Test Drive Altis vs Optra.

[Toyota2004]

Went To BM at Ubi for servicing my Altis today. Need to wait very long , so went to test drive cars to kill time. Having test drive lancer , cerato , sunny and optra , I found out Optra test drive is the best even compare to my present Altis.

 

Optra( Premium ) is cheaper than my Altis( Deluxe ) by approximate 4.5k but the built quality , drive , sound insulation , interior are much better than Altis.A bit regret now , should test drive Optra before bought Altis.

 

Any bros out there who have test drive Altis and Optra want to comment?

[Silver_blade]

I have test driven all the cars, just like you did. I find the Optra's built, ride and handling quality among the best in that price range. I find cerato's performance the worse.

[Eko6]

What about pick-up, which is better?

[Sotong_kia]

[reply]

What about pick-up, which is better?

 

 

To read about comparison of Optra and Altis, check the American threads..

 

I have also recently drove Altis and Optra and Sunny and Cerato, Camry, Primera, Cefiro.

 

Pick up should be Altis better. Engine output about the same, but Altis is 70kg lighter.

Max torque of Altis is 3800 rpm while Optra is 4000 rpm. Of course, I haven't done side by side tests.

All on paper.

 

I haven't checked the gear ratio though, but Car-Buyer's info have Altis 0-100km/h timing at about 11.5s, same as Optra.

 

 

But, other than this small pickup difference, the ride of Optra, road handling and noise level, even engine sound when you rev it hard, I feel Optra Wins. Interior finishing, and "features" like rear arm rest, foldable rear seat, etc, still Optra win. Look at the boot, and you know Optra wins hands down. Sound inssulation is better, and the finishing is also better.

 

P/S : I own an Optra now. No regrets so far.

[Silver_blade]

What about pick-up, which is better?

 

Altis is better. Cerato's pick up is really bad.

[Liu38]

I test drove Altis, Optra & others before I decide on my new ride. It didn't take me too long to rule out Altis. I am driving Optra now.

 

Check out the comparison here:

 

http://www.indiacar.com/index2.asp?pagenam...a/techspecs.htm

[Kopi_peng]

aiyah, why depend on car review when they only have the cars for probably a few wks. here, our concerns r mainly on what is going to happen after 1st 2-3 when the warranty expire, right??

*if only they have a used car review somewhere*

 

I dont own an altis but I sat in one...good ride....even with 4 BIG adults in it. Also toyota has a proven track record which shd continue even if it is made in thailand.

[Silver_blade]

why depend on car review when they only have the cars for probably a few wks.

 

You will to also look at reviews among other things, especially when both models are realatively new in S'pore. Otherwise, most ppl will have to buy only out-going models.

[Sotong_kia]

[reply]

what is going to happen after 1st 2-3 when the warranty expire, right??

*if only they have a used car review somewhere*

 

 

My take on it, since I have done my own eval before I bought the Optra.

 

1) Servicing by agent is monitored and consumer feedback by GM is done independently.

2) Optra is made in Thailand, same bunch of people who made the Opel Zafira. Who knows in future more.

3) Parts are all from various GM cars (fully and partly owned). Opel, Saab, Daewoo, Holden, Suzuki, Isuzu, etc => Quite easily available.

4) Optra is sold in China => Parts will be cheap

5) Several importers of GM parts in Singapore => Not dependent on 1 or 2 agents.

6) GM has changed their strategy. No more "expensive continental parts". Cos production & parts are all from Asia, then shipped back to the West. Thus, going to be as cheap or even cheaper than Made-in-Japan parts.

7) GM reputation as world's larget car maker.

8) GM is serious is a comeback in Asia => Focus on service and customer satisfaction.

9) Optra has come a long way since it initial birth in 2002 by Daewoo.

 

If the reputation of "Toyota" branding is important, regardless of car made-in-japan or made-in-thailand, I guess the same "metality" applies to me for "GM, Chevrolet" Branding, regardless of made-in-where...

[Robin]

Did u test drive the Mazda 3? I read in another post of your that U test driven a few cars before chosing the optra..if u dont mind, can I ask whats your FC like? Does optra (A) have a "triptronic" shift? and got many servicing do they provide? thanks!

[Genie47]

Used car review?

 

Check out www.carsurvey.org

 

OR

 

Check out the user reviews at www.parkers.co.uk

[Liu38]

Mazda 3. Yes, like it but too expensive and overpriced. It was out of my list almost immediately.

 

I am at 3K milleage right now. My worst FC is 10.5km/l and best at 11.5km/l so far. I guess it will improve when I change to syn oil.

 

Optra(A) have "Triptronic". I hope so .

 

Only first 3 servicing, 1K, 5K & 10k. Labour free.

[Mojoe]

it's heartening to hear people breaking away from the traditional way of buying a car ("Just get a toyota", high resale = toyota, etc. ) and starts to explore .. not that there's anything wrong with a toyota (the car... not the distributor BM ), but it's always good for consumers when there are more choices and hence more competition

 

a signal to BM that they need to buck up as well

Edited September 24, 2004 by Mojoe

[Silver_blade]

Don't think BM is doing anything to improve on their customer service. People still have to beg to buy a toyota. Weird culture.

[Elkh]

good idea to kill time when sending your car for servicing....

[Mojoe]

one can only hope..

 

but with more people shunning them, hopefully they sit up and listen

[Genie47]

The auto gearbox is an Aisin-Borg-Warner. What more can you ask for?

[Cashiertan]

Really cant stand the ugly rear of altis. the rear look like the car got cxxk eye lidat.