Comments on: Reva Nation

By: Salil Maniktahla

Salil Maniktahla — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:09:30 +0000

Seeker:

I agree, and I suppose it's wrong to expect that just because a manufacturer is concerned with the environment, they'd also be concerned with safety. The two aren't mutually exclusive! And while certain safety features would drive up the price (crumple zones in an electric), others (like seatbelts or daytime running lights) would make practically no difference to the cost of the car, and would save thousands and thousands of lives each year.

I wish the Indian consumer would demand these sorts of things like the American consumer does. I also wish there were more consumer watchdog groups in India--that would help.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:01:08 +0000

for someone who was almost KILLED on the way to his own wedding while driving to the bride's location in a trusty Toyota Qualis en route to Chandigarh because his overzealous driver decided that today was a great day to brown-bag a shitty single-malt whiskey while blasting "Kajra Re" until the speakers started farting ("arre, bhaisaab - ap fikar na kar!" my ASS) i just don't feel comfortable knowing that the only thing coming between the family jewels and an irate TATA-truck-driving grain farmer whose wife just caught him fondling the nuts of a goat is the tin-foil sheathing of a "Reva". besides, have you seen the newest Ambassadors out there? *drooool*

This is the funniest thing I've read in a while. Can't say I can argue with that. Though hard to imagine if most other indian cars would fare much better...

And the comment about the new ambassador was another funniest thing I've read in a while. You totally had me on that one til I saw the pic HAHAHA!!I nearly choked on my food.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:57:34 +0000

Salil (#15), you are right on most counts. My 'real' argument was(ought to have been) that I don't see much safety stuff in most cars on indian roads anyway, so I didn't think the lack of mostly comparably non-existant features would be a concern. One of the cars I've had access to in India is a maruti 800, old enough to not have seatbelts. As don't most of the cars on indian roads. Even the seat belt is a recent (5 yrs old or so) phenomenon for mainstream cars for the masses(for example those under 3.5lakhs or so).

As to killing accidents, I've seen/read about plenty that happen on highways, or with material transport vehicles, but not as much in regular conjested traffic. My experience seems to be different from yours in that respect.

I have seen cattle poke holes in cars with their horns, threatening all onboard though.

By: Navratan Kurma

Navratan Kurma — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:43:27 +0000

People will buy it if it's decently priced and has good load/luggage carrying abilities, i.e., if it can become the poor man's car. This is the secret of Atlas/Hercules type bicycles, Bajaj M80 moped and Ambassador car etc. I doubt if it will be hip in the Kinetic Honda sort of way.

OK, that was my prophecy based on nothing.

By: Impedimenta

Impedimenta — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:40:37 +0000

Have driven a Reva and its really cool. No gears, you see!:) Its a popular second car in Bangalore. And yes, its not hybrid .It needs to be electrically charged.It's ideal for city conditions as its compact (no parking hassles compared to ugly SUV's that have hit the Indian market) , it will not hog road space and the mileage is adequate.Have also been in the Reva as a passenger, and it takes a bit getting used to, but not so difficult either. Tall persons will have a problem with leg space , though.

By: AC

AC — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:06:07 +0000

for someone who was almost KILLED on the way to his own wedding while driving to the bride's location in a trusty Toyota Qualis en route to Chandigarh because his overzealous driver decided that today was a great day to brown-bag a shitty single-malt whiskey while blasting "Kajra Re" until the speakers started farting ("arre, bhaisaab - ap fikar na kar!" my ASS) i just don't feel comfortable knowing that the only thing coming between the family jewels and an irate TATA-truck-driving grain farmer whose wife just caught him fondling the nuts of a goat is the tin-foil sheathing of a "Reva".

besides, have you seen the newest Ambassadors out there? drooool

By: Sriram

Sriram — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:37:35 +0000

You must be Punjabi

Nope. 100% South Indian Tamilian stock.

Do you look like a Latin lover as well?

I’d like to think so but the ladies don’t seem to agree.

By: pra

pra — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:55:15 +0000

I’m 6’1 and am the shortest male of my generation on my moms side of the family (I’ve got 5 male cousins on that side, ranging from 6’2″ to 6’6″, and yes, we are all beanpoles).

You must be Punjabi Do you look like a Latin lover as well?

He also lives in the UK and is often mistaken for white

By: kavita

kavita — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:10:36 +0000

So the Revalution isn't yet on but a Bangalore based acquaintance of mine had one and indeed, it was very cute. Sort of like an even more compact and slightly tricked out rickshaw.

She did note that she had to feed the recharging plug from her flat down to her car, so it wasn't so great in terms of maintaining any sense of anonymity in the neighborhood. Not that there's much chance for anonymity in most Indian neighborhoods.

By: Jai

Jai — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:32:08 +0000

Technophobicgeek,

Saw quite a few in Bangalore when I was there in December. They’re awfully cute, I’d say.

“Cute” as in you wanted to pat them on the roof indulgently, or “cute” as in you wanted to boink them ?