name a few.
In the mountains, 4th gear is rarely used. I'm always hoping between 2nd and 3rd gear. To overtake a vehicle the engine has to be revved hard and the overtakes should be cautiously calculated too. Nano actually feels fun while climbing on the hairpin bends but we have to wrestle against the body roll while doing so. The brakes are just about adequate as well.
Overall the car is best suited for city drives but can be used on the highways if the need arises. But is not purposely built for the same so don't expect the ride to be as pleasant as other bigger cars.

Fuel Efficiency

On the flip side of being an underpowered small capacity engine, the Nano is extremely fuel efficient and delivers good numbers constantly. As most of our traveling is on the highways it is a regular occurrence to see 24-25 kmpl, if driven at 80 km/hr and 27-28 kmpl at the speed of 65-70 kmph(without A/C). We've also done hypermiling and it gave around 29 kmpl at the speed of 55-60 km/hr. Even in the city, the worst we've got is around 18 kmpl with the A/C on. Without A/C it gives around 20-21 kmpl.
It's fair to say that fuel efficiency is one of the few areas where the Nano edges over other cars.



Breakdowns


The check engine light in the cluster has flashed a few times, fortunately every single time we were able to get the car to an authorised Tata Motors workshop on our own.

October 2018: First time ever the check engine light lit up. Turned out to be a faulty fuel pump, replaced.

October 2018: Check engine light lit up with abrupt loss of power. Car was able to reach back after restarting the engine.
ECU failed (shocking). Was replaced within 10 days of placing order for the same.

August 2020: After a long trip coolant high temperature light came up along with the check engine light. Saw coolant dripping down from the radiator drainage plug. Radiator malfunctioned this time. Whole radiator assembly was replaced

January 2021: Gear linkage cable broke and came out of the socket. Cable repaired not replaced as it wasn't in stock with the authorised service center. No problems since then.

August 2021: While coming back from a 200km trip was alerted by a motorist that "engine oil" (it was coolant dripping down) was leaking. As soon as I pulled over, the coolant temperature light lit up along with a chime. Water pump gave up along with "an elbow". Took 3 days to get everything sorted

Parts Replaced/Repaired

•Instrument cluster (replaced for free at approx 3500 km due to being faulty)

•Front LH shock absorber (replaced)

•ECU (replaced)

•Clutch kit (replaced)

•Both front control arms (replaced)

•Radiator assembly (replaced)

•Fuel pump (replaced)

•Water pump (replaced)

•LH drive shaft (replaced)

•Gear linkage cable (repaired)

•A/C condenser assembly (replaced)

•Timing Belt (replaced)

Design Flaw


This is a concern Nano owners should look out for especially those who live in rust prone areas. Unlike conventional front-engined cars Nano is rear-engined which means there's a lot of empty space in the front even with the spare wheel attached. Bare frame of the car is also visible through that empty space. The flaw is, whenever it rains or the car is washed, all the water drains down to that exposed bare frame and it stays there the whole time until it is wiped or dried. If the water happens to be too salty it can easily corrode the exposed frame affecting the steering rack and could possibly cause it to fail if corroded too much. The wiring harness around the headlights can also be affected as our headlights sometimes do not work properly because of the wiring getting damaged. Owners should make sure that the area has been dried or wiped before the car is parked for a prolonged time. Tata knew about this flaw. That's why the wiper motor is covered by a hard plastic.


Service and costs

Service interval for Nano is 10,000km/1 year.
Every annual service of our Nano has been done at authorized Tata service centers.
Normal service without any part replacement costs around 3,500-4,000 with labour included.
For the last 3 years we've taken our Nano to Sab Motors (near Mohan Estate) for repairs and services. Our experience has been good with them without any fuss and the car usually gets delivered on time.

Parts Availability

Another topic of concern is the availability of parts. The regular wear and tear parts like; filters, wipers are readily available. But parts which fail after a long time have to be ordered or sourced from elsewhere and then again it takes days for the car to get sorted out. For instance in our case, the LH drive shaft had to be replaced, even after placing the order the part didn't come. We contacted over 3 authorised service centers and eventually got the job done from an authorised service center which was almost 35 kms away as they had the part readily available.
So owners should expect 6-7 days of delay if something major goes wrong with their Nano and the part is not readily available.



