OPTRA MAGNUM 1000 Km report

arunk · 29th October 2007, 12:32

Thanks firingonallfour(what a name!), yes, what a car!, I havent used the regular fuel till now, so dont know the diff yet. For my next fill i will use the regular and let you know.. another question - i found the roadgrip much better at 3 figure speeds than low speeds. What is your observation?

beanstalk_230 · 30th October 2007, 11:37

arunk you are actually right .. the grip seems getting better as the speed increases, it kinda loves higher speeds

BTW arunk and firingonallfour please do post in your recent FE figures.
according to me the figures are settling around 13-14 kmpl though i'll be getting the exact figures soon [hoping that it is around 14]

cheers
gaurav

P.S. Congrats firingonallfour for your car

firingonallfour · 30th October 2007, 11:56

Thanks beanstalk_230.

I got FE of 20 on highway Mumbai - Pune and back. Gear change at 2000 rarely 2500. This includes a Ghat section ( AC on all the time)

I dont think I will be so lucky with city FE's....13 - 14 maybe

I often do mumbai - pune in a camry and suspension and ride quality was comparable.

I thought road grip was better at all speeds.

Disc breaks make a huge difference.

arunk · 30th October 2007, 20:00

Till now i am with an FE of 12 to 13 on mixed drives , 50 - 50 city and open roads. My averages are calculated after 600 kms logs made up by almost 12 trips of 50 kms each. I drive 50 kms each to and from work. Not gone on any long drives yet, but you know iahve logged 2200 km in 3 weeks almost

shuvd · 31st October 2007, 10:28

Have any of you guys changed the OE bulbs of the car? I find them inadequate. When I talked to the A.S.S people, they weren't very forthcoming.

firingonallfour · 31st October 2007, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuvd

Have any of you guys changed the OE bulbs of the car? I find them inadequate. When I talked to the A.S.S people, they weren't very forthcoming.

Grossly adequate. Sooner or later I am going to thrown in the philips Rallyeye 100 / 90 I have sitting in my cupboard from my previous Accent. Dont want to mess around atleast till the first service.

arunk · 31st October 2007, 11:37

Exactly, they are very very inadequate in poorly lit roads . I too need to change them i guess.

shuvd · 31st October 2007, 12:02

I want to get HIDs, but am worried about the warranty issues. Called up the 24hr helpline wrt this issue. A s#$% voiced lady said that I should contact the service center. And, the service center is just as clueless!

Absar · 31st October 2007, 20:36

Hey arunk, nice review about your Optra Magum Diesel. It must be fun driving that car. Getting lumbar seat for the co-passenger is a good idea!

The mileage you get sounds a bit less to me. Since you say, its a 50-50 combination, it should be in 16-17 km/L band.

cya
A

dilip_kum · 2nd November 2007, 17:41

I have an Optra Magnum LT , and I have tried Indianoil Diesel , Extra Mile and the Shell Diesel.

The car is a little sluggish with the regular diesel from Indianoil , but the Xtra Mile gives it real smooth and fast pickup.

The shell diesel gives very good mileage , but felt it is not as smooth as Xtramile. Haven't tried the Hi-Speed diesel from Bharat petroleum , will do that in the future.

My recommendation : Use Xtra Mile..

vibzez · 2nd November 2007, 17:52

I really love the Magnum, and would prefer it over the Verna. But it seems that all maintainence issues have not been sorted. Reports still come in of parts not available. This is so primary in deciding to buy a vehicle. This has left me with no choice but to go in for the Verna. Which is quite a capable performer, and has no aftersales service issues.

arunk · 3rd November 2007, 10:55

vibsez, do you mean to say that optra magnum has an issue with maintenance or availability of parts?

vibzez · 3rd November 2007, 15:08

My friend has a Optra Royale. He banged the side door while reversing. The company could not provide him with the window beading for 4 days. This maybe a one-off case, but then again, others might be facing this problem too vis-a-vis availability of parts. Buying a 9L+ car and then face such problems can be off-putting.
I must also mention that this incident happened 3 months back. Maybe things have improved.

firingonallfour · 3rd November 2007, 16:49

ok here is another one. BP Hi speed Diesel its Sluggish and BP regular diesel its much crisper. Will try other brews and let you guys know.

wilful · 5th November 2007, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunk

Model -Optra Magnum LS.
Color - Platinum metallic.
Purchase date - oct 4.
OTR price - 9.91 L
Freebies - accesoroes worth 4k.
Extra fittings till date - Reverse parking sensors, exchanged the HU for a sony with aux in.

Brakes are good enough at speeds below 100. didnt try hard braking till now, but if GM had offered optional ABS and airbags at extra cost i would ve bought , the LT model is way too expensive and leather seats and trims etc , i didnt want.

