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-   -   WTB: Used Chevy Optra 1.6 or 1.8 ?? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/sedans/100161-wtb-used-chevy-optra-1-6-1-8-a.html)

Hi all,

I'm looking for a used Chevrolet Optra with budget of Rs. 2-2.5Lacs and confused on deciding which engine to go with...1.6L or 1.8L? I've read about the experiences of other owners with this car on T-BHP but still i'm bewildered which way to go?

I'm concerned about differences in:

1. maintenance cost
2. spares costs
3. engine performance
4. real time fuel efficiency
5. spares availability

Currently I'm living in greater noida but may leave the car at home in bareilly. So availability of spares there is a matter of concern prior to go for this car. Also I'll be adding a CNG kit to this car (suggest the brand and kit type also :P). Other alternate in my mind is Maruti Baleno. I wont be changing/selling the car soon and will use for few years. Suggestions from experienced owners such as Rudra sir will be highly appriciated :)

Hi, is there any specific reason that you have zeroed at Optra?
If spares and maintenance are your concern, its better to avoid optra IMO.
From most of the threads here I understand 1.6 is easy to maintain than 1.8.

Hi Rahul
I've been using a Chevy Optra 1.6 since 2004 and have clocked 95k Kms. I would advise you to go for the 1.6 and not the 1.8. Simply because the 1.8 returns an average of about 5-6KMPL and the 1.6 has been giving me about 10-11Kmpl.

Since mine is the oldest model, I have never faced any problem with spares of any kind. Expect a maintenance cost about 10K an year if you're using for about 10-15k kms. Other than that its a wonderful car and handling is just outstanding.
I will be trading it in the next few days for the cruze, but I still feel the Optra is a better car in terms of space and handling.

Happy Shopping!

Between the two, pick the 1.6

1. Maintenance cost - should be the same
2. Spare costs - reasonable. But i would be worried about availability, 1.6 is better as it is still in production
3. engine performace - both are similar, 1.6 better in City while the 1.8 probably has a better top end
4. fuel efficiency - obviously the 1.6 but pick the one with VGIS (guess '06 and later models)
5. as above

Optra is a nice car, plush on the inside and rides well. Dont expect any performance or handling. Look for the top of the spec LT, you will like the goodies that come along (leather interior, ABS, AirBags, sun roof).

+1
I have travelled only 200~300 km in optra, Rear seat comfort is class ahead, IMO better than City.

IMO, go for the 1.6. It will give you better FE and also, I guess the 1.6 is still in production unlike the 1.8.

Regarding performance edge of the 1.8, only top is noticeably different than the 1.6, producing about ~10 Nm more torque.

Also, I have no experience, but going by the posts in the forum, the 1.6 is cheaper to maintain too.

Be sure to check the AC of the vehicle. Optra's have a major issue with the compressor. My car's compressor failed after about 80kms and its for around 50k at the showroom. I got an imported original GM one for 20k though from Kashmiri Gate. Don't expect the maintenance costs to be too high if you treat her nicely. I've been on the factory Clutches even after 95k kms and still dont feel the need to change them for the next 10-15k kms. But remember to get good tires. I've been using Potenza's 205 on it and the ride is unmatchable.

Cheers

Hi Rahul, I would recommend Optra 1.6, but few things you need check is

1. Engine is working fine without any red light errors.
O2 sensor is something which is prone to getting damaged.
2. Take it for a ride and check the top speeds and corresponding RPM's
3. If your ECU is working fine you should get a mileage between 11 - 14 on
highways and 9 - 11 for city with AC for Optra 1.6
4. Make sure the body is not rusted anywhere. Optras are prone to rusting.

I am happy with my 2004 Optra 1.6 which has covered 75K+.

Happy motoring

Thanx to all for the inputs :) My personal inclination is towards 1.8L engine because as i'll be putting CNG into it so the lag should be minimal and secondly the low & high rpm performance hav edge over the 1.6L. I'm just worried about the spares costs and availability. Even if the spares are available in Delhi then it wont be a problem. Also the fuel efficiency reports are confusing me, as many of the 1.8L owners on the forum have reported 8-10kmpl(C) & 14-15Kmpl(H) <seems lil-bit unrealistic to me>. An 1.8LS Optra Dec-2003 49K kms is available for 2.15L from an individual owner(car seems to be fine in pics), shall i look forward to it or make-up my mind and search for a 1.6L ?

IMO there should not be much lag with the introduction of CNG, considering the age of 1.8 & 1.6 (1.6 will be a newer engine than 1.8)

FE purely depends on the driving sense and the maintenance. A well maintained optra should give you anything between 8~14kmpl (no personal experience, justified from the other posts)

1.8 was discontinued by gm later in the product cycle and 1.6 was actually a more responsive engine you can also check out old reviews, autocarindia had given the 1.6 better review in terms of responsiveness, i say this cause i had decided and bought the 1.6 and still have it. Though a good car without any rattles and hardly shows it's age, the spares are expensive so do make sure your car is in a good condition before you put your money down

Hey Rahul,

I would strictly advise against the 1.8. A very close family member had a 1.8 and was sick of the car in terms of malfunctions. He was also getting a mileage of about 6-7 with 70% driving being on the Greater Noida Expressway. 1.6 is a much better car and i've driven a 1.6 with a CNG kit and didnt even feel like it was sluggish.
Totally agree with Ishaan.. No rattles and it doesnt show its age in any way.
You'll get a good 2005-6 Optra 1.6 for about 2.5-2.75L.. Choose that and you'll be a much happier man.

1) 1.6 has a much better FE compared to the 1.8 (3 kmpl difference)
2) 1.6 engine was revised around 2005 End when the Royal edition came out. Suggest you get it.
3) Revised 1.6 was smoother and had even better FE (post end 2005)
4) Royal model got you the sun+moon roof with leather seats. The leather used is good and lasts, suggest you get the one with leather seats, as a cleanup makes them as good as new.
5) The AT came I belive only on the 1.8 so if you need AT only then consider 1.8
6) All Optra Petrols are a steal in terms of price today.
7) The Older Optra Models (before the magnum refresh) had more expensive bumpers etc, so the newer ones are easier to maintain incase of accident. But the older ones can be yours for all low as 3L so you could in 3-4 years just use and scrape and yet loose the least.

Thanks for all the suggestions. But the problem is that my budget is only 2lacs and I'm unable to find any deal on Optra 1.6 near to this price at the moment, also there is a deal that I mentioned earlier on an optra 1.8 which is attracting me a lot. Regarding the spares availability I found threads mentioning about Batra auto spares and Metro spares in delhi which have spares easily available for most of the cars. So now I need few reviews/experiences of some Optra 1.8 owners who are using it currently to get to any conclusion. I don't want an experience with the car similar to that with Fiat Palio etc. --> :) I'm enough convinced to go for an Optra 1.6 but only unavailability of any good deal is the problem at the moment, so that's why I need advice of a few 1.8 Optra owners.

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Hey Rahul, 2 cents from me.

DO NOT buy the Optra with a limited budget. Unforeseen maintenance costs may crop up.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ls-2004-a.html