Tata Nano: World's cheapest car unvielled

http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/10tatacar.htm ^

[Sensei Ern]

Depends on the gearing. My bike is a cruiser so acceleration is not a priority.

My ‘94 Miata had an 1800cc engine and it was no speed monster. Even the Ford Festiva had a 1300cc engine.

[wildbill]

I’ve always been something of a car nut with an emphasis on sports models. I’ve had BMWs, Porsches, Mustangs, etc and loved my Lincoln LSC.

Because I’m retired now and on a limited budget, I’m currently driving what is probably my last sport model—a 1994 Pontiac Formula with the big engine, all the goodies and T-Tops. But it’s close to 100,000 miles and I worry about what to buy when this bruiser wears out.

I only drive about 5000 miles a year now, mostly going to the store and back. So I’d probably try something like this out. I think there is a market in the US among us old folk.

[bobob1]

47 miles per gallon

[ReignOfError]

If you are willing to pay $30,000, check out the Aptera Electric Car with a 120 mile range on a few hours charge.

That's just the thing. I'm not willing to spend $30K for vehicle with limited utility.

Any time you buy a vehicle, there's a weighing of needs. I don't drive a Miata, because I need the capacity to carry more people and stuff than that. I don't drive a van, pickup or SUV, because I don't need to carry that many people or that much stuff. So I staked out the middle ground.

If I had the money, I would love not to compromise. To have a vehicle for every need. But it costs too much, and I don't have the space. That's my point.

Give me an electric car for under $5K that's good for around town, and I will buy it. And I'll keep my gas-powered car (at 30 mpg highway, it's no hog) for distance trips. And my VW Vangaon Westphalia -- that is, the one I expect to be mine soon -- for hauling or camping.

[CondorFlight]

Not only do I think the Tata will be a success in India, but it can probably be exported profitably to many other nations (Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, various countries of central Africa, etc.)

An inexpensive basic car can be a major winner.

Ford, GM, Chrysler, etc. have missed the boat by not producing a competitor.

[ReignOfError]

I like some metal between me, and 18 wheelers.

I prefer to maintain some space between me and the 18 wheelers.

Big and heavy, small and nimble. The former helps you survive an accident. the latter helps you avoid one.

[CarrotAndStick]

One datum is missing: The price.

That Reva sells for 2.5 lakh rupees, thats Rs. 250,000, which is approx. 5500 USD, depending on the exchange rate.

http://www.eaaev.org/CurrentEvents/pdf/2001/CurrentEvents200103.pdf

[ReignOfError]

I’m a weather wuss. Born in Florida, raised in Georgia, I have a weak tolerance for cold. I’ve eyed scooters, but I’d rather have a closed cabin. I’ve driven cars with crappy heaters, but at least they kept the winter wind out.

[jjm2111]

Ohhhhh.......

[CarrotAndStick]

When a vehicle going at good speed hits a streetlight or something similar, I wonder how well a heavy car with all the accrued momentum would do, versus something lighter (though maybe not as light as the one in the article above) and with better impact-absorbing crumple zones.

The two vehicles are colliding the stationary object with about the same area of contact. The impressed forces will be greater, when a larger mass is decelerated suddenly.

Just a thought.

[Defiant]

Thanks to those of you who replied with the mpg . I guess it’s safer than a scooter, and economical.

[ReignOfError]

>>>“even with an extremely low curb weight, you’re probably looking at a top speed of 40 mph.”

I seriously doubt it. A car that small (in terms of frontal area), it probably wouldn’t take much more than about 15 HP to push it along at 60 mph. Maxed out, I’d say about 75-80 mph. Any kind of hill or headwind would seriously cut into that, though, and acceleration would be pretty dismal. I wouldn’t want to drive it on our highways, but in a country where things move more slowly in general, it’d probably be OK.

My learning and experience are based on driving in Atlanta. We're in the piedmont, and weve got a lot of hills. So my off-the-cuff guess will probably not apply to flatlanders.

I agree with you that I wouldn't want to take one of those on the Interstate, let alone the Autobahn. But for hauling my flabby butt to the grocery store, and then hauling me and my grocery sacks back, it might be the right tool for the job.

[LucyJo]

I’d feel like I was riding a gas tank with four wheels and a steering wheel.

[ReignOfError]

I agree whole-heartedly. The American manufacturers have ceded a market that they didn’t think was worth pursuing. They were so besotted with high margins that a high-volume low-margin model never entered their scope.

[Rick_Michael]

Thanks...I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable driving that...with SUV’s right next to me, though.

[ReignOfError]

I’d feel like I was riding a gas tank with four wheels and a steering wheel.

Guess what? You are.

[Nailbiter]

so true

[steve86]

Big and heavy, small and nimble. The former helps you survive an accident. the latter helps you avoid one.

Really well put. My Geo Metro is basically set up like an autocross car and it is VERY maneuverable. I've forgotten the exact weight now, might be 1,850. If I'm in a head-on, or other major accident, you can post the FReeper obit for me.

[stratboy]

Looks like a shoe.

[steve86]

I’ve got 999 cc and every one is put to use (in the Metro). And have bikes with half the displacement that are about 10 times as quick.