Yesterday I have test driven Nano Lx with my wife and little son. I have regularly read the review from different sites including here too. I have found it is very peppy, very decent pickup, maneuvering is very light, break is superb with power booster.
Space is also decent. its look is much better than maruti 800 (which I had owned and driven for long time).
Sales person told me that mileage in city is about 17kmpl(with ac) and in highway 21kmpl (with ac). Without ac it will be +2kmpl. So that it is almost same as Maruti 800 or Alto.
But the main cons is back seat heated [though recently I have found in BS4 radiator in the front not in rear. And also heat is very less in back seat] when engine is hot. it is making people to take decision not to go for nano even they like nano as I do.
The owners manual clearly says that "during normal operation the battery produces explosive and flammable gases". But the battery is kept inside the cabin under driver’s seat !!! In nano ac versions, with all glasses closed, won’t it kill the passengers ? If not instantly, a slow killing process?
Main problem with metro cities (BS 4), that we can not buy new Maruti 800. and this thing taking by tata’s. even dealers are very much well known about the problems about nano so they are trying to push sells by selling only cx and lx with ac besides disappearing of Maruti 800 from city. Maruti true value after all sell used car. so I am not going to compare with new one.
I have not found any dealers in Hyderabd and Secunderabad, who have standard version with them. But they given me assurance that they can give it for me if I want.
Gear ratio are very long. So that u have to drive the car almost all the time in city in 2nd gear. As Nano need at least 40km to put in 3rd gear and above 60kmph for 4th gear as per company direction sticker in the wind screen.
Tata engineering is very clever in this way, that when you will drive it with 2nd or 3rd gear all the time then definitely u will get more power from the car by burn more fuel.
Also its plastic parts are inferior. Even in the front and back bumper too made with very cheap plastic. any body can harm it any time.
Price is now almost same as Maruti 800 mpfi. Nano lx version is about 2.2 lakh here, more with accessories.
So u can imagine that tata now want push the price. As maruti 800 stop selling all these cities.
Though a 2 cylinder Alto is coming next year july or august. I have got information from lot of news site and blogs.
But I believe Nano can have star car, if it rectify these problems and upgrade the quality with prices already in high.
I have not found any annoying sound from engine even after stop the ac. that is good. and some times it make a noise like sports bike or sports car and it really like many people with this small car.
I have also sent suggestion feedback to tata nano site. If they want, they can think on it to remove the heating from back seat. Anyway Nano can be a good restart again.
I have seen many advertisement of used Nano selling even within 800km driven. I have called a few and asked why they wanted to sell but I believe most of them are not telling true, why they are selling their new car.
I wish all the best.