Review: Optra 1.6 5000kms

Lukeskywalker · 26th July 2006, 10:51

Almost 5 months since i bought the blazing red optra 1.6 base version. gave it for the first free service (after the initial reassurance check at 1k), the sales manager of sundaram happens to live close to my place so he was kind enough to come and pick the car and promised to deliver it the same day by noon.

About the car:
1.6 optra base version with grey interiors (got a good discount on that)
Kms run :5300 kms
Fuel :
HP power from day one
Fuel economy :
roughly 10.5 to 11 kms to the litre within city with ac on always ; 13 kms on highways.
ride and handling:
i drive about 30 kms per day over good and bad village roads, ride is smooth and does not throw you around on rough roads, ground clearance is ok for normal roads but it scrapes the ground every time i visit my farm, not touched any road humps as of date even with four passengers.
initial pick up seems sluggish, but i'm used to it as i had a cielo before and it feels the same. have done about 3 long drives ad the car is a beauty on the highways, very stable at speeds over 100kmph, and steering does not feel too light at those speeds.
Maintenence : no money spent on any spares or repairs, but had a problem with the battery after a month of purchase, had parked the car for about 10 days without using it and when i tried to start it on the 11th day, battery was dead, checked if i had left any lights on or doors open but everything was ok, the battery had just died. Jump started with a spare battery and used the car for about 30 kms and again the next day battery was dead. Make of the battery is AC delco, apparently it is amaron oem for GM, went to the service station and was told that i would have to leave the car for a day to get the wiring checked, since i could not leave it that day, asked them for a spare battery and told them that if it was the wiring then even that battery would go dead, meanwhile they asked amaron people to come and check the original battery at my place and do the needful. very prompt response from amaron, they sent their technician who checked the output voltage and said everything seemed fine with the car, he took the battery for testing and it was delivered after two days, the problem according to them was that on delivery of the car the battery would not have been completely charged and it was running on part charge throughout, hence the discharge on parking for a long period. No problems hence.
The service:
usual oil and filter changes, had wanted them to fit a nautilus horn with a changeover switch, the optra does not have provision for any addition switches, was charged labour and for cost of wires and fuses. bill came to 794/- .
Accessories:
All stock fittings, additional blaupunkt mp3 player along with oem headunit, art leather seat covers, chrome door handles and scuff plates and of course the nautilus (man it is loud).
Overall feel :
Good solid comfy car, feels like a true upgrade after the cielo, transition between the two was very easy, seems like a higher end version of cielo at times, only getting used to the switch operations took a couple of days.

BUSA · 26th July 2006, 11:33

Nice review lukeskywalker. Which colour is your car? & What are scuff plates ??

Lukeskywalker · 26th July 2006, 11:38

It's blazing red, dont know how to post a pic here yet, am figuring it out, scuff plates are showy steel plates which are stuck on the door sill so they prevent scratches on the paint work when you are getting in and out of the car

Lukeskywalker · 26th July 2006, 17:12

Lukeskywalker · 26th July 2006, 17:16

why is not the pic showing up?

Boom Shiva · 26th July 2006, 17:30

Nice review, Skywalker. All the best with your car. Let us know how it goes with the other mods you're planning - lights etc.

BUSA · 26th July 2006, 18:53

I think you should use www.imageshack.us for image hosting.

amit · 26th July 2006, 21:42

Nice review. The Optra looks awesome in blazing red colour

. Try using imageshack and post some more pics of your car. The fuel economy is damn good.

Lukeskywalker · 26th July 2006, 22:18

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/34941.jpg

Lukeskywalker · 26th July 2006, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lukeskywalker

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/34942.jpg

Sorry mods if i did it wrong, but somehow managed to get a picture of my car for the first time,

teach me the right way, by the way i'm no software guy

BUSA · 26th July 2006, 23:33

Hey you can post through imageshack like this.

By the way red really looks good on the car.

kiranpashtakar · 3rd August 2006, 15:09

[SIZE=2]Nice review dude, Just one question how does the car perform on a rainy day, can the car wade through knee deep water looged roads as is the norm in our country.[/SIZE]

Lukeskywalker · 3rd August 2006, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiranpashtakar

[SIZE=2]Nice review dude, Just one question how does the car perform on a rainy day, can the car wade through knee deep water looged roads as is the norm in our country.[/SIZE]

Never taken her for a swim yet, so can't say much on that, but through puddles, goes with a muted roar, and no problems afterwards.

car_whizz · 5th September 2006, 12:27

I've an Optra LS which has done around 4000 kms. It gives a mileage of 9.0 with AC in Bangalore. So far, no expenses..touchwood. Ultra comfy ride. GM recommends adding Iftex system G (additive) to the fuel. Does anyone has any inputs regarding its usefulness ?

