Optra or Altis

[Genie47]

In the US, the cars are not stripped down like here. Korean cars are very well equipped or engineered well according to the US customers.

[Sotong_kia]

Yeah lor.. what to do .. Ang Mo Tua Ki mah..

Asian low standard mah..

[Ah_veo]

Asian got Bayi(Singh)

[Sotong_kia]

Bayi also tua ki ? I dunno.. you see b4 ah ?

 

That is why hor, in India, the sell the Chevy Optra, got 1.8L version, and also got the 2 airbags and electric folding mirror. That is how I got to know about it !!

Edited September 19, 2004 by Sotong_kia

[Ah_veo]

i hear many people say before.....

[Optra]

Which part of Optra is made in Korea ??

Design ITALY

ENGINE AUSTRALIA

ASSEMBLE THAILAND

 

go to this link

 

http://motoring.asia1.com.sg/news/news20031001_001.html

[Sleepengine]

hi ppl,

 

i currently faced with the diliemma of choosing between these 2 cars.

 

just wonderring what's the opinions now (it's been almost a year since the end of this discussion).

 

From wat i've read in the various discussions, it seems that for city driving, Altis would be a better choice when it comes to FC. Is that true?

 

 

latest price...

Optra 1.6 (A) : ~58K (56K for national day promo)

Altis 1.6 (A) : ~60K

[Optra]

for me i will definitely say optra. cos til now i am absolutely satisfied with it. power and comfort no questions. fc around 480km per tank with 30% highway 70% city.

per month not exceeding $300 damage.test drive both before commiting will be wise.

 

[Playtime]

considering the optra is now priced really not much diff from a toyota.

I feel the passenger Airbag, general better reliability and confirm better resale market of the Altis has a better edge.

 

Why not consider the latio A/T? Japan made, similar price. Much more luxurious.

[Sleepengine]

I've shortlisted

1. altis, cos i find it a rather reliable car (hav been driving a corolla for a while already)

2. Optra, cos i like the shape better than altis; more unique; and of course cheaper

 

In fact, i am also looking at Kia Cerato, (and i like its shape the most) but there doesn't seems to hav been in use for long enuf to make any judgement on it's realiability. So saddly, i hav to giv it a miss.

 

As for latio, dun really like the shape.

[Redtrack]

Old Optra selling at a lower price to clear stock. Given the fact that starauto did not lower their prices relative to the COE difference, it is better to buy an Altis now. U can also consider other top models such as Sunny and Lancer.

[Sleepengine]

thanks guys.

 

haven't really made a firm decision, but most likely going for Altis

[Victor68]

B4 u decide, drive it again and understand y u r buying. Is it because eveyone is buying it or u just think it will have better resale value or u heard it is better?

 

My advice, whatever going to happen 2 years down the road, nobody can tell. Who would have know there is no resale value for cars less than 3 years old today?

[Sleepengine]

Test-drived the Altis yesterday (so hard to find a SE to do test drive)

at 3000rpm, it's actually nosier than the optra. *Surprised*

in fact, optra feel even more powerful as the car jus moved off steadily at 3K rpm while altis seems to be struggling a bit. The road i've tested them is different, but i tot it shdn't make too much of a difference

 

feature wise, i guess each has it own pros and cons

 

but comparing a optra at $58k to an altis at $60k, somehow, i tot i shd get the car with the new technology (i.e. altis).

 

another factor is that there seems to be more reports of "failure" in the optra compare to "altis". While i agree that it's more a heng-suay kinda thing, the percentage of being suay seems to be higher on optra side.

 

can some bros giv some comments?

[Teddi]

Altis - More after market gadgets

- Parts more expensive

- VVTI Engine (good low end torque and FC) but noisy when reved hard

- Softer body

 

Optra - Parts are cheaper

- Old technology DOHC engine 16V - Noisy when reved

Note - Optra's sound insulation is better than altis

(get your friend's Altis to StarAuto, Open the bonnet and rev

till 4K, listen and convince yourself)

 

So if you want low maintenance cost - Optra

 

Optra is the obvious choice as Borneo's service is damm ex$$

[Sleepengine]

For city driving, it's essential to hav good low end torque right?

[Stary]

Ok bro....I have drive both before....so I can give you very accurate judgement. My company use to rent Altis for me so I know the feel inside out. But I now owns an Optra, so that is already telling you something.

 

Besides the Altis having better FC, I can't think of anything else better. Ok..maybe more gadgets, but these are secondary to me.

 

For me, a good car must be comfortable, have good and intuitive handling, and must be safe. The Optra is better than the Altis in all these. Yes, it is heavier and consume more petrol, but these should be secondary compared to safety.

 

I have seen a few accidents involving Optra. In all these accidents, the optra always came out as the one with lesser damages. I am not kidding. I myself has knocked my rear onto a pillar before. Part of the cement and bricks on the pillar came off, and my bumper has only scratches...not even dents. For the Altis, its bumper was dented when I accidentally banged it onto a 1" steel pillar of those make-shift tentages (like those in pasar malam stall). And I didn't even banged it as hard as the cement pillar.

 

For handling, that's the best part. The Optra is very intuitive and steady even at bends. Maybe because it is heavier. I do not feel the same confidence when handling the Altis. Period.

 

The Optra engine actually feels more powerful then what was stated. I rarely drive this car more than 2500 rpm because there is really no need too. At first gear, dragging it at 2500-2800 rpm already got the car moving faster than most others. 2nd and 3rd gear nothing much to shout about but when 4th gear kicks in at around 70-80km/h, the engine suddenly silents and that's when you can pick up speed pretty easily. This is one car that you wanna drive it fast because it feels so good to drive at speed above 90km/h as it handles so well and so quiet.

 

As a testimony to its "quietness", I once fetched my client for lunch. He drives a 1.8L Altis. The moment he sat inside my car, he commented the car is powerful. I ask why...he said because it is so quiet. He then ask me is this a 2L car? He was so surprised when I said it is a 1.6L car.

 

How about maintenance? Ok...I dun have much experience on the Altis in this, but for Optra, I have never till today (coming to 1.5 years), has even a need to top up radiator water! The only maintenance I did are those periodic agent servicing. That's all. I have change the spark plugs though and that's the only "upgrade" I have done. It is basically maintenance free for me.

 

The only problem I have is wheel alignment. Now I have got used to it.

 

Hope this helps.

[Sleepengine]

bro, you driving optra manual or auto?

any comments on the servicing cost for optra? is StarAuto the only place?

 

Agree that Optra felt more superior in every way except in engine technology and FC.