You can make quite a few changes to get more out of your Nano. Try them.

I now have two neighbours who own Tata Nano cars, one the older version and the other the newer ‘Twist’. Both appear to be satisfied with their choice; and so am I, when I get to drive their cars. They are great value for money. However, neither of them is young and upwardly mobile. Both of them are more than middle-aged couples who also have other vehicles but use the Nano as their daily-use car.

On that, the main issue that is still unresolved, according to both of them, is the matter of differently- sized front and rear tyres, and the other niggling reality of thickness of the front seat. Agreed, the car is built as a four-door four-seater, but the reality is that it is seldom used by either of them, or many other people, with more than two people inside.
As such, it is no doubt difficult to change the design of the panels, but it should not be difficult to provide an option of more comfortable front seats as an optional extra.

And, once that is done, remove the rear seat completely, or make it smaller and good for children only. Better still, re-configure the rear seat so that the space freed can be used for luggage. The new Nano Twist, especially, appeared to pelt like a dream even on the hills and slopes of Goa, where I drove it.

GM’s Problems

The woes of General Motors don’t seem to end in India, as can be seen by the latest recall on ignition switches worldwide. This is in addition to their Chevrolet Tavera, as sold in India, for which owners of older versions are entitled to substantial compensation as well as substitutions, too. If you own a Tavera, manufactured between 2005 and 2013, then, at the very least, you are entitled to major modifications and, in some case, a totally new engine or even more.

Please don’t wait for somebody from General Motors to contact you; write to them directly, if you own, or owned, a Tavera bought in those years. And, in the first case, request a response on what you are entitled to get. Even if you don’t have that Tavera, especially if you had to scrap it, and can show that you did so because of engine-related issues, you can get compensation.

It is likely that General Motors India will not reply, in which case, after a suitable gap of time, please make a direct complaint to the department of heavy industries via the public grievances website. Their web address is: http://pgportal.gov.in/Grievance.aspx

Toyota’s Pain, Your Gain

The lockout at the Toyota facility near Bengaluru brings to a grinding halt the ambitious plans that Toyota had to try and reach double figures in terms of market share. Its smaller sedan, the Etios, is doing increasingly well as a taxi, while the larger sedan (Corolla) and utility vehicle (Innova) are setting the standards. Toyota was constrained only by how much it could manufacture and deliver.

The upside for existing owners is that the street value of used Toyota vehicles appears to have gone up dramatically. Especially that of the Innova. In an election scenario, Innova is the vehicle of choice for lugging people and their personal effects around with reliability and safety. Prices have also gone up for other non-luxury used cars from the Toyota marquee.

If you have a used Toyota to sell, there is no better time than the present!

Veeresh Malik started and sold a couple of companies, is now back to his first love—writing. He is also involved in helping small and midsize family-run businesses re-invent themselves.