While it may well be the cheapest four wheels you can buy new, here are a few alternatives to the Tata Nano for those who want a choice.
Past sense
Think you can do better than getting a micro-miniaturised hatch for the same amount of money? Well you may not be too far from the truth.
The economic slowdown and rising interest rates have sent the second-hand market spiraling downward. All of a sudden, there are a host of options to choose from and don’t be surprised to find some incredibly sweet deals on cars you've always wanted to own.
Of course, used Alto prices will hit an all-time low and there's never a better time to pick up this car. Look out for the early 1.0 litre cars, which were absolutely delightful to drive.
These will be even cheaper than a lakh of rupees. Other cars to look out for from the Maruti stable will be the older Zen and Wagon R. Don’t discount a tempting deal on the Zen Estilo even, which--though not under a lakh--will certainly be somewhere in that ballpark.
For a few thousand over a lakh, you can even get your hands on a fully loaded Santro. Again, the litre-class equation weighs heavily since several people want the additional power. Power steering, power windows et al and it could still be available for a little over a lakh.
But here’s the really juicy bit: second-hand dealers claim to be able to source Hyundai Accents, Ford Ikons and--if you are really patient--even a late 2000 or early '01 Honda City for just around a lakh and half, perhaps even lower. Now for a car that large, spacious and with a very usable boot, the additional tens of thousands are fairly justified.
Bike now
Today, at a lakh of rupees you can buy some of the most fabulous motorcycles this country has seen in a long time. None of them have the utility a car can afford, but for sheer pleasure at that price nothing comes close. In today's market, buyers are spoiled for choice.
Everything from commuter entry-level 100cc bikes to the exorbitantly priced and immensely powerful Ducati 1098R is available here in India.
The prime contender, if you're willing to forego a couple of wheels, is the Yamaha YZF-R15. This bike isn’t available at a lakh of rupees; the actual quotation can run up to nearly a lakh and a half by the time it steps onto the road. Yet, it is a motorcycle that has swept several awards including the IMOTY and Indian Performance Bike Of The Year. It has revived the fortunes of a company that had lost all hope of seeing a return to their '80s glory days. What makes it truly incredible is the fact that it showcases technological advances that make it the superior motorcycle amongst its peers even though it may not be the largest or most powerful.
It is a motorcycle that has completely redefined the Indian 2-wheeler segment and product capabilities by pushing itself to the very brink. It’s a quick yet comfortable handling god, and the fact that it looks as good as it does makes it a very alluring buy.
But then, you can also buy a Hero Honda Karizma or even an Apache RTR-Fi--both of which are highly focused on their tasks.
Or you could buy a piece of nostalgia with the Royal Enfield Bullet, which despite being one of the oldest motorcycles of the same design in production, is still going as strong as ever. In fact, sales are on the up as newer technologies make their appearance in this motorcycle.
Future bright Bajaj Lite
At Auto Expo 2008, Bajaj showcased the Lite--a small four-seat concept, which it expects to price at $3000. That roughly translates to a 1.2 lakh rupee ex-showroom price--a bit hard to achieve in the current economic scenario. Nevertheless, Tata Motors has shown the way forward for cost-effective engineering and business practices.
It is only natural for others to follow. Bajaj, for one, is certainly going to try hard to keep costs from spiraling, especially since they already excel at manufacturing cost-effective motorcycles. Those lessons learned on two wheels will help add two more to their ambitions.
The Lite is a cute car and the prototype unveiled at the Expo showcased a vehicle that will be inexpensive but not downright cheap. The design may not inspire lyrical verse, but it will get the job done and for developing countries, that is generally more than enough. If it can deliver at the right price, there will be few complaints. The Lite will accommodate four and provide a host of creature comforts. It will have a choice of both petrol and diesel powertains, likely not larger in capacity than a litre, possibly lower.
Bajaj could look at the variomatic transmissions it builds for its scooters to transfer power in the Lite, especially since Rajiv Bajaj claimed that the tranny would be something special and not a conventional manual or automatic gearbox.
It will ride on small wheels and could share several mechanical components with other projects Bajaj is working on, namely a 4-wheeler LCV on the lines of the Tata Ace. Bajaj, being a predominantly two-wheeler manufacturer, will not make the Lite an alternative to the motorcycle or scooter. It would certainly not be healthy to take business away from itself.
Instead, it aims to project the Lite as a step above the Nano, though not entirely beyond the means of the common man.
The Lite is supposed to be ready by early to mid 2011, and hopefully it will not face its own Singur. But in the current economic gloom, anything is possible, especially since Renault has announced a slowdown of its India plans, part of which is their association with Bajaj.
In fact, if rumors are to be believed, then Bajaj has apparently gone back to the drawing board to start the project from scratch. And if that is the case, the Lite will certainly not be switched on in 2011.
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