Saturday, December 12, 2009
Tata Nano is a tiny Indian car touted as the world cheapest car. At only $2000, Tata Nano is approximately 5' width x 5' height x 9' length, smaller than a Toyota Yaris, environmentally friendly, it goes 56 miles to a gallon, has one windshield wiper, is a manual transmission, top speed at 65mph, and the most important is Nano has no air conditioning, stereo or air bags.
What's the world's cheapest car?
by John Fuller
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:
Fuller, John. "What's the world's cheapest car?." 20 February 2008. HowStuffWorks.com.
Inside this Article
1. What's the world's cheapest car?
2. The Nano
3. Lots More Information
4. See all Other Manufacturers articles
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Small Car Image Gallery
Chairman of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata drives the new Tata Nano car.
Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images
Chairman of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata, drives the new Tata Nano car at the New Delhi Auto Show on Jan. 10, 2008. See more small car pictures.
Most people spend years paying off their car loans. Many new cars cost tens of thousands of dollars, and interest rates can make financing a car expensive. But what if you could purchase a brand new car for about the same as just six months' rent? And by the way -- have you ever thought about moving to India?
One of the most anticipated cars of 2008 also turns out to be the cheapest car in the world. At only $2,500 before taxes, auto manufacturer Tata Motors' Nano will come to the streets of India by fall 2008. Ratan Tata, the chairman of the company that brought the tiny car to life, refers to the Nano as the "People's Car," and he wants to give those who might not be able to afford a new car the chance to take advantage of mobility. The company is marketing the affordable car to India's lower middle class, who only make about $200 a month [source: Time].
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Tata looks to accomplish the same thing Nicholas Negroponte did with the $100 laptop. By offering one of today's ubiquitous pieces of technology at a low price, Tata hopes to give everyone a fair chance at making a living, regardless of a person's economic background. But just like the laptop, the Nano is already receiving a fair deal of criticism. India already makes 1.3 million cars per year, and Business Week expects that number to grow 12 percent annually [source: Business Week]. With roads already suffering from excessive traffic congestion and pollution in cities contributing to global warming, the idea of more cars throughout India makes some people skeptical.
How fast will the Nano go? What kinds of emission standards does the vehicle meet? What did Tatan Motors do to offer the car for such a low price? If it's so cheap, will it be safer than the G-Wiz? Read the next page to find out.
94 toyota small block dana 60 — Redding
* Location: Redding, California, United States
* Date Posted: Jan 29
* Price: $ 6,000
Toyota Aygo (2005 - To Date) summary car review
EYE-CATCHING AYGO
Just when we thought the Yaris was the definitive small Toyota, the Japanese company brought us the Aygo. Cheeky, smart and keenly priced, the Aygo was one third of a partnership that also produced the Citroën C1 and the Peugeot 107. Had Toyota risked their impeccable build quality record for a quick hit? It would seem not as Aygo owners seem very satisfied with their cars. Used examples are available if you search for them and they’re well worth tracking down. (full review)
To read further Toyota reviews, click here - View Toyota videos
With all the media hoopla about cheap new cars, getting big discounts on an 09-plate motor should be easy.
Well, it’s not. Dealers and car-makers don’t want to get into a price war (or look like they’re in trouble), and it takes real effort to find who’s discounting what and by how much.
You still have to sit down with a salesman and battle your way through, something most people find as much fun as a long weekend with food poisoning.
Some makers give discounts – Citroen are offering 15 per cent off by paying the VAT for you, while Peugeot are offering 17 per cent off some models.
But I’ve come across some makers offering as little as 5 per cent. One would only give me a measly £500 off a nine grand supermini.
In the most depressed car market since World War Two, we should be getting 20 to 30 per cent. If they want us to support the industry, the manufacturers must make it easier to buy their vehicles.
After hours on the net, I found a 58-plate Citroen C4 Grand Picasso via a new car broker with 29 per cent off, a Peugeot 308 Verve with 21 per cent off and a VW Polo BlueMotion 1.4 TDi (with 70 mpg and zero road tax) with 16 per cent off.
The best deal of all, advertised by a dealer on the net, was an 09-reg Vauxhall Corsa Life 1.0 for £5,995, to include up to £1,000 EcoFLEX scrapping allowance for your old clunker. That’s 37 per cent off its new list price, £9,570.
But it was a struggle, so don’t expect to be handed a discount on a plate. You’ll have to research and haggle like crazy. Whatever you do, don’t be told you can only have £500 off. Just walk out of that showroom door. Fortune only favours the brave.