[Jakku]

Hey Vishwesh, Congrats for your buy.

10.35L OTR at Chennai is with CPCO or without it? Again, we are waiting for your Magnum photos.

[Poitive]

Hey Vishwes,

I saw your ownership thread a bit late.

Wish you all the very best on your new drive. You seem to be a calm and reasonable person not be be mad at the dealership for the repaint incident. Most people (and admittedly, it would include me, I think), would get too emotional if such a damage were to happen to our 'new' car.

Happy motoring and hope to keep hearing from you on your lovely car

[visweshkalambur]

I tried uploading the pictures withe same error. :(

@ Poitive could you PM me your email address so I can share the pictures with you. Could you be kind enough to upload it here for me please?

[Poitive]

Originally Posted by visweshkalambur

I tried uploading the pictures withe same error. :(

@ Poitive could you PM me your email address so I can share the pictures with you. Could you be kind enough to upload it here for me please?

Will PM you mate. Even though one knows what an Optra looks like, with all this talk about changes in it, am looking forward to the pics

Edit: Will only be able to post the pics late night/tomorrow.

[visweshkalambur]

Am trying to upload pictures again [Edit: I managed to upload finally, seems like i am unable to do it with IE but works with Firefox], this time through firefox hoping this is an issue with using IE. I have few pics of the car taken a day after taking delivery of the vehicle.

[skandyhere]

Congratulations on your rare buy! It's refreshing to see someone buy a very sensible product; particularly something that doesn't cross most people's minds. A very close friend of mine recently picked up a T-Jet. I have a question for you.

Though I've taken test drives of both the T-Jet and the Magnum (though this was a couple of years ago), I'm weighing these cars against each other. Can you tell me which car did you feel was greater fun to drive?

[swiftnfurious]

The car looks really mean in Black ! Nice pics. I guess black is the only color where I love the current front design. I love the interiors of this car too. By the way do we have any discounts on this car now ?

Edit:: Am I the only one who thinks the old design for the front of the car looks better? Please refer to our mod Rudra Sen's gallery to see what I am saying ! Optra 1.8 LT 2004 March - Rudra Sen's Photo Gallery - Team-BHP. Somehow this design addicts me and gives me an "ever green" feel though the current one is "meaner / aggressive".

[Poitive]

Originally Posted by visweshkalambur

Am trying to upload pictures again

Thanks Viswesh Good to see that they did get uploaded. The boot looks a lot bigger in the pics than what I remember seeing in flesh.

How difficult are you finding maintaining a black?

Originally Posted by skandyhere

Though I've taken test drives of both the T-Jet and the Magnum (though this was a couple of years ago), I'm weighing these cars against each other. Can you tell me which car did you feel was greater fun to drive?

The Magnum seems to be popular on the forum, mate. But alas, only on the forum .

I haven't TD the T-jet. Only the regular diesel Linea. In high speeds (3 digit) the Magnum felt a lot more planted and secure. Optra was no where as sharp as the Linea, however was very predictable. Some discussions on this here.

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

The car looks really mean in Black ! Nice pics. I guess black is the only color where I love the current front design. I love the interiors of this car too. By the way do we have any discounts on this car now ?

Edit:: Am I the only one who thinks the old design for the front of the car looks better? Please refer to our mod Rudra Sen's gallery to see what I am saying ! Optra 1.8 LT 2004 March - Rudra Sen's Photo Gallery - Team-BHP. Somehow this design addicts me and gives me an "ever green" feel though the current one is "meaner / aggressive".

The old design was distinctive and I did like it. This is more run of the mill, still somehow more appealing to me. The front if the Laura is what I really like though.

About discounts, this had about 30-35k (or more if you can negotiate like a pro) in Delhi, till a month or so back.

[visweshkalambur]

@ skandyhere - Thank you. Sensible buy, most definitely according to me too. I did test drive the Linea T jet few days before the Optra Magnum and trust me its a fantastic product. In terms of fun to drive the T Jet would score largely due to the lack of turbolag and instant power available on tap. Though beyond 1800 rpm the Optra spools plenty of power. It would be great to see a drag race between the two machines. Handling is definitely a parameter for fun to drive quotient and Fiat linea definitely scores better in this. Optra aint a slouch but i personally like the steering of the linea, its weight and the feel it gives translating exactly what the tyres hit on the road to your fingers. Though Optra does have a hydraulic steering, it a;int as effecient as the linea's steering wheel. But but Optra does come with acres and oodles of space and cabin feels more airy and spacious.

