Chevrolet Optra review

[Seansene]

So much has been written about the Optra in recent months that I'd be a fool to revisit it, especially with the distinct possibility of death threats. Then again, I've never been counted among the very wise. Someone call the police if you don't hear from me after this...

 

The Optra started life as the second generation Daewoo Nubira, but just months from its release the Korean company got swallowed whole by GM. The American giant needed a good and cheap compact car to replace its woefully outdated Stateside range, while Daewoo itself just needed to stay alive, after its CEO ran away with millions of dollars in company money. Can you say hand and glove?

 

But GM cannot seem to leave a car's brand to itself. In many parts of the world the entire range of Daewoo products found themselves with a new badge, and strangely enough, a new image despite the identical content. Of course the cars remained Daewoos in their homeland, lest patriotic (and strike-happy) Koreans wake up one day to find an entire car company missing. Nevertheless, Singaporeans were shortly bombarded with promises of American pie, never mind that some found it strangely similar to the Kimchi they sampled not too long ago.

 

Now, this need to comfortably switch back and forth between different brands with just a badge change would be close to impossible if the original had anywhere near the established design language of BMW or Volvo. Fortunately this is one of the rare occurrences where anonymous styling is actually a good thing. This is not to say that the Optra is not good looking at all. On the contrary, the side view especially shows a handsome profile, and the tautly surfaced shoulders and crisp wheel arches could belong to a modern Opel - which coincidently is another GM subsidiary.

 

Where the car falls down in the recognizability stakes is the face - the headlights are just too shapeless and indistinct to match the defined flanks. Stick any number of Jap/Korean badges onto the car and the result would be equally (un)convincing. By contrast, there would be rioting in the streets of both Sweden and Japan if GM showed the same scant respect for design with Saab's Impreza-sourced 9-2x.

 

Inside things appear far better. The smart, geometric dashboard looks suitably classy using the modern lighting trick of dark top/light bottom colour coding to exude an airy ambience. And pretty spacious it is too. A 2600mm wheelbase is about the industry standard for this class nowadays, so it's quite disappointing to note the boot's 405 litres; mildly shocking especially considering that a contemporary hatchback like Honda's Jazz gives away less than 50 litres to the Optra, while other 1.6l sedans manage close to or even above 500 litres.

 

At least the plastic wood panelling is almost tasteful, certainly one of the more inoffensive examples in this class. So too are its chrome-ringed dials. Other nice touches are an aircon-cooled glove compartment, 3-point seatbelts all round and cashcard slots in the central armrest. It's also great that the top half of the dash is moulded in soft-feel plastics, so why are the aircon switches and indicator stalks made of hard shiny stuff?

 

In fact it is seems quite a tragic irony that the critical areas of driver usage are precisely those that have been subjected to cost-cutting. Take the steering (tilt-adjustable only) for example. Woolly and vague, it gives less feedback than a civil servant. And it fails my expressway sensitivity test miserably - at a steady cruise, try flicking the wheel quickly about 15 degrees in both directions, and you'll get absolutely zero response from the chassis. Some might call this behaviour 'stability', I say it's downright dangerous if a car cannot cope with emergency inputs.

 

Neither does the gearchange inspire much confidence. Its position forced my elbow into the armrest when engaging second and fourth gear, and when it does work is as precise as that steering wheel I just spent one paragraph complaining about. Oh, and so too are the pedals. Seeing that these three interfaces are all your hands and feet are going to be touching throughout your journey, I certainly cannot be faulted for expecting more.

 

The engine promises 107hp at 5800rpm, but frankly I don't see anyone making use of that power. It sounds rough from 2000rpm onwards, and just gets louder and more grumbly as the revvs pile on, until your ears scream 'enough!' and the throttle foot dutifully complies. More's the pity, because the car is otherwise decently insulated.

 

My one attempt at finding the chassis' limits met with early protest, both from the poor tyres and surprised SE. What I did manage to find was that roll and understeer set in early, but otherwise I can't tell you more. The severe shortage of dynamic communication told my instincts to not push it, before I ended up unceremoniously in a divider. Oh, and I can't even rely on ABS to help me out of a skid, it's not there. The SE told me that good tyres are more important, so please tell me why the car is equipped with Yoko Aspecs?!

 

So what are we left with? I'd say the Optra works well as a passenger car, but I'm not going to endure praises about a supposed 'conti' feel or drive - every Western European car (and many Japs for that matter) in the past decade outpaces it in these departments. Beneath the veneer of luxury, keen drivers will find very, very little to satisfy. I suppose they must have saved money somewhere, and for slightly less than $70k it's not bad value. Then again, neither is it outstanding value, when you consider it all in. As someone who actually likes driving for its own sake, I must say I'm disappointed.

Edited September 24, 2004 by Seansene

[DarkLord]

Can I add something?

 

 

I just jiaked a optra last night with my dad's Nissan Cabstar. The owner not too impressed after smelling my smoke sia! High-breamed me somemore!

 

If it's any of the bros here, paiseh k? It's the driver not the car mahz! (Just kidding! I was in a rush last night mahz! Switched on the "turbo" and pedal to the metal ).

Edited September 24, 2004 by DarkLord

[Vidz]

very good writing flair...

Edited September 24, 2004 by Vidz

[Cardinal]

"Take the steering (tilt-adjustable only) for example. Woolly and vague, it gives less feedback than a civil servant. "

 

Your comments has been note, and we would discussed this internally and let you know how we wished to response. Expects a replies in 3 month time.

 

(did I miss out any correct use of grammar? )

[Seansene]

Expects a replies in 3 month time.

 

Yeah, that's pretty much what the steering wheel told me

[Vidz]

anything to do with the 5-day work week??

[Seansene]

Die, better not use the car on weekends like that

[Soya]

 

tink u juz shattered the american dream.

 

p/s yr wanted poster will be posted up at ubi soon. saw a few at leng kee oredi....

Edited September 24, 2004 by Soya

[DarkLord]

*Ahemz*

 

I think you may need to rewrite the review after you sat in Genie's Aveo. I can tell you.. If the steering is really that bad, I wouldn't be here today replying to your posting liaoz!

 

Oh wait, if you are targeting the Optra niaz then totally different kettle of fish liaoz!

Edited September 24, 2004 by DarkLord

[Cardinal]

maybe the steering wheel was on MC that day

[Magfocus]

Fantastic! I was waiting to hear your views on the Optra...

[Seansene]

But it was the SE who suggested a test drive...

[Seansene]

Trust me, when you hop from an Optra to a Focus, you'll know the difference in steering feel and response...

[Seansene]

[Vidz]

[/reply]... The SE told me that good tyres are more important, so please tell me why the car is equipped with Yoko Aspecs?!

 

[/reply]

Izzit the A300? or 500

I called them "kawabaga-surfing" tyres...

Edited September 24, 2004 by Vidz

[DarkLord]

No way manz! I am keeping my foot off poisonous cars for the moment! Last thing I want to do is to have more dream cars to dream about when I sleep!

[Seansene]

Beats me. It was a serious cop-out

[Assassin]

You want ciwil serwants to come after you is it ?

 

 

..

 

 

 

 

 

 

in about 3 months time...