Diesel war : Chevy Magnum vs Skoda Octavia. Whats your pick?

GTO · 7th July 2007, 16:34

Finally, the Octavia has some genuine competition. The previous diesel alternatives were either from a segment lower (Verna, Fiesta) or from a segment higher (sister Laura).

Whats your pick between the two 10-lac diesel options?

Advantage Chevy Magnum:

- Cheaper by about 1.5 lacs

- Far more power and torque. A whopping 3 seconds faster in 0 - 100!

- Greater interior room and space

- Comfortable backseat (A real backseat!)

- Extended warranty available (for upto 4 years). May turn out much cheaper to run.

Advantage Skoda Octavia:

- Solid build quality and a "built to last" forever feel

- More fuel efficient (as much as 15-20% more)

- Better handler. And superior overall chassis balance.

- Huge boot

mclaren1885 · 7th July 2007, 16:38

If it only had the old Optra front. Like Rudy's. This one is not to my liking.

manikjeet · 7th July 2007, 16:45

i would like to choose the optra as its a newer car and not like skoda octavia a much older model

rishibravo · 7th July 2007, 16:50

I would have to say Magnum. On contrary to mclaren1885's choice I prefer the new front of the magnum than the old optra

nevertouchme · 7th July 2007, 16:52

I did like the old Optra. This is not my type

. Can we even call this American? Korean stuff right?

My vote would be for Skoda.

Cheers,
Jai...

nbr · 7th July 2007, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by manikjeet

i would like to choose the optra as its a newer car and not like skoda octavia a much older model

Octavia has started showing its age, the new shape of Optra is not that bad. i guess its just matter of time for us to get used to it.

abhibh · 7th July 2007, 16:59

Optra for me:
- Build quality almost as same as skoda. I dont feel much difference
- Faster and Common rail engine
- Great suspension
- Great interiors
- Comes at a bit lesser price
- Cheaper to maintain than Skoda

But the things that go in favor of skoda are:
- Its FE though both will have same FE in city and i am gonna post a thread soon related to "Skoda Rider 1.TDi FE woes" as soon as BSNL broadband works.
- Boot is huge as GTO says
- Climatic control etc and lot of information display on board
- Better handler / gear box than Optra.

Absar · 7th July 2007, 17:02

How about choosing the Skoda? I'd choose the Skoda family over the Chevrolet Magnum. I liked the older front of the Optra!

A

NIP · 7th July 2007, 17:07

base skoda rider is around 2 lakhs more than the base magnum...about time someone showed skoda what ripoff's they are !! and look at the magnum package !! magnum anyday for me...

GTO · 7th July 2007, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

If it only had the old Optra front. Like Rudy's. This one is not to my liking.

Its still available on the petrol? Yup, I like the regular Optra front end too. This one, somehow, doesnt match the rest of the car.

I added the price point in favour of the Magnum. Will be interesting to see how the market responds.

wizardofid · 7th July 2007, 18:32

I dont like this front at all, but I'd still go for the Magnum, if I had to, which I don't. More space inside and relatively much cheaper (possibly cheaper to maintain as well if the current Optra is anything to go by). Maybe in black? So that that strange front does not stick out too much

markiv · 7th July 2007, 18:55

Have voted for Magnum for the sheer performance (from the specs mentioned). However, I didnt like the new nose/grille.
Somehow all the GM cars have a very bland front. No character. I thought the initial optra had the best grille.
Even newer models like SRV, UVA are not good looking from front.

rahul_intlad · 7th July 2007, 19:00

Skoda certainly have responded ,nowadays you get ads which read do you think owning a skoda is expensive...and then finally they too show their three year warranty scheme.
Competition is always beneficial to the end user and nice that we have the octavia and the optra now but would be even better if only we get a few more in the battlefield.

totaloverdoze · 7th July 2007, 19:02

Skoda Octavia looks better but Chevy Magnum is a driver's car...

Rtech · 7th July 2007, 20:13

On paper it looks like the Magnum is the clear winner. More space inside and more power under the hood. But, I am still waiting to test it before I caste my vote. However, right now, it's 95% Magnum for me. The other 5% will happen after my test drive.

Also, seems like I'm in the minority here, I actually prefer the facelift to the old chrome grill. But yes, the front does not gel with the rear.