To sum it all up, Nano was a great idea in itself with a noble thought behind it. It was cheap, small but with ample space inside and extremely fuel efficient too. That said, Tata should've never put "cheap" and "first car" in the same sentence; rather, they should've just launched it and let the price do the marketing.
Also a first time buyer does not just look for a car that is straight up cheap to buy but a car that could provide decent creature comforts and a pleasant driving experience not only in the city limits but also on the highways. Unfortunately, the Nano was cheap to buy but trading in the creature comforts it didn't have at the time for the price was just not worth it.
Even though the GenX Nano was a big leap in terms of quality, it was too late to do any positive change. People had moved on with the thought that Nano was a cheap car and would always remain one.
That led to the Nano ending up as a second car for the rich rather than the first car for the masses.
I do opine that the Nano should be revived as an EV with a range of around 150 kms. Its small dimension with silent cabin would be a boon in city traffic. But it will only do wonders if the "aam janta" is over the thought of owning a "lakhtakiya".

As this is my first ever thread on TeamBHP, I am expecting for errors to pop up and willing to correct them as well.
Would like to end this by posting some photos let them do some talking, thank you!


December 2021


Year 2012, Only a few months old!


November 2021


February 2022, Two not-so-popular cars together.


December 2021


December 2021


December 2021


December 2021


December 2021


December 2020


February 2022, Cruising on the way to Devbhoomi.


November 2021


June 2019, Going through the Tehri Hills!


May 2019


December 2021 rim condition at approx 95k km

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[vigsom]

Crisp review of a great car, @gt3t0uring. We have a 2011 Nano CX in the family that continues to be my local runabout vehicle whenever I go to TN. I've done long drives like Trichy - Shencottai, Trichy - Tiruchendur and
Palakkad - Bengaluru with no issues whatsoever.

While the car has done only approx 56k kms so far, it has seen replacement of tyres twice. The fronts need a very close watch and frequent alignment. My experiences are summarised via this thread.

Originally Posted by gt3t0uring

- final price 1,65,000 after giving our old CD100 bike in for exchange.
- Tata should've never put "cheap" and "first car" in the same sentence; rather, they should've just launched it and let the price do the marketing

Interesting to see a car being sold in exchange of a CD100 bike. Positioning this as a cheap car was a huge mistake and that is why the car failed after the initial buzz, and was always looked down upon by people except those who still love this cute fella. On my highway drives, I realised how people perceive this car.

a yellow LX Nano stationed inside the showroom kept as a driving simulator. I was let inside the car and I drove around in the simulator for a few minutes

This is interesting- a simulator in a showroom; good way to have a virtual driving experience which can then be followed up by a regular test drive. Saves a lot of effort for the sales team.

- Small footprint : In the city just a single point U-turn is sufficient most of the time. Can get through the narrowest of spaces
- In the city the engine feels peppy especially in 1st and 2nd gear, and has enough grunt to keep up with the traffic

These are the differentiators between Nano and other cars and should have been showcased as the USP of the Nano. The only cars that come close to Nano in this aspect are the WagonR, old i10 and the Eeco.

- will always be the mechanical sound of the 2 cylinder engine inside the cabin. Lots of wind and road noise at Highway speeds as well.
- the 2 cylinder engine should strictly be used in the city. Although it can cruise at 80 km/hr doesn't mean it should. The experience isn't as pleasant as it should be for a long journey
- don't think it can sustain speeds above 85kmph for long distances without overheating.

From my experience with this car, I found the inside noise well controlled until 90kmph post which it gets really loud. On the highway, this car can easily cruise at 90kmph with no strain on the car, the driver or the coolant system. It is during braking that one realizes the car's limitations. Stopping distance and reassurance is a huge minus.

No openable hatch

My biggest grouse; everytime I use this car, I open the hood to do a health check of the engine oil, coolant etc., it is a pain to open those six bolts and put them back. Strains the back too.

While the non-assisted steering feels good on the highway, in the city where a lot of maneuvering is needed heavy steering can be troublesome

Coming from the era of Ambassadors, Premiers and Standards, this is hardly a sore point for me at least.