Guys, anything else you want to know ask me

I think it's a fantastic looker and going by what you have posted should well match its looks with performance in the long run.
Just an observation arunK -- don't get me wrong

-- you mentioned about ABS and airbags - just checked the GM site and found the difference between the LS and LT to be around a lac (with leather upholstery and a better music system thrown in). May have been worth a second thought?
I am ruing the fact that my car doesn't have these safety features despite costing 8.5 L on road.

29th October 2007, 12:32	#16
arunk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 108 Thanked: 0 Times	Thanks firingonallfour(what a name!), yes, what a car!, I havent used the regular fuel till now, so dont know the diff yet. For my next fill i will use the regular and let you know.. another question - i found the roadgrip much better at 3 figure speeds than low speeds. What is your observation?
	() Thanks

30th October 2007, 11:37	#17
beanstalk_230 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lucknow/New Delhi Posts: 263 Thanked: 45 Times	arunk you are actually right .. the grip seems getting better as the speed increases, it kinda loves higher speeds BTW arunk and firingonallfour please do post in your recent FE figures. according to me the figures are settling around 13-14 kmpl though i'll be getting the exact figures soon [hoping that it is around 14] cheers gaurav P.S. Congrats firingonallfour for your car
	() Thanks

30th October 2007, 11:56	#18
firingonallfour BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 44 Thanked: 0 Times	I got FE of 20 on highway Thanks beanstalk_230. I got FE of 20 on highway Mumbai - Pune and back. Gear change at 2000 rarely 2500. This includes a Ghat section ( AC on all the time) I dont think I will be so lucky with city FE's....13 - 14 maybe I often do mumbai - pune in a camry and suspension and ride quality was comparable. I thought road grip was better at all speeds. Disc breaks make a huge difference.
	() Thanks

30th October 2007, 20:00	#19
arunk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 108 Thanked: 0 Times	Till now i am with an FE of 12 to 13 on mixed drives , 50 - 50 city and open roads. My averages are calculated after 600 kms logs made up by almost 12 trips of 50 kms each. I drive 50 kms each to and from work. Not gone on any long drives yet, but you know iahve logged 2200 km in 3 weeks almost
	() Thanks

31st October 2007, 10:28	#20
shuvd Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 1,081 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	Have any of you guys changed the OE bulbs of the car? I find them inadequate. When I talked to the A.S.S people, they weren't very forthcoming.
	() Thanks

31st October 2007, 11:37	#22
arunk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 108 Thanked: 0 Times	Exactly, they are very very inadequate in poorly lit roads . I too need to change them i guess.
	() Thanks

31st October 2007, 12:02	#23
shuvd Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 1,081 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	I want to get HIDs, but am worried about the warranty issues. Called up the 24hr helpline wrt this issue. A s#$% voiced lady said that I should contact the service center. And, the service center is just as clueless!
	() Thanks

31st October 2007, 20:36	#24
Absar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Madras Posts: 560 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	Hey arunk, nice review about your Optra Magum Diesel. It must be fun driving that car. Getting lumbar seat for the co-passenger is a good idea! The mileage you get sounds a bit less to me. Since you say, its a 50-50 combination, it should be in 16-17 km/L band. cya A
	() Thanks

2nd November 2007, 17:41	#25
dilip_kum Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15 Thanked: 3 Times	I have an Optra Magnum LT , and I have tried Indianoil Diesel , Extra Mile and the Shell Diesel. The car is a little sluggish with the regular diesel from Indianoil , but the Xtra Mile gives it real smooth and fast pickup. The shell diesel gives very good mileage , but felt it is not as smooth as Xtramile. Haven't tried the Hi-Speed diesel from Bharat petroleum , will do that in the future. My recommendation : Use Xtra Mile..
	() Thanks

2nd November 2007, 17:52	#26
vibzez BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: N. Delhi Posts: 98 Thanked: 0 Times	I really love the Magnum, and would prefer it over the Verna. But it seems that all maintainence issues have not been sorted. Reports still come in of parts not available. This is so primary in deciding to buy a vehicle. This has left me with no choice but to go in for the Verna. Which is quite a capable performer, and has no aftersales service issues.
	() Thanks

3rd November 2007, 10:55	#27
arunk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: kochi Posts: 108 Thanked: 0 Times	vibsez, do you mean to say that optra magnum has an issue with maintenance or availability of parts?
	() Thanks

3rd November 2007, 15:08	#28
vibzez BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: N. Delhi Posts: 98 Thanked: 0 Times	My friend has a Optra Royale. He banged the side door while reversing. The company could not provide him with the window beading for 4 days. This maybe a one-off case, but then again, others might be facing this problem too vis-a-vis availability of parts. Buying a 9L+ car and then face such problems can be off-putting. I must also mention that this incident happened 3 months back. Maybe things have improved.
	() Thanks

3rd November 2007, 16:49	#29
firingonallfour BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 44 Thanked: 0 Times	ok here is another one. BP Hi speed Diesel its Sluggish and BP regular diesel its much crisper. Will try other brews and let you guys know.
	() Thanks