Team-BHP - Optra SRV now less than 6.5

Quote:

Originally Posted by opendro (Post 862889)

I would second it. It has got the looks. It is like a sharp arrow or missile. I see one (parked outside) often along the way to my kids school from Jayanagar to Banshankari IInd stage. It really looks attractive.

I stay in Bsk III Stg (P'nagar). I have seen two SRVs (deep blue which is gorgeous and a silver one). I have seen them parked in and around my area quite a number of times.

Sorry for going off topic there.

SRV in my opinion is the best looking hatch in India so far. I have not driven one, so, I do not want to comment on how it drives. To reiterate, it needs the Optra's diesel engine plonked into it. That will be a great car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1977 (Post 861424)

Now GM is doing what Ford India did with the Ikon. Keep high prices in the beginning 7 when the damn thing does not sell, just drop the prices. Buyers who have invested in it really feel cheated. They also tend to suffer in aftermarket prices BIG time.

Well, Maruti also did the same thing with the Baleno, with an introductory price of 9 lacs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by opendro (Post 862889)

I saw a deep blue SRV with 2 rear spoilers a week ago at Begumpet. It was looking so damn good that I nearly hit a bike in front of me while ogling at it.
It's a pity that the driveability is not good, from what I hear. Are the interiors not good? I am quite surprised! I've never peeped inside though.

In my opinion, the SRV at this new price would have attracted more people had they changed the front-end styling a little bit. Since I have seen quite a few Optra Magnum diesels on the road (which look very similar from the front), I wouldn't want to buy a "hot hatch" which looks like a luxury sedan almost till it's rear door.

Compare the new pricing of the SRV with the Aveo 1.6, and it seems that the SRV is a good deal. Similar engine and gearbox package (though not a sterling one at that) but much sportier looks and of course the factor that it's not a common sight does make it sound like a better deal.

OT: Somehow, a hot-hatch and diesel doesnt really gel in the indian context; because we have very few really modern diesel engines (this side of Rs.10 Lakhs), that are both light and very powerful. Using the Verna's engine in the Getz has taken a toll on it's dynamics (though it's stonking in a straight line). The swift DDiS is sprightly but not exactly a hot hatch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjothi (Post 889994)

1 Lac less for the SRV is a real good deal. This shows how serious GM is again. Not sure if that will help them like the SPARK helped with that 50K discount.
Lets hope their sales figure raise due to this. Good luck GM.

Not really IMO. Discounting like this is NOT IMO a good marketing tactic. Earlier loyal customers feel cheated AND their resale value drops hugely. It would be better to get the pricing right in the first place.

I don't know why but I have a feeling that once GM's new plant @ Talegaon is up and running (supposed to be around August '08), it will start introducing new variants, engine options or face lifts.

If it happens we may see aveo 1.3 MJD, facelifts for aveo and spark and finally the much awaited diesel rocket in SRV. A facelift along new design language of Chevy (captiva aveo and spark) could be the icing. At around 8L on road it will then have everything to take on fusion and fabia.

Quote:

Originally Posted by windsurfer (Post 890772)

SRV does not have ABS. I came to know about this when I was on test drive last week. For 8L, i think we should have ABS.

I don't know why hot hatches like SRV, Getz CRDI, Palio, etc. don't have ABS as option.

Its a really stylish car - extremely elegant design.
Nice to drive too.Good interiors and pretty spacious as well.
Truly a hot looking hatch!

A real poseur's dream, to park in one's driveway/ parking lot!

With this sharp price drop, Im sure they will see a reasonable spurt in the sales but at best, like several other members have commented on this thread, a "price off" is only a short term tactic. Such a tactic has its own downside in the perception of playing lightly with loyal consumer's emotions, general decrease in desirability, re-sale values. They certainly wont get any brownies from consumers who will raise a simple question like why the devil didnt they price it reasonably when they introduced it in the first place?

True to form GMIL seems to continue to believe in high priced car launches due to misplaced marketing euphoria, illogical sales projections and probably an incorrect understanding of our market. And in hindsight, after a period of "no sale" or "low sale" they are forced to resort to these sharp price drops!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Fabia, the Getz Prime, the Fusion Plus TDCi and other such vehicles sort of stole the thunder away from the poor SRV and this is one of GM's extremely late reactive tactics to adapt to the challenges!