- August 2020: coolant high temperature light came up along with the check engine light. Saw coolant dripping down from the radiator drainage plug.Whole radiator assembly was replaced

- August 2021: the coolant temperature light lit up along with a chime. Water pump gave up along with "an elbow". Took 3 days to get everything sorted

I have also experienced one cylinder shutdown (misfire), and the CEL and coolant high temperature chime coming on together at cold start up. This was on a cold rainy day and I can only associate this with a faulty spark plug or a faulty spark plug cable. Surprisingly, the situation auto corrected after a few minutes. The car restarted normal and the CEL went off after sometime.

In the first case in Aug-2020 that you've reported, the culprit would have been the radiator cap, whose rubber seat tends to expand with time, and thus the valve won't lift at the rated pressure. I've had to change the radiator cap on our Nano and post that no issues. Also, quality of coolant including the water used is key to ensure longevity of the water pump. This is a point most people ignore. Super long life coolant like what Toyota uses is key here.

I do opine that the Nano should be revived as an EV with a range of around 150 kms. Its small dimension with silent cabin would be a boon in city traffic

Agree. The Nano will be a super hit in this avatar. There is one point which I would like to highlight - that the Nano's water wading capabilities through upto, say, knee deep water is rather good because of its rear engine. The front pushes the water outward and the car is able to go through with no fuss. Again, I am not sure of what will happen if the path is blocked by other cars. I've heard of a car enthusiast who navigated badly water logged roads in Chennai during the Dec-2015 floods and escaped out of the city to safety in his Nano.

[GTO]

Great review of an iconic car! The Tata Nano Official Review was one of my best. I enjoyed driving the car & writing about it.



Wish Tata had handled the sales, marketing & PR better. But the company has learned = just look how aggressive Tata's sales & marketing push is today. Highlighting why the Nano unexpectedly failed:

Originally Posted by GTO

The euphoria surrounding the Nano’s launch was so strong that everyone (environmentalists included) expected our streets to be filled with 1 lakh rupee Tatas everywhere. Unfortunately, that’s not how the situation panned out. The market’s response has been lukewarm at best. While the average monthly sales have been 5,756 units of the year thus far, in November 2010, the car had hit an inexplicably low 500 odd shipments. So why did the Nano not rack up 20,000 – 30,000 sales a month as expected? The answer greatly varies depending on who you are listening to, but if you ask me, there are 5 fundamental reasons:

1. Poor targeting: Let's face it, a large number of 2 wheeler owners – out of choice – don’t want to upgrade to a car. Petrol is too expensive (commuter bikes are 5 - 6 times as fuel efficient as a Nano) while a large % of motorcycle owners don’t even know how to drive. That probably explains why a majority of bookings (from the 1st round) were for the top-end LX variant.

2. It’s simply too unconventional: The Indian market, especially first-timer buyers, are a conservative lot. In that, they are extremely risk averse. The Nano is too “different” and “unconventional” for the mass market tastes. Factors like the engine placed at the back, a hatch that doesn’t open, battery under the front seat, 3-bolt wheels, differently sized front & rear tyres, lack of a glovebox et al make the Nano too different a concept for the junta. Many, including some owners, refer to the car as a toy.

3. The image of the “cheapest car” in the world: The media & Tata overplayed the “1 lakh car” bit. Let's reflect on when the Maruti 800 was launched; it was hardly pitched as a cheap car. Instead, Maruti chose to focus on the strengths of the product, which were only amplified by word-of-mouth recommendations based on owner experiences. Car ownership in India is greatly driven by aspirational value, and owning the “cheapest car in India / the world” is not something one aspires to. Simply put, the Nano lacks the all-too-crucial status that first time car owners are looking for.

4. The Nano isn’t really a 1 lakh car: The on-road pricing varies between 1.5 lakhs for the base version, and goes to well over 2 lakhs for the LX variant. Many two-wheeler owners weren't even eligible for car financing in the first place. For those that are, in our EMI-driven times, the 800, Alto & Spark aren't too far away.

5. Poor communications: Tata’s handling of the media around the Nano fire incidents left a lot to be desired. 5 out of 10 people who sat in my test Nano mentioned something or the other about the car catching fire.

[KeepReading]

Nice post on ownership of Nano. Having Nano XTA.
Except the small niggles and the sound, it is excellent to own.
Easy ingress/Egress. Family members like it very much.
Easy to drive. Moves quite well in traffic.
With power steeering, it is fun to drive.
I felt AC is not strong enough. Wife find it noisy compared to Honda City.

