Cashless Carnival

I totally do. Skoda needs to pull their socks up and figure out. Most places they have the Laura replace the Octavia, actually it’s called Laura only in India. I see them prices coming down !

I am really confused, I am planning to buy Skoda Octavia, but find it really overpriced and also expensive on maintainence, some of my friends have it. This seems better value for money, if Toyota comes up with a diesel version of a corolla or similar segment car that any day would make much more sense…pls advise.

Hi Anirudh,

Toyota will be launching the diesel Corolla towards the end of the next year. I think the Optra Magnum is a good choice. You may also want to wait for a few more months and see the new Hyundai Elantra. The Forbes has recently rated is as one of the greenest vehicles [on par with the hybrids], and am sure Hyundai would do a better packaging, considering that their first attempt did not take off well.

On the other hand, why not even wait and see how the new Scorpio and Safari are going to be. Both are expected to be quite refined and powerful.

But, if you are in a hurry to buy the vehicle .. go for the Optra Magnum.

When i heard about Optra Magnum from my colleagues, immediately i took two test drive on the otherday. One in Mission road(You know, How pathetic is the traffic in this road) and then in outer ring road(Marathalli to Sarjapur road). The power is just awesome. In no time it touched 120 Kmph. It’s a rocket. I was totally thrilled. Folks, if you want to feel a powerful engine -> It’s worth spending time for a test drive. :-)

City drive is very impressive too. I drove in Mission road for half an hour and it’s not sluggish at all. Very Impressive.

I have compared this with Elantra, Verna CRDI. On paper, Verna CRDI sounds good, but it’s too sluggist on city(bumper to bumper) drive conditions.

LT Magnum Interior looks and feels very rich with it’s leather upholstry and some other nice to have goodies.

From power, city drive, highway drive, interior, milage perspective, it’s a complete package. You will not feel, you have missed anything.

Of course Magnum is compared with Skoda, however i did not want to stretch my budget to even think for a test drive of Skoda as it’s too expensive and the July Autocar verdict quoted “Magnum is a better vehicle than Skoda on most aspects”. Some of my friends, who owns Skoda are very satisified on the vehicle, but they are absolutely pissed off from service point of view, it’s ground clearance as well.

Hi SNS,

I totally agree. It looks like a complete package.

I am just waiting to see if Chevy put’s the same engine on to the SRV. I love the way SRV looks today but not it’s engine, but if Chevy decides to plant the magnum engine on to the SRV, that’s going to be one killer.

What about the ground clearance of the Optra Magnum? I believe it is actually 8 mm lower than the Optra petrol?at 163mm it does seem quite low. Does it have a ground clearance problem too? i have heard tons of complaints against the ground clearance of Honda Civic, and here according to the specs, the ground clearance is lower than that of the Civic. Any views?

Hi Rohan,

You are right. The new magnum’s ground clearance is 165 mm whereas the previous Optra’s was 173. I am not too sure if this is a cause of concern.

Yes, I have also heard civic has a problem with the ground clearance and magnum’s is lower than civic’s (170 mm)

But, have you heard of any ground clearance problem with Skoda when it’s ground clearance is just 134 mm ?

What do you say?

[…] 9, 2007 As much as I am impressed with the Optra Magnum Diesel, I am equally depressed with the petrol variant. And just when I was beginning to think that […]

I have ordered a Magnum and the only problem I am going to have is to get my right foot to behave itself. The car jumps like a labrador puppy when given the throttle! Before you realise it, one is hitting three digit speeds.
This is one car I am really looking forward to driving. The trim levels are much much better than the Octavia - which is about a lakh more expensive - and has no ABS, which I feel one needs when driving a fast car.

Hmm..yep, have some troubles about Skoda’s ground clearance too, but the voices were not as audible as in the case of the Civic.
So far no one seems to have complained about the ground clearance of the Optra.
Ok, I have decided. It’s either this car or the Verna. I knw I knw, 2 diff segments, but such is life. :)

Hi Rohan,

Good choice. Both of them are great cars.

Btw, I finally got a chance to test drive the magnum after droolling over it’s tech specs for over a month. It’s just magnificient.

The only quibbling I can do over the magnum are:

- Somehow, the colors weren’t too convincing. The fact that there was no silver option somehow didn’t go down very well with me.
- The plastics on the door frame (inside) could have been better. They feel quite flimsy.
- Atleast, on the high end they could have provided an option of automatic climate control
- They could have done some changes to the rear part of the car. You can distinguish the magnum from the older optra when it’s coming and not when going.
- When I swiveled the car from left to right or vice-versa, there was some noise from the front axle. It could have happened that the test drive car which had driven about 4000 kms had met with an accident, but the lady from the showroom who was accompanying me mentioned that some (a very few) of the initial owners of the car did come back with the same complaint of some noise from the front axle.

Thanks Arjun.
Another thing they should have included in the top model along with the auto climate control is the sun-roof.
If you had to choose between the Verna and the Optra, which one would you choose?
the Verna SX Crdi or the Optra Magnum LS?

Hi Rohan,

Bang on ! How did they miss out the sun roof.

Coming to your next question about the Verna SX CRDi or Optra Magnum LS.

[OK, one disclosure here: I have a Hyundai Accent CRDi currently, so this could make me a lil’ biased]

I understand that the Magnum LS does not have ABS, Airbags, Leather Upholstery but neither does the Verna SX. So, I would prefer to go for the Optra Magnum which is more powerful, and comfortable. I don’t mind comprimising a km or two to a liter of diesel if the car scores high on comfort and power. I am assuming that money is not a constraint here. I would definitely go for the Magnum which I personally think scores higher than Verna both in terms of style and substance.

