[xPK]

Folks I have been dreaming to own a car since I can't remember. Finally it's time to own one. I would also like to mention, I just love driving (perhaps irrelevant as I'm a member of TBHP). For me vehicle is not just to travel from "A" to "B". I definitely won't be selling my car in next 10 years. I'm really looking for mile muncher, as I will be driving my baby out to cover India (at least top places in my list ).

I have shortlisted Linea MJD and Optra Magnum Diesel. When I compared these two cars, I found following things "impressive" and "not so impressive".

Linea-
Impressive:
1) Gorgeous looks
2) Gorgeous looks
3) Better fuel economy
4) 4 years / 1,50,000 km warranty
5) 4 years road side assistance
6) Low cost of ownership (long service intervals and cheaper spare parts cost)

Not so impressive:
1) Power
2) Engine noise insulation
3) Interior quality
4) Driver seat comfort

Maggy-
Impressive:
1) Awesome power
2) Awesome power
3) Engine noise insulation
4) Interiors (quite dated design but seemed to be of better quality than linea)
5) Driver set comfort (I could really use the armrest unlike Linea)
6) Rear seat comfort (huge legroom)

Not so impressive:
1) Dated Looks
2) Color options (Please don't bash me, but aesthetics are equally important for me)
3) 2 year / 50000 Km warranty (one can buy 3 years / 45000 km Chevrolet promise for 32k bucks, which is quite a large amount IMO)
4) Ownership cost (Well I'm actually in the dark about this)
5) Soon to be phased out vehicle (There isn't any official communication, but it would definitely be a problem is this adds anything to ownership cost)

These are key points for me. I haven't included some points like "turning radius" or "boot size", as I can live with those issues/non issues

So guys, this is the story so far and I'm really really confused.
Please help me out.

[shankar.balan]

sorry to answer a query with another query but do you think you can stretch and buy a chevy cruze?

It is more expensive I know but I think thats a fabulous car all in all.

[xPK]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

sorry to answer a query with another query but do you think you can stretch and buy a chevy cruze?

It is more expensive I know but I think thats a fabulous car all in all.

It's quite alright dude. I really wish I could stretch my budget. But Optra is max what I can go for (considering the huge discounts)

[deepakhon]

If I am considering only these two cars, I will put my money on Linea, for the simple reason that Magnum is quite old as a platform as compared to Linea, and to me, this one looks like a clearance sale from GM.

[shankar.balan]

Then - is power more important to you or good looks?

only a couple of other things to be really concerned about in my opinion.

1. which car is closer to the end of its product life-cycle?
2. ease, costs and reliability of after sales service and maintenance

truly this is like sitting in between the horns of a dilemma - even though I am not in the market just now, I am very hard pressed to make up my mind because I also like both vehicles very much and for EXACTLY the same reasons as you.

I'd better take a back seat now and watch how this thread develops!

Originally Posted by xPK

It's quite alright dude. I really wish I could stretch my budget. But Optra is max what I can go for (considering the huge discounts)

[WhiteKnight]

If you do not wish to expand your list and knowing you are a Tbhpian, I'd suggest Magnum.

Originally Posted by xPK

I really wish I could stretch my budget. But Optra is max what I can go for (considering the huge discounts)

If I am in the market now, I won't even touch either. I might have a look at VW Vento though.

[ashish22]

If you will be using the car mostly for highways then optra magnum is definitely a better option since it offers effortless diesel torque and excellent comfort as well as space. However in city driving you will feel the turbo lag.
Linea on the other hand will be a good option if you are going to use the car mostly for city driving since the engine has good midrange as well as driveability. It offers good F.E. as well.
I'm not a big fan of GM service but fiat service is again as bad or even worse. So you can take out the service equation out of both the cars.
It should really depend on your usage of the car.
My Vote: Optra Magnum

[vikrantj]

Linea hands down it's new, efficient , and handles Pune traffic superbly ... Oh yeah the equipment list is twice that of Optra which is now on its last legs ...

Please do not worry about FIAT service in Pune. BU Bhandari is top notch and this is from personal experience . And I have a Chevy Spark too so I am quite familiar with GM service and that is also nothing to complain about.