[COMMUTER]

How is the performance during fully loaded trips to the hills? I have noted people using them at hill stations but I haven't been able to bring myself to own one because of the perceived disadvantage it has when climbing mountain roads. Was I wrong?

[silverado]

Congratulations on a really well maintained car. Mine turned 11 on 21st March as well . It is impressive to note that color has stayed well in all these years of usage.

My car has seen below parts which were replaced till date ( 55k kms is the odo now )

Clutch
All 4 tyres
Entire suspension
AC Compressor ( replaced under warranty )
RHS mirror
Rear RHS taillight.

It has been serviced at Tata Motors in all these years and service has been good. Part availability has never been an issue maybe since i am in Pune.

I wish i could someday magically retrofit twist electric PS on my car to make it easier to park.
I hope you keep it for as long as its possible and also maintain this thread at the same time. Good luck

[amol4184]

My cousin has very late model Nano and I got a chance to sit/drive the car recently. My first impression? The car is surprisingly roomy for its extremely small outer dimensions. I am above average in height and considering everything I felt it to be quite okay on the inside.
Thanks for sharing the report. I really like regular car reviews like this.

[clementw]

Originally Posted by gt3t0uring

To sum it all up, Nano was a great idea in itself with a noble thought behind it. It was cheap, small but with ample space inside and extremely fuel efficient too. That said, Tata should've never put "cheap" and "first car" in the same sentence; rather, they should've just launched it and let the price do the marketing.

Great post, pushing the Nano for 100000 kms and showing that it was good product killed by wrong positioning. Had it been sold as the People's car and not the cheapest car, we may have seen many more on the roads. I have had the pleasure of driving it apart from the initial feeling of driving a bare bones car you settle down into the oodles of space and yet small footprint squeezing in and out of traffic with a smile on the face.

Go on Tata Motors make a cheery EV with the Nano and sell it as the people's EV by packaging and pricing it right. I will be in line to buy one.

[Siddarth_Ramani]

Nano may not be a perfect car, but it does beautifully what it is designed to do. That is being a city car, I bought a 2010 Red Nano std from my neighbor. It was their 3rd car and was always kept in a closed garage. When I bought it, it had 17,000 on the odo (yes I know it is very less). The best thing is I paid 40,000 for it. I don't think I can get even a new two wheeler for that money today.

Originally Posted by gt3t0uring

The flaw is, whenever it rains or the car is washed, all the water drains down to that exposed bare frame and it stays there the whole time until it is wiped or dried. If the water happens to be too salty it can easily corrode the exposed frame affecting the steering rack and could possibly cause it to fail if corroded too much.

I knew this from day one of my Nano search, I have seen some examples with literal 3 inch holes in it. Mine did not have any signs of rust as it was kept in a closed garage. But as a preventive measure, I gave my car to a nearby painter and asked him to wash, dry and then paint it with same color. I'm talking about the inner area of hood and firewall. He went ahead and disassembled the child parts and then painted it. Charged 800 bucks, the color doesn't match. But since it is not visible on the outside and the car is being used as a beater, I don't care. Nano is such a breeze to use in city.

[hagarthenormal]

Originally Posted by gt3t0uring

1,00,000 milestone reached.

Hearty congratulations to you and your Nano. I have one (2011) and really like it very much.

Just sad that it didn't sell much, for well researched reasons (I think prejudice is a key, less documented reason).

I think everyone should drive it once for themselves - just to see how it was designed to be a cute little city car - very simple, fuss free, comfortable and spacious (unbeatable legroom and a rear seat that can keep 3 reasonable adults happy).

The Nano may not win any races, but does win a simple man's heart. Not many cars can claim that!

Originally Posted by GTO

Great review of an iconic car! The Tata Nano Official Review was one of my best. I enjoyed driving the car & writing about it.
Wish Tata had handled the sales, marketing & PR better.

Very well said, GTO! Strange regrets one has to carry around in life.

[AdityaDeane]

Originally Posted by COMMUTER

How is the performance during fully loaded trips to the hills? I have noted people using them at hill stations but I haven't been able to bring myself to own one because of the perceived disadvantage it has when climbing mountain roads. Was I wrong?

You can check my Ownership Review for this answer. I have extensively used it in and around Mussoorie and then even here in Manali, with no problems! I still regret selling it off when I did, though my Triber is doing justice to it's purchase, but we all surely miss out little wonder car.

