Cielo, Astra, Escort & other yesteryear Cars - Where have they disappeared?

Buffetfan · 26th June 2006, 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

The "DCM" in DCM-Daewoo and DCM Toyota. Cant seem to recollect the full form of it. Anyone knows?

DCM===Delhi Cloth Mills

Mpower · 26th June 2006, 03:21

I thought DCM was ===> Delhi Cotton Mills.

garvit2002 · 26th June 2006, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

Yeah that must have been the Turbo Diesel. It came with Turbo 1.7 badging on the back.

how is it performance wise . can it be good option for second hand purchase and it somehow looked better than the normal petrol version.

Ram · 26th June 2006, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

The Astra had a 1.6L (16NZR) 76 bhp engine whereas the Cielo had a 1.5L 80 bhp one. Opel and Daewoo never shared the same engine at that time.

The Cielo was not a rubbish car. It was a good VFM car. As cheap as an Esteem but more powerful and offered more features too. Plus it was India's first "fuel-injected car".

True. The Cielo introduced India to electronic multi-point fuel injection. Astras only had throttle-body fuel injection, not MPFI. The Nexia outdid the Cielo with a great twin-cam head with two intake and two exhaust valves. The setup boosted the BHP output by 15%, from 80 to 92.

The Hyundai Accent introduced around the same time as the Nexia, also tried to do multi-valve, albeit with a single camshaft. Of course, its 12-valve engine could not hold a candle to the Nexia's output.

As far as the Escort's 1.3 litre 58 bhp pushrod "Alpha", the less said, the better.

ajmat · 26th June 2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by ram

As far as the Escort's 1.3 litre 58 bhp pushrod "Alpha", the less said, the better.

Correction 58bhp Essex engine - this engine is basically older than me in design steadily improved will fuel injection etc...but not enough

the alpha had a 1.6 Zetec which was quite good but no one wanted what was seen as a slow coach car

soccer · 26th June 2006, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

I thought DCM was ===> Delhi Cotton Mills.

Its Delhi Cloth Mills and not Delhi cotton mills.

God bless.

Mpower · 26th June 2006, 20:33

Out the 3, the Cielo was the biggest seller and also the car best suited for India. Astra had to go through a lot of fixes before it was perfected and by that time it was outdated and overpriced.

The Escort had zero appeal from day1....I can get more excited about a bar of soap.

For the Cielo unfortunately, people lost faith and felt cheated after Daewoo chopped the price (which is common practice now) and then the company itself collapsed

Gordon · 17th August 2006, 10:16

The Peugeot 309 is another rare car. After the company shut down there are still some cars that are in pretty good state. This one still has its mud-flaps and badges.

sandeep108 · 17th August 2006, 10:45

What about the Standard 2000? One of India's first 'luxury' cars? Our family owned one - not too bad at all - it could do 110 kph, holding the road very well. Of course with it's 55 bhp carb engine and terrible gearbox (but it did have a 5th gear - real novelty), it was not very fun to drive, but compared with the 35 bhp fiats and ambis, it felt quite quick...! The handling, suspension and brakes were great and so were the interiors/instrument panel. And it was quite a huge car, almost accord size, I would think.

navin · 17th August 2006, 11:10

I still use a Opel Astra (bought sept 1996). Parts changed to far
a) battery
b) tyres

c) one raditaor hose yesterday
d) driver side seat cover
e) one driver side rear view mirror base
f) one rear passenger side window switch

total cost over 10 years: about Rs. 10K not including the battery and tyres (pasts c-d-e-f) incl all labour.

i get 6-7kmpl from it driving with traffic in mumbai.

adya33 · 17th August 2006, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

I still use a Opel Astra (bought sept 1996). Parts changed to far
a) battery
b) tyres

c) one raditaor hose yesterday
d) driver side seat cover
e) one driver side rear view mirror base
f) one rear passenger side window switch

total cost over 10 years: about Rs. 10K not including the battery and tyres (pasts c-d-e-f) incl all labour.

i get 6-7kmpl from it driving with traffic in mumbai.

How many km's have you done?
Not changed engine belt ? or anything ?

navin · 17th August 2006, 11:46

done about 45000km. Noting else has been changed. I use it about once a week for long runs to my factory. I find it's rear seat easier to sleep in that the Octy.

