The number of new car sales has decreased dramatically on the back of the credit crunch. In response to this car manufacturers have been looking for ways to make purchasing a brand new motor a more realistic proposition for a greater number of motorists once more.
One example of this is Tata’s very basic 0.6 litre Nano model, which is available from just £4,500. With the total cost of used vehicles also coming down and the quality of such vehicles having improved massively over the years; we take a look at whether it is actually worth buying a car from new at all.
Tata Nano
Tata introduced the Nano as a response to the global economical crisis, with the Indian manufacturer aiming to produce the world’s cheapest car. The model came with the appropriate slogan of “the people’s car”, with Tata equating it to Ford’s Model-T for the impact they believe it will have in changing the motoring world thanks to its expected UK sale price of about £4,400. Its launch was reported enthusiastically by the Financial Times as representing India’s ambition to become well established in the modern world for its “home-grown engineering”.
The car isn’t just cheap to buy, with it also being cheap to run. The Nano is capable of a very impressive 50 miles per gallon (mpg); and thanks to its relative low-performance 0.6 litre engine, car insurance premiums should be pretty cheap as well.
However ‘you get what you pay for’ as the old saying goes, and that phrase is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you get into the Nano. The cabin is remarkably basic and the exterior of the car was described uncomplimentary by Auto Express as being “egg-shaped”. Short-falls in the vehicles over all build are also in evidence on motorways, with the engine noise indicating that going above 65 mph is a massive strain. The draft from passing lorries is also quite intimidating as you pedalling along in the Nano’s tiny cell.
Performance is also far from perfect. The car feels more powerful under acceleration than any 0.6 litre engine has any right to be thanks to the Nano’s incredibly light weight nature. However, in order to achieve this Tata have made a number of compromises such as the fact that the fuel tank only has a 15 litre capacity.
Nano used car equivalent
We therefore scoured the used car market to find a second hand vehicle that could be bought for the same amount as it would cost to purchase a brand new Tata Nano.
One of the best examples was a 2009 plate Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 litre Design which has completed just 13,000 miles. This type of mileage is nothing with a 1.4 litre engine, and the Design model is one of the most upmarket Corsa’s available. This comes with iPod connectivity, electric windows, electric mirrors, a CD player and half leather seats; all features which are not included on the Nano.
The 1.4 litre engine will result in a slightly higher annual insurance premium; but remarkably will not cost much more in fuel bills, with the Corsa capable of 49.6mpg.
Nissan Pixo
The Pixo represents Nissan’s assault on the growing market for cheap new cars. However, available from £6,935, it is £2,500 more expensive than its Indian rival.
Like the Nano, the relatively cheap price is justified by the fact that it is very basic inside and looks fairly standard on the outside as well. However, its interior is slightly sturdier than that of the Nano and it doesn’t look quite as out of place when the exterior appearance is compared to that of other vehicles. It is also actually capable of reaching 70 mph (eventually), thanks to it having a fairly standard one litre engine.
It is actually the one litre engine that excels, with it capable of a rather impressive 64.2 mpg. This means that it will save the average motorist over £300 per year in fuel costs alone compared to how much it would cost to run the Nano. Insurance costs will be also be low thanks to the Pixo being classed in insurance group one (the cheapest grouping possible).
Pixo used car equivalent
For the same amount of money you could purchase a 1.6 litre 2008 Toyota Auris with just 7,000 miles on the clock. Complete with alloy wheels, immobsilers, Air conditioning, electric windows and electric door mirrors; the Auris is a much more complete model than the Pixo, even before the Aesthetic and performance enhancements are considered.
The only drawback is that it will not be quite as cheap to run. Being classified into insurance group five and only being capable of about 42 mpg. On top of this, the road tax charges will be much higher in order to reflect the additional C02 emitted by the Auris compared to the Pixo.
Is it worth buying a new car?
The overall opinion appears to be no. Both of the used vehicles mentioned are fantastic examples of how you can find well maintained used vehicles which are often far superior to new models which are available for the same price.
While the Auris’s running costs are slightly higher than the other models examined, the Corsa’s overall running costs each year would likely be only marginally higher than those of the Nano or the Pixo. In return you would be getting a very handsome looking vehicle which would stand up well on all kinds of road, including motorways.
Whether you believe it is worth paying a little extra for this is a matter of opinion, but there are still some fantastic deals available on other used cars. It is always worth scowling the used car market before committing yourself to purchasing a brand new vehicle.