Five years of living with a Korean product - Chevrolet Optra

muni · 14th April 2009, 08:50

Always thought the Optra was a great looking/performing car and one of the most underrated cars in India. I am happy that you own one and have taken care like a true father

. she has served you well too.

Whenever I look at the pics from you, I keep thinking " I will take pics like you one day".

Waiting for the interior pics Rudra.

esteem_lover · 15th April 2009, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

What's the current price going now for a 1.8? Around 3 lacs? That's 1/4th the price I paid.

Which is why you need to keep this beauty for a little while longer. Extract the maximum life out of her before parting with her.

Rudra Sen · 15th April 2009, 15:46

I'm not thinking of selling at all. Doesn't make sense I as I've mentioned before.

esteem_lover · 15th April 2009, 15:53

Just saw an ad in The Hindu classifieds for a 2004 1.6 LS, 42K Kms. Owner is asking for 2.25L.

Technocrat · 15th April 2009, 16:30

Damn !!! not sure how I missed this thread.

Brilliant pics Rudra(as expected) & a lovely review.

Wishing you many successful kms with the Optra

shineshine · 15th April 2009, 19:06

Oh my God....These are the best pics that I've ever seen in tbhp.

Rudra, start an online course on Photography and I am going to be your first student.
EXCELLENT!

Ice · 15th April 2009, 19:06

Rudra,
I salute you. The care you take in maintaining your cars is obvious, and I wish I had the half the patience (and 1 Ramalingam)

Enough said about the photos. The true hero of this thread is you and your love for the Optra.

On a different note, where did you pick up the Bosch wipers in Bangalore? I'm new here, and haven't had much luck with the auto accessory shops in my neighborhood.

beanstalk_230 · 15th April 2009, 19:24

Sir it was a pleasure watching those pictures. Awesome.

Though after looking at them I pity my own cars. The way you have maintained them is immaculate.

Rudra Sen · 16th April 2009, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice

On a different note, where did you pick up the Bosch wipers in Bangalore? I'm new here, and haven't had much luck with the auto accessory shops in my neighborhood.

CAR KEMP
No 17, Subbaiah Circle, Mission Road,
Bangalore 560 027.
Phone 22291358

They are Bosch dealer. Owner (Promod) told me that they don't stock AEROTWIN as they're way more expensive than the normal wipers. Call them and tell them for which car you need.

ajmat · 16th April 2009, 09:13

Believe me, the Aerotwin is worth the additional cost. Silent, and wipes the windscreen without any streaks

tinnieboy · 21st April 2009, 12:34

Stunning pictures Rudra and a great review buddy. We can just wish to have our machines as immaculately maintained as yours in this mad rush. I wonder how many hours would it take per week to keep my machine as shiny as that of yours

sharma_sanjeevi · 23rd April 2009, 11:03

Fantastic Pictures Rudra Sir, and the Car ohhh looks awsome, nobody can in their wildest dreams think that it is a 5 year old vehicle, salute you for your dedication in taking care of the beauty..!!

Take care of her, i am sure you will for another coming 5 years we shall hope to see a new thread Titiled "Ten years of living with a Korean product" as you have already indicated that you have no plans to sell it

Cheers..!!

redrage · 23rd April 2009, 11:28

Fantastic pictures and maintenance sir, nice write up. Kudos to your passion!

hrag · 6th May 2009, 15:46

I had the opportunity to take Rudra's lovely Optra for a short spin on Thursday night.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

She’s not a sprinter. She’s a cruiser. She’ll behave perfectly on so called high speed.

Absolutely. The car's got torque and from the word go. I was very easy with the clutch because I hadn't driven a petrol car in the last 1 month and my truck's clutch requires you to take it easy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

She won’t ask for sound deadening layers for ICE fitment. She’ll help you to conceal all those speakers without damaging her body. And yet she’ll give you a perfectly balanced sound for an old man like me.
Definitely not something to enjoy in a car but albums like Richard Wagner’s Parsifal (conducted by Herbert Von Karajan) creates magic. Especially, during in the night when the roads are clean.