View Poll Results: Your choice?
Chevy Magnum	216	73.72%
Skoda Octavia	77	26.28%
Voters: 293. You may not vote on this poll

7th July 2007, 16:34	#1
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,879 Thanked: 323,174 Times View My Garage	Diesel war : Chevy Magnum vs Skoda Octavia. Whats your pick? Finally, the Octavia has some genuine competition. The previous diesel alternatives were either from a segment lower (Verna, Fiesta) or from a segment higher (sister Laura). Whats your pick between the two 10-lac diesel options? Advantage Chevy Magnum: - Cheaper by about 1.5 lacs - Far more power and torque. A whopping 3 seconds faster in 0 - 100! - Greater interior room and space - Comfortable backseat (A real backseat!) - Extended warranty available (for upto 4 years). May turn out much cheaper to run. Advantage Skoda Octavia: - Solid build quality and a "built to last" forever feel - More fuel efficient (as much as 15-20% more) - Better handler. And superior overall chassis balance. - Huge boot Last edited by GTO : 7th July 2007 at 17:29.
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 16:38	#2
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,818 Thanked: 46 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	If it only had the old Optra front. Like Rudy's. This one is not to my liking.
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 16:45	#3
manikjeet Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chandigarh Posts: 1,617 Thanked: 296 Times View My Garage	i would like to choose the optra as its a newer car and not like skoda octavia a much older model
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 16:50	#4
rishibravo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 579 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	I would have to say Magnum. On contrary to mclaren1885's choice I prefer the new front of the magnum than the old optra
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 16:52	#5
nevertouchme BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 302 Thanked: 62 Times	Ameeerika vs Eurooopa haa? I did like the old Optra. This is not my type . Can we even call this American? Korean stuff right? My vote would be for Skoda. Cheers, Jai...
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 16:59	#7
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	Optra for me: - Build quality almost as same as skoda. I dont feel much difference - Faster and Common rail engine - Great suspension - Great interiors - Comes at a bit lesser price - Cheaper to maintain than Skoda But the things that go in favor of skoda are: - Its FE though both will have same FE in city and i am gonna post a thread soon related to "Skoda Rider 1.TDi FE woes" as soon as BSNL broadband works. - Boot is huge as GTO says - Climatic control etc and lot of information display on board - Better handler / gear box than Optra.
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 17:02	#8
Absar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Madras Posts: 560 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	How about choosing the Skoda? I'd choose the Skoda family over the Chevrolet Magnum. I liked the older front of the Optra! A
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 17:07	#9
NIP Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,179 Thanked: 152 Times View My Garage	base skoda rider is around 2 lakhs more than the base magnum...about time someone showed skoda what ripoff's they are !! and look at the magnum package !! magnum anyday for me...
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 18:32	#11
wizardofid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 207 Thanked: 6 Times	I dont like this front at all, but I'd still go for the Magnum, if I had to, which I don't. More space inside and relatively much cheaper (possibly cheaper to maintain as well if the current Optra is anything to go by). Maybe in black? So that that strange front does not stick out too much
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 18:55	#12
markiv BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 183 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	Have voted for Magnum for the sheer performance (from the specs mentioned). However, I didnt like the new nose/grille. Somehow all the GM cars have a very bland front. No character. I thought the initial optra had the best grille. Even newer models like SRV, UVA are not good looking from front.
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 19:00	#13
rahul_intlad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,577 Thanked: 5 Times	Skoda certainly have responded ,nowadays you get ads which read do you think owning a skoda is expensive...and then finally they too show their three year warranty scheme. Competition is always beneficial to the end user and nice that we have the octavia and the optra now but would be even better if only we get a few more in the battlefield.
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 19:02	#14
totaloverdoze BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 42 Thanked: 8 Times	Skoda Octavia looks better but Chevy Magnum is a driver's car...
	() Thanks

7th July 2007, 20:13	#15
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,765 Thanked: 371 Times View My Garage	On paper it looks like the Magnum is the clear winner. More space inside and more power under the hood. But, I am still waiting to test it before I caste my vote. However, right now, it's 95% Magnum for me. The other 5% will happen after my test drive. Also, seems like I'm in the minority here, I actually prefer the facelift to the old chrome grill. But yes, the front does not gel with the rear.
	() Thanks