My Tata Nano: A New Journey Begins

[shrijit303]

That was a nice mini meet .
I learned painting from watching "Guide to paint your Car floor'.I recently painted my Omni's back and front bumpers and the front grill. That video helped me a lot.Expecting updates soon.

 

[ss80]

I really lost my cool on my last few trips with oncoming vehicles literally blinding me, with their high beams. Stock bulbs are no better than a candle, yesterday while driving in rain, me & Varun had severe difficulties in spotting potholes etc. Hence here comes the headlamp upgrade.

Items used:
Roots wiring kit: Rs.650/-
8mm wire from battery to bonnet: Rs.150/-
Bulbs - 250/-

The purpose of headlamp upgrade is not to bling others but to ensure my own safety and also to force opp guy to switch to low beam (if there be a situation where this kind of measure might prevent an accident). Its pretty rare that I switch on high beams, but now I am atleast prepared . Also cleaned the bonnet area and replaced wiper washer pipe. Now time for some pics















Finally my ride has a proud TAIger sticker.

 

[shrijit303]

Anand Sir, One suggestion-Apply a polish.The color on your car will look good then.
With Regards
Shrijit

 

[ss80]

Shrijit, you can call me Anand itself. I have to apply the rubbing polish once I am done with painting bumpers.

 

[ss80]

The 2500kms update

Well guys,
completed 2500+kms yesterday
Been to Kolar twice in last 2 days and enjoyed every bit of the flat ride and with the bone chiller of an AC. Its almost 2600+kms from the day I bought it. Had my first puncture day before yesterday, luckily near my home and since it was a tubeless tyre, it was a 2min fix.



Here are my observations of my car so far

Things I love
1. Space - Plenty of it, more than you except and sometimes more than you need.
2. AC - Super cool, chills front 2 seats and mid passenger in rear seat
3. Steering feels awesome and weighs up really well on straight long highways
4. Throttle response and cabin silence is awesome between 70kmph and 90kmph
5. If you travel alone or with just one more person, in city this is a peppy car
6. Probably the most leg friendly car, in this side of 5lakhs.

Things I miss
1. Complete seat recliner, like in other cars. You can just marginally adjust the fore/aft position, you cant lie down completely, sometimes you need a power nap and that feature helps a lot.
2. Disc brakes - I wish this car had disc brakes, the drums heat up after a few hours of usage and braking takes time and effort. Panic brake situations are scary at times.
3. AC although good, is not enough when you have people in car, the rear window seat guys dont get the air flow directly. Only the mid passenger enjoys it.
4. Loud booming sound from rear side (engine) and literally expands inside cabin. This happens mainly when you press throttle more than 50% and you are at speeds less than 70kmph. The booming noise reduces are the speed increases. However if you are fully loaded the booming noise does not reduce till 80kmph.
5. The AC cooling coil, seems to be leaking water into carpet, too often, despite DIY efforts. Service Center has no aapointments for next 2days, always get into argument with them.
6. Wiper tank is too small, use it like other cars and within a couple of times, the pressure of spray dips as water level dips very soon (small tank capacity).
6. Ride quality sucks big time on uneven roads/deep potholes ones too. Lots of sqeeks heard from all suspensions when fully loaded and passing dead slow on potholes.
7. Somehow I feel the front suspension is too soft & weak. At times gets bouncy too.

more to come soon.

 

[Nanofreak]

Hi Anand,

After a long time, nice informative thread (as usual coming from the guru's). Glued

Take care
regards
vinod

 

[Vishwas]

Hello Anand, Apologies for bumping into this thread very late, Congrats on your new acquisition and this Nano seems to be very close to you than any other cars as you have explained it very well.

So after 25.k kms of usage, how did you find the performance when compared with the 800? i.e., when we buy budget cars, this is not really a thing to consider, but just that we do think about this.

What are the next set of mods are you planning to do??

 

[shrijit303]

I have started a new Thread.
My 1994 Maruti Omni rejuv in nostalgic era.
Please post your comments.Anand,please help me in my DIYs.
Thanks
Shrijit

 

[ss80]

Another good 360kms long weekend

Hello Anand, Apologies for bumping into this thread very late, Congrats on your new acquisition and this Nano seems to be very close to you than any other cars as you have explained it very well.

So after 25.k kms of usage, how did you find the performance when compared with the 800? i.e., when we buy budget cars, this is not really a thing to consider, but just that we do think about this.

What are the next set of mods are you planning to do??

Compared to my 800, I find this car to be powerful and actually better on highway. My 800 had very good initial pick up, but top end was always very moody and of course too noisy, what makes nano easier and fun to drive is that although engine is small, it is butter smooth on high rpms and the 4th gear being taller than expected ensures you can cruise all day long @ 80kmph. In fact many a times, I find it difficult to keep the car @ 80, as it easily hits and stays at 90+.