I'm not an ICE enthusiast but the ICE sounded just right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Air conditioner at low setting and right amount of warmth from seasoned leather upholstery surely add to the experience here.

Magical would be an appropriate word.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

There is absolutely no rattle from any doors or body. Leather parts including steering wheel are absolutely fine. Electrical switches haven’t developed any play. No noise squeak from suspension.

Absolutely.

Thank you Rudra for that short drive. The car suits you to a T

.

Mpower · 6th May 2009, 17:37

I had the pleasure of driving this baby once as well. No boyracer, but Gentleman's Express...all the way.

14th April 2009, 08:50	#91
muni BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 607 Thanked: 214 Times View My Garage	black beauty.. Always thought the Optra was a great looking/performing car and one of the most underrated cars in India. I am happy that you own one and have taken care like a true father . she has served you well too. Whenever I look at the pics from you, I keep thinking " I will take pics like you one day". Waiting for the interior pics Rudra.
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 15:46	#93
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,590 Thanked: 6,532 Times View My Garage	I'm not thinking of selling at all. Doesn't make sense I as I've mentioned before.
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 15:53	#94
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Just saw an ad in The Hindu classifieds for a 2004 1.6 LS, 42K Kms. Owner is asking for 2.25L.
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 16:30	#95
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Damn !!! not sure how I missed this thread. Brilliant pics Rudra(as expected) & a lovely review. Wishing you many successful kms with the Optra
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 19:06	#96
shineshine BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arkansas,US Posts: 280 Thanked: 44 Times	Oh my God....These are the best pics that I've ever seen in tbhp. Rudra, start an online course on Photography and I am going to be your first student. EXCELLENT!
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 19:06	#97
Ice BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Blr/Chn Posts: 362 Thanked: 348 Times	Rudra, I salute you. The care you take in maintaining your cars is obvious, and I wish I had the half the patience (and 1 Ramalingam) Enough said about the photos. The true hero of this thread is you and your love for the Optra. On a different note, where did you pick up the Bosch wipers in Bangalore? I'm new here, and haven't had much luck with the auto accessory shops in my neighborhood.
	() Thanks

15th April 2009, 19:24	#98
beanstalk_230 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lucknow/New Delhi Posts: 263 Thanked: 45 Times	Sir it was a pleasure watching those pictures. Awesome. Though after looking at them I pity my own cars. The way you have maintained them is immaculate.
	() Thanks

16th April 2009, 09:13	#100
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,861 Thanked: 27,960 Times View My Garage	Believe me, the Aerotwin is worth the additional cost. Silent, and wipes the windscreen without any streaks
	() Thanks

21st April 2009, 12:34	#101
tinnieboy BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 80 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Stunning pictures Rudra and a great review buddy. We can just wish to have our machines as immaculately maintained as yours in this mad rush. I wonder how many hours would it take per week to keep my machine as shiny as that of yours
	() Thanks

23rd April 2009, 11:03	#102
sharma_sanjeevi BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 598 Thanked: 113 Times	Fantastic Pictures Rudra Sir, and the Car ohhh looks awsome, nobody can in their wildest dreams think that it is a 5 year old vehicle, salute you for your dedication in taking care of the beauty..!! Take care of her, i am sure you will for another coming 5 years we shall hope to see a new thread Titiled "Ten years of living with a Korean product" as you have already indicated that you have no plans to sell it Cheers..!! Last edited by sharma_sanjeevi : 23rd April 2009 at 11:05.
	() Thanks

23rd April 2009, 11:28	#103
redrage BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 553 Thanked: 106 Times	Fantastic pictures and maintenance sir, nice write up. Kudos to your passion!
	() Thanks

6th May 2009, 17:37	#105
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	I had the pleasure of driving this baby once as well. No boyracer, but Gentleman's Express...all the way.
	() Thanks