I have not even changed the fan belt. original spark plugs, original seats. orignal carpet. it was flooded once while crossing milan subway on 26.7 but i just dried it out and it still runs. in fact it managed to drive home on 26.7 despite being flooded.

BTW original paint too!

sumwal · 17th August 2006, 14:28

The Opel Astra is definitely a great car, wonder if GM will ever end up launching the latest version sold in Europe (Named Astra H, the one sold in India was Astra F) which means it is two generations ahead. The car is amazingly contoured and has a very contemporary design. If they resolve the spares pricing issue, am sure it will be a run away success.

yeis · 17th August 2006, 15:53

Astra is still alive and fetches good resale value if car is of 2002 or later. But Cielo and Escort are not only lost but have no value if you go to sell them off. Saw an ad on some autoportal for 97 Escort 1.8 for just 38k!

THE-U- · 18th August 2006, 09:25

A relative of mine had an escort a up until a couple of years ago in Madurai, but had to get rid of it due to high maintenance.

26th June 2006, 03:21	#47
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	I thought DCM was ===> Delhi Cotton Mills.
	() Thanks

26th June 2006, 20:33	#52
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Out the 3, the Cielo was the biggest seller and also the car best suited for India. Astra had to go through a lot of fixes before it was perfected and by that time it was outdated and overpriced. The Escort had zero appeal from day1....I can get more excited about a bar of soap. For the Cielo unfortunately, people lost faith and felt cheated after Daewoo chopped the price (which is common practice now) and then the company itself collapsed
	() Thanks

17th August 2006, 10:16	#53
Gordon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,546 Thanked: 483 Times View My Garage	The Peugeot 309 is another rare car. After the company shut down there are still some cars that are in pretty good state. This one still has its mud-flaps and badges. Last edited by Gordon : 17th August 2006 at 10:19.
	() Thanks

17th August 2006, 10:45	#54
sandeep108 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,050 Thanked: 302 Times	What about the Standard 2000? One of India's first 'luxury' cars? Our family owned one - not too bad at all - it could do 110 kph, holding the road very well. Of course with it's 55 bhp carb engine and terrible gearbox (but it did have a 5th gear - real novelty), it was not very fun to drive, but compared with the 35 bhp fiats and ambis, it felt quite quick...! The handling, suspension and brakes were great and so were the interiors/instrument panel. And it was quite a huge car, almost accord size, I would think.
	() Thanks

17th August 2006, 11:10	#55
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,199 Thanked: 9,306 Times	I still use a Opel Astra (bought sept 1996). Parts changed to far a) battery b) tyres c) one raditaor hose yesterday d) driver side seat cover e) one driver side rear view mirror base f) one rear passenger side window switch total cost over 10 years: about Rs. 10K not including the battery and tyres (pasts c-d-e-f) incl all labour. i get 6-7kmpl from it driving with traffic in mumbai.
	() Thanks

17th August 2006, 11:46	#57
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,199 Thanked: 9,306 Times	done about 45000km. Noting else has been changed. I use it about once a week for long runs to my factory. I find it's rear seat easier to sleep in that the Octy. I have not even changed the fan belt. original spark plugs, original seats. orignal carpet. it was flooded once while crossing milan subway on 26.7 but i just dried it out and it still runs. in fact it managed to drive home on 26.7 despite being flooded. BTW original paint too! Last edited by navin : 17th August 2006 at 11:50.
	() Thanks

17th August 2006, 14:28	#58
sumwal Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London/Mumbai Posts: 20 Thanked: 0 Times	The Opel Astra is definitely a great car, wonder if GM will ever end up launching the latest version sold in Europe (Named Astra H, the one sold in India was Astra F) which means it is two generations ahead. The car is amazingly contoured and has a very contemporary design. If they resolve the spares pricing issue, am sure it will be a run away success.
	() Thanks

17th August 2006, 15:53	#59
yeis BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 238 Thanked: 4 Times	Astra is still alive and fetches good resale value if car is of 2002 or later. But Cielo and Escort are not only lost but have no value if you go to sell them off. Saw an ad on some autoportal for 97 Escort 1.8 for just 38k!
	() Thanks

18th August 2006, 09:25	#60
THE-U- BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 274 Thanked: 168 Times	A relative of mine had an escort a up until a couple of years ago in Madurai, but had to get rid of it due to high maintenance.
	() Thanks