@ Swiftnfurious - Thank you. Yes the car does have discounts now. Bydesign had purchased it recently and he mentions he got a 30k cash discount. I got a total discount of about 50K including corporate bonus and discount on insurance etc. With respect to the design, i personally like the new look. I feel the new front gives it more character and makes it look bold. I personally love the new look of the Optra sans the alloy wheels ofcourse. The old one was so much better.

@ Poitive - Yes finally the pictures are up. It is indeed a tad cumbersome to maintain the black. I have entered into a contract where by they do interior cleaning, exterior polishing of the vehicle, perfuming and tyre dressing. I spent around 6K for an annual contract making it Rs. 500 pm which i think is worth it. I wash the car twice or thrice a week (water wash) with micro fibre cloth. Shampoo wash once a week. Teflon coating (1+2) helps, provided you have completed all three before any scratches. It helps the dust not get deeper into the paint.

Love the way the vehicle glows after the shampoo wash. It s an amazing feeling after an hour of effort.

[visweshkalambur]

Another pic of the black beauty. This was shot when i had been to Yercaud with my friends

[Poitive]

Originally Posted by visweshkalambur

It is indeed a tad cumbersome to maintain the black.

Sorry to have bothered you again on this mate. You had mentioned this before and I did read it, It just skipped off my mind then.

Now that we are talking about Teflon, what has your experience with it been? We did try it many years back on one of our cars, but it wasn't a good experience. To me it seemed that it made it even worse with fine scratchy lines all over the place. An extra coat was also done by those guys, but was only of some short term help.

By any chance, did you confirm the bhp/torque specs of your particular car based on your Chassis (VIN) and Engine no? (The specs in the manual could be incorrect).

[visweshkalambur]

Poitive, it is important to finish the 1+2 coating for Teflon coating according to me. During that process, we need to take lots of care with respect to scratches. After the 2nd and mostly the 3rd coating, the dust and minor scratches tend to remain at the surface level.

It is very important to use the correct cloth and way/ method to clean the car. I saw a video link from one of the forums here and it was extremely useful.

Wrt bhp/ torque... i do not know if there could be any other way to confirm other than checking on the user manual. I have checked with the service guys also as i mentioned to you. Out of curiosity, why is it that you ask so many times on this, even if there is a change, it is minimal as highlighted by you. There is not going to be any difference in performance... then why so much of effort into that?

[benzinblut]

Congrats vishwesh. I just love the black on the Magnum and thats also the color of mine. According to me, Magnum looks best in black. It will take a lot of effort to maintain it though. Take good care from day 1 and try to maintain the look

Have a look at the pics in my garage. The pics are a bit old. Only the last 2 pics are new. Its due for another round of wax now.

EDIT: I see that there is no chrome lip on the front. Ive seen it in quite a few recent onces. Is it optional?

[Torquedo]

Originally Posted by benzinblut

I just love the black on the Magnum and that's also the color of mine.

@ benzinblut -

It would be really nice if you provide others on the forum an overview of your ownership experience with the Magnum this would really help the perspective buyers such as me.

Basically what we would be looking forward to is -

1) Average servicing cost.
2) Average servicing intervals.
3) Any major issues that you have faced in the past, if possible the causal on the same and the resolution and the monetary loss incurred.
4) Kms clocked on your beast.
5) FE figures over a span of 4 years.
6) Your experience with GM A$$.
7) Suggestions on maintenance, things to be careful about.
8) How long did the stock tires last?

Fellow T-BHPian's if I have missed something please chip in

Thanks Mate.

Cheers.

[visweshkalambur]

@ Benzinblut thank you. I agree that black looks awesome. It does have the chrome in front. You can notice that in the first set of pictures. It is not very visible because of the angle and sunlight. Apologies for that.

Do post in your ownership experience as there are quite a few people here who are inclined towards the Optra.