And the Nano goes to...

As the clock struck 10 yesterday, thousands of people lined up to book the People's Car.u00a0 Aditya Anand spoke to some of the hopefuls who want to buy the world's cheapest car

Love at first sight



Vikas Bidoo (37), operation theatre assistant
"My mother never allowed us to buy a motorcycle, as she considers it dangerous," said Vikas Bidoo, who will directly progress from owning a bicycle to a four-wheeler. Excited about being an early bird at the Prabhadevi outlets, Bidoo, who lives in a transit camp shanty just across the showroom, said, "I looked at the Nano for the first time yesterday and the feeling was great. I had just glanced through its pictures in newspapers before."

Bidoo, his brother and their wives opted for the top-end air-conditioned version of the car. "Once I have the car, Sunday outings will be more fun. We no longer have to change buses and trains to get to places," said Bidoo, who works as an operation theatre assistant.

Nano for mom

Sunil Walawalkar (59), retired private sector employee
For Dadar-based Sunil Walawalkar, the Nano won't be his first car, but that did not dampen his spirits as he booked the vehicle u00a0u00a0yesterday.

"I had an Ambassador during my stint with Garware Polyesters. I sold it off after retirement, as Mumbai's roads started getting clogged," he said.u00a0

Having bought the car for his mother, Walawalkar is convinced that small cars like the Nano have a bright future. "It's cheap, small and perfect for short journeys," said the 59-year-old.u00a0u00a0

Walawalkar, who was among the first to visit the showroom after the car was unveiled on April 1, made sure he had a complete feel of what he was planning to buy. "I found the car to be good in terms of comfort. For engine details, I turned to automobile magazines and newspaper reports since a test drive is not being allowed,"u00a0 he said.

Nano for Maruti!

Maruti Bhandare, a 45-year-old cobbler from a Mulund slum, has been dreaming about the Nano ever since it first hit headlines. And now he's keeping his fingers crossed that luck favours him and he gets his hands on his "dream car".u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

"Since the announcement, I have been saving Rs 150 a day," said Bhandare. He was among the first few in the city to book the fully loaded top-end version of the Nano. He made an upfront payment of Rs 1.4 lakh and courteously refused the State Bank of India officials, who were offering him a loan.

Having chosen Hanuman Jayanti as the day to book the car, Bhandare is now waiting eagerly for mid-June, when the first batch of the Nano owners will be announced. "For my family of four, the Nano is the best bet," said Bhandare, who walked from Dadar station to the Tata Motors outlet at Prabhadevi. "I cannot afford a cab ride and fulfilling my long-cherished dream is my priority," he said.

Bhandare is yet to attain a driving licence, but will wait for the lottery draw before applying for one. "I want the Nano to be the first vehicle I steer. I intend to learn driving in the Nano," he said.