Test drive : Optra Magnum tcdi diesel - Page 6 - Team-BHP

cooldude1988765 · 17th June 2007, 09:22

The middle model (ls) Does not come with leather interiors AFAIK

girishg · 17th June 2007, 10:31

Nope! The ls does not come with leather upholstery however it does come with discs all around and alloys.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 17th June 2007, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid6639

the turbo lag is there but when you accelerate you dont feel the jerk of the turbo kicking in like the verna. It's not switch like at 1800rpm 0 or 1, it's more linear and I like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aseem

Well I am just a lil sad that they didnt come with VGT which even the Indigo Dicor offers...

Well, Verna is what made VGT common, but if it feels linear compared to Verna, then there is no visible advantage.

.anshuman · 17th June 2007, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by aseem

Well I am just a lil sad that they didnt come with VGT which even the Indigo Dicor offers... that would have made a superb deal. In addition the 9 Lakh Ex showroom middle model comes with no Airbags and ABS but leather interiors and alloys. Wrong choice GM, its about time you value the life of Indians and follow the footsteps of MUL.

Magnum does the job nicely even it does not have a VGT,its powerful enough without VGT,for those interested in airbags ,abs and leather can go in for LT model priced at 9.99lakhs ex showroom delhi

Rodeo · 17th June 2007, 11:33

I was called for ECM check for my magnum yesterday. There were some problem with the car and thats why delivery was stopped for 2-3 days. Now that is sorted out. I met a technical manager from GM. He said they were working on to reduce the turbo lag and as soon as they find a solution, they will contact me first.

He was also mentioning that he was part of Aveo diesel mission. Currently 2 engines are meen tested. One was their own and other was Fiat 1.9. They are in feasibilty test and will not roll out before 2008.

Rodeo · 17th June 2007, 11:37

Also RTO approval has come and my car is now T/R registered.They put the T/R number plate before but only yesterday they gave me RTO papers as they did not get approval before.

Rodeo · 17th June 2007, 11:47

To talk about my one weeks experience with the car. First let me tell you I am not new to diesel cars and i have Lancer diesel and Palio diesel. I have also driven Skoda quite a bit.

The car is very very smooth once you get it moving. Refinement are at amazing levels. Its a delight to accelerate on a slop. Road inclines or A/C switched on does not matter to the motor at all but that is once we have the car moving.

Only problem is if you need to get the car moving on a slop. Having driven Palio that does not stop or jerks no matter what because of drive-by-wire technology. You really dont need to floor the accelrator to get the car moving on a slop in Palio but with Optra its different. To get into our apartment, i need to stop and then move into apartment which has a steep slop. If i dont floor the accelerator, then the car starts jerking. I need to floor the accelerator till the turbo kicks in.

Also another small issue is not so smooth gear shifts.

In overall, car is fantastic to drive. I am glad i waited for 2 extra weeks to get this car and did not go with Verna.

saketnagpal · 17th June 2007, 13:24

sold my ikon 50 days back and since then i am in frantic search of a good car.
firstly zeroed on elentra but then saw new elentra on net so cancelled this thought and after going thru honda city vtec, fiesta ,verna and sx4 setteled for verna although controls on curve were dodgy.

then i learnt about optra and after reading all the reviews have made up my mind to buy it but i am still unsure about its mileage can somebody help me out.

vid6639 · 17th June 2007, 13:51

The advantage of VGT maybe lesser turbolag but for some reason the Verna has loads of lag even with the VGT. Also remember the VGT would be more expensive. See the Verna's price 9L for a stripped down car. The Optra cost would have been equal to the Skoda's negating the price advantage.

Ricky_63 · 17th June 2007, 14:38

To get into our apartment, i need to stop and then move into apartment which has a steep slop. If i dont floor the accelerator, then the car starts jerking. I need to floor the accelerator till the turbo kicks in.

Also another small issue is not so smooth gear shifts.

Well that is where SKODA OCTAVIA 1.9 TDi scores hands down. I can take my car up from my basement parking up a steep ramp in 1st gear without even touching the accelerator pedal. Also the gear shift is TOP NOTCH.......Having said that.....the OPTRA MAGNUM I feel is still VFM...a little sacrifice but a huge price difference. Both have their pros & cons.

I have yet to drive the Magnum though.....can only make an informed comment after the TD.

aseem · 17th June 2007, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by .anshuman

Magnum does the job nicely even it does not have a VGT,its powerful enough without VGT,for those interested in airbags ,abs and leather can go in for LT model priced at 9.99lakhs ex showroom delhi

There is more to a car than just power numbers... how that power is delivered is whats most important. In a power hungry country like India, all we care is about power numbers. Things like driveability, turbo lag, in gear acceleration take back seat... If they had given VGT the car would have been much more driveable. For a 10 lakh rupee car, if manf dont even offer VGT, thats a shame.
For those who have driven this car, how is the clutch, is it light. Can a lady driver drive this... the one who couldnt drive Swift deisel as she found the clutch too hard.
Also their website shows that the middle model comes with leather interiors??? Is that a mistake?
Whats the difference between base model and middle model, just alloys and indicators on OVRM, what about cooled glove box?

