I was intrigued by HJ's report on Rover's new Indian built supermini, so I trawled around looking for info. Unfortunately, the first thing I found was this beautifully written review, from a doctor in Secunderabad. Can't see people rushing to buy one of these instead of a Fabia, Yaris etc etc unless it is very cheap.
I purchased an Indica V2 in July 2001. I wish I didn?t. The car works. It runs on road. It gives pretty decent mileage per liter of diesel. That is about it. For the last year I have been struggling to get rid of the noise problem in my vehicle. All kinds of noises; Emanating from every where under the hood you can imagine- wheezing, asthmatic, screeching, rattling & squeaking. Each and every moving part sings its own tune ? air conditioning fan belt, idler bearing and so on.
Concorde Motors, the dealers of this automobile in the south offers fairly good post sales service. They come when ever called to tighten the loose belts and bearings. This is no ordinary service. A fortune worth bearing, belts have been replaced. My Indica AP10Q 5775, has been to the service center at least 10 times only for this problem. They have been coming to my place every other day to tighten (even as we speak Concorde engineers are doing so) or every body in my part of the country will know that I have started my car. They do not know how to put an end to this problem. May be I just have to sell off this vehicle. But then who will buy it?
I have tried getting in touch with TELCO head, but he is so inaccessible. The regional staff I think have tried their best but they have lot more noises to attend to.
I have spent a good portion of my savings on this real value for money car. Value for money it is indeed, for you get more noise per car than any other car.
Dr. Sudarsan Jagannathan
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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Google has lots on the Tata Indica such as...
www.cybersteering.com/cbmain/smlcars/ind2000.html
(but I like his assesment) ;-)
(Allegedly...)
John R
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Hmmm... If they can get the build quality sorted then it might work, but I'm as sceptical as others. It's especially worrying that the basic trim doesn't get such luxuries as a heated rear screen or a cigarette lighter...
I like the quote: 'An advanced 16-bit microprocessor that offers enhanced responsiveness and driveability.' If they think this is high-tec then you've got to worry...
Also, considering the Indian prices are between £5k and £6500, how much are they going to be able to improve things and still make them competetive in the UK?
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Don't diss the car until you've seen it............ :-)
or driven it..
MG-Rover Problems? forums.mg-rover.org/
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Its seems a a shame that this car is coming out of the same company that not so long ago was also behind the mini. Appreciate that was in BMW days but you would have thought something more would have come out of it than a rebadged TATA.
But perhaps that is the sting, it will be different. Anyone who can keep the 25 / 45 going as long as they gave might be able to do something to the TATA but like Lotus have done with the Proton. May not be the best analogy but get my drift!
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My heart bleeds for Dr. Jaganathan. Sounds like Friday despatches from Longbridge live in these far away places still!!!!.:-))
Phil I
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The Indica is not so bad as you would think it would be. The first versions had problems but TATA spent a lot on retrofitting new suspensions. The newer ones are selling like hot cakes over here. There some rough edges like the plastics and engines are a bit noisy. However, the pricing is unbeatable. (40% of the car price is pure tax). Rover hope to correct these inputs before putting the car on the road. The paintshop is the ex Nissan Melbourne one shipped over after Nissan closed down in Oz. Current Tata head is an ex GM SAAB person who has a bit of "Lutz" in him. There are Indica's with new spring settings that corner really hard.
There will be a lot of work doen by the time that car arrives.
BTW - look out for an Aston Martin prototype in the Detroit Motor show - it was produced in......India.
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It's not actually too bad a car but Rover are negotiating on a license to manufacture, the TATA concept also looks very nice to the eye. With Rover there is a desire to put in a K-series engine which would require reshaping the front a little. Also UK roads are a little flatter than Indian roads (only just) so suspension set ups will change. I think Rover are really after the chassis and body, the rest will Rover supplied components.
It's all part of the strategy to fill production of the old Daewoo/FSO plant in Poland which they have been in serious negotiation with the Polish government for about 8 months for a foray into Eastern Europe. Guess who's got recent EU membership and also lowish labour costs? The plant has had billions spent on it but is surplus to needs now GM are running Daewoo.
Rover are to produce Daewoo cars for two years under license and has expressed it would like to manufacture 25/45s and a smaller car as well, that's where the Indica comes in.
Also with the TCV/45 replacement, they are looking to really get the component costs down as they do not have the capacity to get economies of scale from these manufacturers.
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