The line highlighted is absolutely true, even I never expected any great feeling from this car even on the day I had bought. Just like most of the layman, I just felt it is spacious and more like a wheel chair with a motor & ac. I realised how wrong I was, right from the first highway drive. The car lacks refinement and silence of a traditional 3 or 4cylinder engine when you do the following
1. Half clutch with ac @ crawling speeds, you easily get to feel the difference
2. slow and old age style driving/gear shifts - If car is fully loaded you have to shift in the following manner - 2nd @ 20kmph or more, 3rd @ 40kmph, 4th @ 60kmph.
3. No matter full load or not, it is highly difficult to drive in 4th gear @ 40/50kmph, there is a lot of resonance/cabin noise at these speeds (engine rpm too is less at this range)
4.Unlike M800 in which you can drive in 3rd gear from 20kmph till even 90kmph (trust me I have done that), this isnt the case of nano.
5. You cant cross humps/huge potholes in second gear (especially in case of 2+ occupants), it can be done only in 1st gear.
6. If you need quick accelaration this is the best gear shift method
-1st 0 - 30kmph
-2nd 30- 60kmph
-3rd 60 - 80kmph
-4th 80 - 105kmph

7. The fuel cut off happens in all gears at, here is more about that
- 1st gear@35kmph
- 2nd gear - 65kmph
- 3rd gear - 85 (approx not sure)
- 4th gear 105kmph

What impressed me is the space + AC + ability to maintain 80 - 90kmph speeds non stop over hours. I think this is luxury and power compared to what I had before. Not to forget great mileage, for every 850/- fuel I can easily get 250 - 275kms (full tank to full tank method) on highways and in cities about 210kms.

I have started a new Thread.
My 1994 Maruti Omni rejuv in nostalgic era.
Please post your comments.Anand,please help me in my DIYs.
Thanks
Shrijit

Sure Shrijit I will definately check your thread.

Hi Anand,

After a long time, nice informative thread (as usual coming from the guru's). Glued

Take care
regards
vinod

Thanks a lot Vinod.

This weekend been on NH4 and also to Krishnagiri, about 360+kms in 24hrs. A few pics of my car next to Varun's.












Mods in mind:
1. Disc/Larger drums for front
2. Suspension change required probably
3. To check if it is possible to upgrade the front wish bones withe the genx model, so that the anti roll bar can be fitted.
4. Extra insulation for rear cabin/boot area.

Got seat covers yesterday, the slip on ones, will post pics by tomorrow. First time I opened up the interiors to some extent.

 

[shrijit303]

Both the cars look amazing in this extreme weather . I think that Nano fulfills all your requirements.

 

[Vishwas]

Nice pics there Anand,

What exactly happens when fuel cuts-off at the mentioned speed, does the car stall or completely switches off? Sorry for the newbie question, but If it does so, it feels kind of dangerous when the peak power is needed.

 

[incarnation]

@SS80 This is what i keep telling people don't judge a book by its cover. when we had made the decision to buy another TATA in the family everybody had opposed a TATA first then the NANO.

Following were the points of arguement
1. It sound like a Greaves Garuda ( Diesel Auto)
2. Looks Cheap.
3. People dont respect a person in NANO

we decided to go against it as my DAD and me liked it when we test drove it. The backseat is so comfortable that it can even put a mid sized sedan to shame in terms of rear leg room.

Yes the AC's in NANO's are awesome and chilly. however when going uphill with the AC on you can hear the engine noise in the cabin but thats all right.
be it be shopping for groceries or vegetables in the crowded market or be it be cruising on highways NANO does it with ease. parking it is a breeze in the parking areas. however i agree at low speeds the steering feels a bit tight to those who are accustomed to driving a powersteering vehicle.

we were so happy that we booked another one within a year so now we have two NANO's i haven't written any ownership as i don't use it much. its my dad's Favorite car and believe me when i say this he is driven all sorts of car's in his lifetime and an auto Enthusiast himself he likes it more than anyother car. he is even taken it on a 1300 kms ( recent trip Mangalore to hampi to mantralaya to Hyderabad and back) drive with mom and have been all praise for the car when he returned.

so those who say NANO's aren't good enough or for that matter TATA's aren't good enough TRY IT.

 

[rselva]

@SS80
Following were the points of arguement
1. It sound like a Greaves Garuda ( Diesel Auto)
2. Looks Cheap.
3. People dont respect a person in NANO

Unfortunately, its all True. One lady drives a Nano in my route daily and she is abused by all kinds of vehicles, even 'share autos' keep crossing her path and mob her out of way when crossing signal points. The mobike guys always race ahead or keep tailgating the Nano, apparently feeling affronted that Nano overtook them. There is no respect for Nano.

 

[incarnation]

@rselva i have a Nano and nobody dares bully me. as its a lady those guys bully her. its not the car its the mentality of us. we are not matured enough to see women driver or women riders cross us. so its not them its us GUYS who are not matured enough to show respect. There are a lot of women riders now, just sit back and think how many of us would feel our egos hurt when a lady rider/Driver crosses us. India has to mature to that stage and for that we the people have to learn appreciating and keep our ego's aside.

 

[ss80]

Seat Cover

rselva & incarnation: Everything is good about nano, nothing like a deal breaker as such. People have to test drive it to know it, not just by looks. I too witness a lot of bullying by men when they see a women driving car.

Few pics of seat cover DIY. Bought it from J.C.ROad, R.K.Seat covers for 3100/- and fixed it myself. If I had given it to any shop, they end up stitching through the foam to get the tight finish. Nano seats are already pretty thin (foam thickness is bad) so dint want to risk tearing foam on long run. Hence did it myself. Now even if kids walk or kneel on seat, the stitches wont tear apart.