-GS- · 17th June 2007, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by aseem

Also their website shows that the middle model comes with leather interiors??? Is that a mistake?

The website doesn't show that the middle variant (LS) comes with leather interiors. Leather upholstery, leather wrapped gear knob and 4 spoke leather wrapped steering wheel with silver accents is only available in the top of the line (LT) variant.

Cooled glove box is available in all three variants.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 17th June 2007, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by aseem

For those who have driven this car, how is the clutch, is it light. Can a lady driver drive this... the one who couldnt drive Swift deisel as she found the clutch too hard.

Have seen many ladies (mostly girls) driving around in the Swift DDiS

Rodeo · 17th June 2007, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by aseem

For those who have driven this car, how is the clutch, is it light. Can a lady driver drive this... the one who couldnt drive Swift deisel as she found the clutch too hard.

Clutch is very light. I dont this this should be an issue.

Middle variant does not have leather upholstery.

Zappo · 18th June 2007, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by aseem

they didnt come with VGT which even the Indigo Dicor offers...

Uh, a bit OT, but are you sure the Indigo Dicor comes with VGT? Ok, I am not aware of that. If its true then at 5.25lacs it is really too highly spec'd in terms of techno-goodies, I must say.

17th June 2007, 09:22	#76 (permalink)
cooldude1988765 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Buffalo,NY (Hyderabad) Posts: 438	The middle model (ls) Does not come with leather interiors AFAIK __________________ He who has the last laugh ... is the slowest to understand !!!

17th June 2007, 13:24	#83 (permalink)
saketnagpal Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: yamunanagar Posts: 16	sold my ikon 50 days back and since then i am in frantic search of a good car. firstly zeroed on elentra but then saw new elentra on net so cancelled this thought and after going thru honda city vtec, fiesta ,verna and sx4 setteled for verna although controls on curve were dodgy. then i learnt about optra and after reading all the reviews have made up my mind to buy it but i am still unsure about its mileage can somebody help me out. __________________ one who invented first wheel was an idiot ,one who designed remaining three was a genius.

17th June 2007, 13:51	#84 (permalink)
vid6639 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,336 View My Garage	The advantage of VGT maybe lesser turbolag but for some reason the Verna has loads of lag even with the VGT. Also remember the VGT would be more expensive. See the Verna's price 9L for a stripped down car. The Optra cost would have been equal to the Skoda's negating the price advantage. __________________ \ / ][ \|) `/ [_] "!" (\./) (o.o) ( X ) This is Bunny. Copy Bunny into your signature to help him achieve world domination.

17th June 2007, 14:38	#85 (permalink)
Ricky_63 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,046 View My Garage Infractions: 0/2 (8)	To get into our apartment, i need to stop and then move into apartment which has a steep slop. If i dont floor the accelerator, then the car starts jerking. I need to floor the accelerator till the turbo kicks in. *Also another small issue is not so smooth gear shifts.* Well that is where SKODA OCTAVIA 1.9 TDi scores hands down. I can take my car up from my basement parking up a steep ramp in 1st gear without even touching the accelerator pedal. Also the gear shift is TOP NOTCH.......Having said that.....the OPTRA MAGNUM I feel is still VFM...a little sacrifice but a huge price difference. Both have their pros & cons. I have yet to drive the Magnum though.....can only make an informed comment after the TD. __________________ *Everybody is entitled...... to an opinion !!*

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17th June 2007, 10:31	#77 (permalink)
girishg BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: new delhi Posts: 62	Nope! The ls does not come with leather upholstery however it does come with discs all around and alloys.

17th June 2007, 11:33	#80 (permalink)
Rodeo BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 242	I was called for ECM check for my magnum yesterday. There were some problem with the car and thats why delivery was stopped for 2-3 days. Now that is sorted out. I met a technical manager from GM. He said they were working on to reduce the turbo lag and as soon as they find a solution, they will contact me first. He was also mentioning that he was part of Aveo diesel mission. Currently 2 engines are meen tested. One was their own and other was Fiat 1.9. They are in feasibilty test and will not roll out before 2008.

17th June 2007, 11:37	#81 (permalink)
Rodeo BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 242	Also RTO approval has come and my car is now T/R registered.They put the T/R number plate before but only yesterday they gave me RTO papers as they did not get approval before.

17th June 2007, 11:47	#82 (permalink)
Rodeo BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 242	To talk about my one weeks experience with the car. First let me tell you I am not new to diesel cars and i have Lancer diesel and Palio diesel. I have also driven Skoda quite a bit. The car is very very smooth once you get it moving. Refinement are at amazing levels. Its a delight to accelerate on a slop. Road inclines or A/C switched on does not matter to the motor at all but that is once we have the car moving. Only problem is if you need to get the car moving on a slop. Having driven Palio that does not stop or jerks no matter what because of drive-by-wire technology. You really dont need to floor the accelrator to get the car moving on a slop in Palio but with Optra its different. To get into our apartment, i need to stop and then move into apartment which has a steep slop. If i dont floor the accelerator, then the car starts jerking. I need to floor the accelerator till the turbo kicks in. Also another small issue is not so smooth gear shifts. In overall, car is fantastic to drive. I am glad i waited for 2 extra weeks to get this car and did not go with Verna.