Nano This, and Nano That---Our World in Miniature
Posted: Monday, March 23, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
As computer chips become too small for the naked eye and phones can be worn on your ring finger, why would anyone be surprised that the world of automobiles has finally come to its collective senses and began to think nano'? Apparently the United States has always thought, "bigger is better" and even as gas prices continued to rise to unimaginable highs across the country, we continued to roll out the gas-guzzling dinosaurs that should have been phased out many years ago.
Some groups think the stripped-down Nano will not be the boon to the automotive industry that Tata Motors expects it to be. It has no airbags, no air conditioning, radio, or power steering-sort of reminds me of my first brand new vehicle, a Volkswagen Beetle, for which I paid all of $1900. The nano' of the world of Volkswagen, a 1968 model, mine did however, have a radio-no airbags, no power steering, not even an automatic transmission, and no air conditioner. And although it sounded like a city bus, I loved that little car and always wondered why Volkswagen, after so many years of great performance, decided to fix something that wasn't broke and redesigned the reliable little beetle'.
I can understand the safety concerns of Tata's Nano; especially if it makes a debut in the United States coming up against one-ton vehicles at every turn in the road. The gasoline and low-price of Tata's Nano might not look so good squished like the road-kill on an Arkansas blacktop. Auto makers and environmentalists alike will be watching to see how consumers respond to this little car. They may go over big in Asia, but they will surely have to come up with safer, cleaner, but still remain affordable, counterparts to corner a market in the United States and Europe.
I have always felt our United States automakers have not done enough-for whatever reason-to build a more economical vehicle. I can't, however, fault them for striving for safer and cleaner emissions; they just haven't seemed to get a grip on how to achieve all that and make their product more affordable and less dependant on foreign oil at the same time.
All countries need to prepare for a shrinking economy and shrinking land space. In the name of progress we are turning our entire world into asphalt and concrete. Soon we will need to find a way to eliminate the need for air because there will be no trees to produce our one last luxury.
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More commentsYou are so right, Sandra. It wouldn't be long before the Nano had Hummer tracks!Thanks for reading and commenting, Ken.Have a great week.Sandra
The Nano seems great but the safety standards are.....well, there are none. They were talking about it on a radio talk show today and compared it to any North American car. They said that if you hit a brick wall with a North American car at 30 miles per hour, you could expect to walk away from the crash. If this happened in a Nano, they would probably be calling me (remember, I work in a funeral home).Now, my first new car was a 1972 Mazda Coupe. It was the first Mazda imported into North America. They were in Canada, but not yet in the States. It had no ABS, no airbags, no seat belts or any of the safety features of today's cars. I lived in Vancouver, B.C. and my soon-to-be wife lived in Oregon. I would cross the international border and hit the Interstate 5 at 80 miles per hour just to get to Portland to spend the weekend. Can you imagine if I had had an accident? I probably wouldn't have fared too well. And that is probably what the Nano would be like. (Oh, by the way, my brand new Mazda cost me $2000.00 Canadian.)And do you not remember the NSU Prinz? The first generation Prinz was available in a saloon body with an upright roof line and seating for four people. The noisy two cylinder engine was located at the back where it drove the rear wheels via a gearbox (later versions gained synchromesh). In 1958 a little coup was added,the Sport Prinz.Kind of sounds like the Nano is just going back to the old days, but can we, or should we go back to those days?Interesting, David. The Nano is supposedly coming out with a more advanced version for the U.S. and Europe that will take all the emissions and safety regulations into consideration. So it will probably cost a few more bucks than India's basic Nano.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
A very nice article. Nano is creating a stir in my country too.regards,SwapnaThanks for reading and commenting, Swapna.Sandra
Howdy Sandra, I will need to look up this Nano, I am not familiar with it. I can identify with the VW Beetle, it was great....a little top heavy, and you would have to use caution with the way or how sharp you would turn it...I have seen many Beetles upside down, spinning on their rounded tops, because a corner was taken to fast, but they were a great little car....I dont like the new ones by the way!!!! I will look up the Nano, if its little, It got to be ugly....lol.....but we'll see, I love the article, and as usual you always bring something new to the plate.....Great reading....Your pal, and fan, ........GaryCheck it out, Gary. It really doesn't look bad for such a tiny little car--I think it is supposed to seat four and squeeze five. HaSandra
First it is the laptop, then a palmtop, next... the thumb top?I see your point. Great article.Believe it or not, the smaller the chip the more powerful and cheaper, or so I am told.Smaller and cheaper is what we will all be looking for in everything we purchase as our paychecks become smaller and cheaper--right?Have a good one, Connor.Sandra
Very good Sandra! I hadn't heard this news so I learned something new today! Way to make this informative read interesting. But then you always do!Thanks, Teresa. You're a dear. Take care.Sandra
Sandra,My first thought when I heard about the Nano last week was how it would stand up in an accident. I won't hold my breath on that one!Thanks for sharing your thoughts and a very good article.NancyThanks for reading and commenting.Have a great day.Sandra
Our world is funny & our people are funny...Nano will have tough time on the road. Rate of accident will be further more...Thanks for reading and commenting--and I think you're right.Sandra
Good article yet I believe it is more about money. As you noted, look at the price of a car today verses then yes and no significant difference between the gas milage then and now depending on the size of the motor. No, I willa dmit safety has a lot to do with it but they could have toned down the speed with a governor. Simply, it all could be made more effectivly.I have always felt the big oil conglomerates have pulled the strings on most of these issues.Thanks, Robert, for reading and commenting.Sandra
I for one would stay away from such a small car. I want to feel I at least have some protection in the event of an accident. Thanks for the article.They might be alright in the city, where you can't drive that fast anyway, but you are right, there wouldn't be much protection when you did get involved in a crash--especially if there are bigger cars around you.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
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