[konjaril]

optra magnum, You wont go wrong with it.. As for the turbo lag the magnum has it lesser than the cruize in city driving condition(i am in love with the cruize though!)
Linea on the other hand doesnt come anywhere near when it comes to power and comfort .

my vote : optra magnum

[samyakmodi]

though i do agree with the fellow bhpians here about the plus points of the magnum, but would like to bring something to their notice here.

the magnum is almost half a decade old vehicle (looks boring) and for all we know would be phased out real soon. if xPK ends up buying the car, and gets to know maybe after a few months that the car's been discontinued, imagine his plight.

linea on the other hand is a gorgeous looking vehicle, with loads of features to make the occasional power lapses forgettable. the FIAT a.s.s. is questionable, but one thing is for sure, spares won't be difficult to find in near future atleast.

if you are considering to keep the car atleast for more than 3 years, i suggest buy the linea. it would give you better resale also as compared to the magnum.

now to add to your confusion : have you checked out the mitsubishi cedia?

[Autocop]

Linea MJD is a great car with lots n lots of comfort features and excellent FE and solid build quality and ..., but, if you are an enthusiast this one may not impress you.

Looking for sheer power coupled with Diesel Economy and decent build quality, go for a Optra Magnum (Used) or Vento (New).

[xPK]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Then - is power more important to you or good looks?

This would be a million dollar question for me, unfortunately which I don't have an answer for. So it's pretty much a tie. I have to leave one of them for sure, but I'm not able to decide which one.

Originally Posted by WhiteKnight

If I am in the market now, I won't even touch either. I might have a look at VW Vento though.

Vento might be more logical choice here. But after going through Skoda's A.S.S. reviews I would stay away from VW group.

Originally Posted by ashish22

If you will be using the car mostly for highways then optra magnum is definitely a better option since it offers effortless diesel torque and excellent comfort as well as space. However in city driving you will feel the turbo lag.
Linea on the other hand will be a good option if you are going to use the car mostly for city driving since the engine has good midrange as well as driveability. It offers good F.E. as well.
I'm not a big fan of GM service but fiat service is again as bad or even worse. So you can take out the service equation out of both the cars.
It should really depend on your usage of the car.
My Vote: Optra Magnum

That's very good point. Thanks ashish, I missed on that. Actually though I'm looking to cover quite a few miles on highway, but the 5 most boring days of a week, I have to spend traveling in city traffic.

Guys, can you tell me how is the turbo lags in both cars. Based on my test drives, I found the lag to be same.

Originally Posted by deepakhon

If I am considering only these two cars, I will put my money on Linea, for the simple reason that Magnum is quite old as a platform as compared to Linea, and to me, this one looks like a clearance sale from GM.

Yup for Optra, it clearly seems like stock clearing sale, huge discounts and suddenly in my budget. Only gray area for me is cost of ownership.

[EARTHed]

In terms of looks - Linea

Power - Optra

Driving dynamics - Linea

Service and parts - Linea (Linea is production car)

Resale value - Linea

Comfort - Almost same

[HammerHead]

If you can live without these 2 points, go for Linea.
1) Power
2) Interior quality

IMO, Linea has much more which will make up for points under 'Not so impressive'.

[xPK]

Originally Posted by vikrantj

Linea hands down it's new, efficient , and handles Pune traffic superbly ... Oh yeah the equipment list is twice that of Optra which is now on its last legs ...

Yup, traffic is quite a concern for me. I stay @ Kothrud and work @ magarpatta.

Originally Posted by konjaril

optra magnum, You wont go wrong with it.. As for the turbo lag the magnum has it lesser than the cruize in city driving condition(i am in love with the cruize though!)
Linea on the other hand doesnt come anywhere near when it comes to power and comfort.my vote : optra magnum

How do you see lag of optra when compared to linea?

Originally Posted by samyakmodi

the FIAT a.s.s. is questionable, but one thing is for sure, spares won't be difficult to find in near future atleast.

Yup that would be one thing, why I might scarifies power.

Originally Posted by samyakmodi

now to add to your confusion : have you checked out the mitsubishi cedia?

Cedia is little more on higher side and I didn't consider her because of thin A.S.S. network.

Originally Posted by Autocop

Linea MJD is a great car with lots n lots of comfort features and excellent FE and solid build quality and ..., but, if you are an enthusiast this one may not impress you. Looking for sheer power coupled with Diesel Economy and decent build quality, go for a Optra Magnum (Used) or Vento (New).

If optra had scored 3-0 for power, economy and build quality, it would have really easy for me to make the choice. But linea has better economy and equal build quality.

Originally Posted by EARTHed

In terms of looks - Linea

Power - Optra

Driving dynamics - Linea

Service and parts - Linea (Linea is production car)

Resale value - Linea

Comfort - Almost same

Very short, yet quite informative.

Originally Posted by HammerHead

If you can live without these 2 points, go for Linea.
1) Power
2) Interior quality

IMO, Linea has much more which will make up for points under 'Not so impressive'.

Interior quality, I can live with that, but power. Gosh it's hard to decide.