BUSA · 5th September 2006, 15:16

It cleans the injectors, etc to give you a smooth ride.

26th July 2006, 10:51	#1
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	Review: Optra 1.6 5000kms Almost 5 months since i bought the blazing red optra 1.6 base version. gave it for the first free service (after the initial reassurance check at 1k), the sales manager of sundaram happens to live close to my place so he was kind enough to come and pick the car and promised to deliver it the same day by noon. About the car: 1.6 optra base version with grey interiors (got a good discount on that) Kms run :5300 kms Fuel : HP power from day one Fuel economy : roughly 10.5 to 11 kms to the litre within city with ac on always ; 13 kms on highways. ride and handling: i drive about 30 kms per day over good and bad village roads, ride is smooth and does not throw you around on rough roads, ground clearance is ok for normal roads but it scrapes the ground every time i visit my farm, not touched any road humps as of date even with four passengers. initial pick up seems sluggish, but i'm used to it as i had a cielo before and it feels the same. have done about 3 long drives ad the car is a beauty on the highways, very stable at speeds over 100kmph, and steering does not feel too light at those speeds. Maintenence : no money spent on any spares or repairs, but had a problem with the battery after a month of purchase, had parked the car for about 10 days without using it and when i tried to start it on the 11th day, battery was dead, checked if i had left any lights on or doors open but everything was ok, the battery had just died. Jump started with a spare battery and used the car for about 30 kms and again the next day battery was dead. Make of the battery is AC delco, apparently it is amaron oem for GM, went to the service station and was told that i would have to leave the car for a day to get the wiring checked, since i could not leave it that day, asked them for a spare battery and told them that if it was the wiring then even that battery would go dead, meanwhile they asked amaron people to come and check the original battery at my place and do the needful. very prompt response from amaron, they sent their technician who checked the output voltage and said everything seemed fine with the car, he took the battery for testing and it was delivered after two days, the problem according to them was that on delivery of the car the battery would not have been completely charged and it was running on part charge throughout, hence the discharge on parking for a long period. No problems hence. The service: usual oil and filter changes, had wanted them to fit a nautilus horn with a changeover switch, the optra does not have provision for any addition switches, was charged labour and for cost of wires and fuses. bill came to 794/- . Accessories: All stock fittings, additional blaupunkt mp3 player along with oem headunit, art leather seat covers, chrome door handles and scuff plates and of course the nautilus (man it is loud). Overall feel : Good solid comfy car, feels like a true upgrade after the cielo, transition between the two was very easy, seems like a higher end version of cielo at times, only getting used to the switch operations took a couple of days.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 11:33	#2
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	Nice review lukeskywalker. Which colour is your car? & What are scuff plates ??
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 11:38	#3
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	It's blazing red, dont know how to post a pic here yet, am figuring it out, scuff plates are showy steel plates which are stuck on the door sill so they prevent scratches on the paint work when you are getting in and out of the car
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 17:12	#4
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	my optra Last edited by Lukeskywalker : 26th July 2006 at 17:15. Reason: wrong link
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 17:16	#5
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	why is not the pic showing up?
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 17:30	#6
Boom Shiva BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,055 Thanked: 19 Times	Nice review, Skywalker. All the best with your car. Let us know how it goes with the other mods you're planning - lights etc.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 18:53	#7
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	I think you should use www.imageshack.us for image hosting.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 21:42	#8
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 450 Times	Nice review. The Optra looks awesome in blazing red colour . Try using imageshack and post some more pics of your car. The fuel economy is damn good.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 22:18	#9
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/34941.jpg
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 23:33	#11
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	Hey you can post through imageshack like this. By the way red really looks good on the car.
	() Thanks

3rd August 2006, 15:09	#12
kiranpashtakar BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore/Hyderabad Posts: 257 Thanked: 7 Times	[SIZE=2]Nice review dude, Just one question how does the car perform on a rainy day, can the car wade through knee deep water looged roads as is the norm in our country.[/SIZE]
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 12:27	#14
car_whizz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 35 Thanked: Once	I've an Optra LS which has done around 4000 kms. It gives a mileage of 9.0 with AC in Bangalore. So far, no expenses..touchwood. Ultra comfy ride. GM recommends adding Iftex system G (additive) to the fuel. Does anyone has any inputs regarding its usefulness ?
	() Thanks

5th September 2006, 15:16	#15
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	It cleans the injectors, etc to give you a smooth ride.
	() Thanks