Link:- https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-...ip-report.html (Tata Nano Twist XT: 4-year ownership report)

[Freespirit27]

Originally Posted by Siddarth_Ramani

Nano may not be a perfect car, but it does beautifully what it is designed to do. That is being a city car, I bought a 2010 Red Nano std from my neighbor. It was their 3rd car and was always kept in a closed garage. When I bought it, it had 17,000 on the odo (yes I know it is very less). The best thing is I paid 40,000 for it. I don't think I can get even a new two wheeler for that money today.

My exact sentiment in the first two lines.
It is more spacious than a 800.
Ingress egress is better than most small cars.
FE is better than most small cars.
A/c is super efficient mostly used at 1 or 2.
Cubby holes are super convenient.
Except for safety, road noise and engine noise (for bystanders) if driven withing the design envelope it is by far a marvellous car.
I bought it despite knowing the discontinuation plan just because for me it's like owning a Indian Beetle or Mini(original).
Great to find happiness in small packages.!!

[gt3t0uring]

Originally Posted by vigsom

Crisp review of a great car, @gt3t0uring. We have a 2011 Nano CX in the family that continues to be my local runabout vehicle

Thank you so much!
There cannot be a better city car than the Nano period.

Originally Posted by vigsom

Interesting to see a car being sold in exchange of a CD100 bike. Positioning this as a cheap car was a huge mistake and that is why the car failed after the initial buzz, and was always looked down upon by people except those who still love this cute fella. On my highway drives, I realised how people perceive this car.

Out of those 25k, 20k was exchange bonus and the bike was valued at 5k, it was a 1988 CD100. They surely were trying to woo people who needed to upgrade to four wheels

Originally Posted by vigsom

This is interesting- a simulator in a showroom; good way to have a virtual driving experience which can then be followed up by a regular test drive. Saves a lot of effort for the sales team.

As far as I remember that simulator was far from reality, I guess that was for the promotional stuff. But your idea sure is unique!

Originally Posted by vigsom

From my experience with this car, I found the inside noise well controlled until 90kmph post which it gets really loud. On the highway, this car can easily cruise at 90kmph with no strain on the car, the driver or the coolant system. It is during braking that one realizes the car's limitations. Stopping distance and reassurance is a huge minus.

Surprising to know that it can sustain that kind of pressure! From personal experience the engine gets too loud at 90km/hr and the steering starts to shake as well so I keep the needle between 70-80km/hr on long empty roads.

Originally Posted by vigsom

My biggest grouse; everytime I use this car, I open the hood to do a health check of the engine oil, coolant etc., it is a pain to open those six bolts and put them back. Strains the back too.

That is just a lot work, they should've attached the hood using clamps or something like a door handle.

Originally Posted by vigsom

In the first case in Aug-2020 that you've reported, the culprit would have been the radiator cap, whose rubber seat tends to expand with time, and thus the valve won't lift at the rated pressure. I've had to change the radiator cap on our Nano and post that no issues. Also, quality of coolant including the water used is key to ensure longevity of the water pump. This is a point most people ignore. Super long life coolant like what Toyota uses is key here.

We were told that the radiator lines had blocked so the whole assembly needed to be replaced. Talking about coolant, our Nano has always been repaired/serviced at Tata Authorised Service Centre, I hope they are using good quality coolant but good to know, will definitely keep check on that.

[Neversaygbye]

My first experience with a Nano was back in 2016 when I opted for a Nano from Zoomcar to go to Coorg from Bangalore with a friend of mine. Since it was just the two of us going on a weekend break and we had already exceeded our budget by opting to stay at the expensive Tata Coffee estate, we chose to save some money on the drive. We got a blue Nano which was in ok condition (there were signs of wear and tear all around). This was one of the later models and had power steering, and I still remember being impressed by the space inside and the peppy engine at lower speeds. The car did the Bangalore - Mysore highway run without breaking into a sweat, was extremely frugal to boot. It was also easy to maneuver on the twisty roads of Madigeri. Both my friend and I remember being really impressed by it and we had lamented that Tata had lost a great opportunity with this car due to poor positioning. The Nano was an underrated gem for that time and probably merits a rebirth as an EV, provided safety concerns are taken care of, since safety was an area in which the car really lacked.