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BHPian ![]() Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: NCR
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| Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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
Negatives
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. 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 sortedParts 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 Last edited by gt3t0uring : 23rd March 2022 at 23:39. |
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Team-BHP Support ![]() | Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing! |
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Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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. Quote:
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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. Quote:
Last edited by vigsom : 24th March 2022 at 10:49. Reason: added some text | ||||||||
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Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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: Quote:
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BHPian Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Bengaluru
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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. ![]() Last edited by KeepReading : 24th March 2022 at 11:16. |
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BANNED | Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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? |
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Senior - BHPian ![]() | Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! Congratulations on a really well maintained car. Mine turned 11 on 21st March as well ![]() 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 ![]() Last edited by silverado : 24th March 2022 at 11:17. |
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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. |
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! Quote:
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. | |
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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. Quote:
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km!
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! Quote:
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! Quote:
Link:- https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-...ip-report.html (Tata Nano Twist XT: 4-year ownership report) | |
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Infractions: 0/1 (7) | Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! Quote:
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.!! ![]() Last edited by Rudra Sen : 24th March 2022 at 14:05. Reason: quote content trimmed | |
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| Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! Quote:
There cannot be a better city car than the Nano period. Quote:
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BHPian ![]() | Re: Ownership Review | Our Tata Nano completes 1,00,000 km! 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. |
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