Having said that, I have great regards for Verna too. I have owned the Accent CRDi for 2 years now and it has done 40,000 kms and am extremely satisfied with it.

Net Net .. Between Magnum LS vs. Verna SX .. I will go for the Magnum LS.

guys! i’ve got my mind set on buying optra magnum LT, but what about the resale value??? one of my friend has sold his optra 1.8 petrol (20,000) 3 yrs old for mere 3.50lakhs!!!!!!

Hi Sriram,

This is definitely one area where the Skoda Octavia scores higher than the Chevy Optra. But then, I am assuming that the resale value of the Magnum would be slightly better than that of ithe Optra Petrol.

This month’s whatcar has depreciation values of the cars. According to them, after 3 years the skoda would fetch 55% of the money you’d paid while buying whereas the Optra 1.8 would fetch 46%.

please advise as which car is better in long run
optra magnum diesel or safari dicor,with regards to everything
comfort,power,service,interiors etc etc.
thanks
haresh

Hi Haresh,

This is a no brainer. Go for the Optra Magnum.

hi arjun
so i should have no second thought in buying magnum,
please advise.
hareh

Abolutely no second thoughts. Go for it Haresh.

what about skoda in comparision to magnum i dont mind increasing the budget as i will be using the car for atleast 5yrs.
thanks
haresh

Haresh,

The only point where skoda scores over the magnum is the re-sale value of the car [which has been discussed in the comments of this post]. Otherwise the magnum is superior to Optra in all other respects.

Proud owner of Optra Magnum Petrol….cost me 8.50 Lacs on Road…Delhi

My reason for buying a Petrol. approx 17000km a year run would not justify the extra cost of a diesel variant.

I have taken the cashmere color but Platinum Metallic looks cool as well. Black was not an option after i ‘Totaled’ my fiesta.

Things i can answer after driving about 800 kms.
- Ground Clearance - No problem. Better than Honda City and Fiesta, cant say about octavia coz dont own it, and never drive anyone elses car

- Mileage - 11, Gurgaon Delhi run, m sure will give higher after initial service

- Looks stunning, someone has already scratched my door, Jealous Ones Envy what else can i say

- Pick-up - Sluggish till 60, but i wanted a class car, Optra was never known to be zippy

- Suspensions - Awesome, no need to slow down

- Gear Shift - Has improved greatly, still could have been better

- Interiors - M sure u would have seen the snaps…its a lap of luxury

aight if u want to ask anything further u can email me…..cloe your eyes and drive very fast.

have they named the Petrol version also as the magnum now or is it only for the Diesel versions?
some local dealers are also advertising the petrol version as the Magnum Petrol…
man..im all primede to buy the magnum..just need to arrange the money :p
achcha, what abt Scorpio? As far as the safari is comcerned, its teh Magnum, but when it comes to the scorpio what do u advise?

Hey Rohan,

Yes, they have renamed the petrol version also as the Magnum. They still have the old petrol optra stock which they are clearing off too. And like fools, they have just launched the 1.6 L variant in the petrol magnum. You can get a 30,000 discount on the Petrol Magnum and a 60,000 on the older petrol variant.

The Magnum is much much superior than all the other vehicles you have on your mind, the Verna, Scorpio, Safari. The only vehcile that comes close is the Skoda Octavia. But, if you have some time to wait before you take a decision, there is a new variant of Scorpio and Safari both expected soon and also a new variant of Ford Fiesta which is supposed to be superior to Verna. The new variants of Scorpio and Safari are also expected to be distinctly superior than the existing ones. Well, by then you should have the New Elantra also. So, if you are not in a hurry, you can wait for a few more months to see all these models and then choose one of them.

Hi, Can any Optra Magnum owners post thier info about the Mileage in and out of the city? Diesel version.

Thanks
Swordy

hi,

i am a track burn lover n i wish to buy a new family diesel car with fuel efficiency n 1 wch does not lag in performance.
would you people be able to advice me about the fuel efficiency and performance specifications between octavia and optra magnum n help me in making a final judgement.
with regards,

PRAMOD PRASAD
COCHIN

Hi Pramod,

When it comes to power, Magnum scores over the Octavia but may not be as economical as the Octavia. It may run a km or two lesser to a litre than the Octavia, but if you are looking at a complete package with great performance and good mileage, go for the magnum.

Well, if fuel efficiency is not a concern, you might as well stretch a lil’ bit and go for the Skoda RS .. you will really get to burn some rubber.

Hi friends
Might be an old thot. I have just completed Magnm, test drive.
Feed back. Negative
1. sluggish at first gear
2. The turbo charger gets open only above 2100 RPM.
3. Suspensions were not that nice.
4. Head rest pathetic
5. Some rattling noise from back
6. Steering comfort was not good comparing to older models
7. on top end LT model. There is little uncomfort as the horn as it not wide spreaded(like other vehicle-its because of the Air Bag) into the whole steering wheel but only 2 switches which will be horrible on high speed to search for it

Feed back. Positive
1. It a rocket after second gear
2. Good leg room front and back
3. Good look
4. Excellent AC
5. Power window is good.

I won’t saying its a ultimate as people say. And neither we cannot compare it with Skoda just because of Power and ABS. its like comparing BENZ with Verna

But its a decent vehicle

Raj,
The turbo-charger doesnt kick-in at low speeds on any car.So expecting the turbo-chrger to activate in the first gear is not right.
Yeah, the suspensions are a li’l stiff, even though they have eased them up a bit in the diesel, when compared to the petrol Magnum.
And the rattling might be caused due to its usage as a Demo-car..
heh heh.sorry, i love the magnum too much to take criticism.

Arjun,
The new scorpio is looking at what kind of changes?
And are they changing the power and the engine capacity in the new Fiesta?Diesel?
I doubt if I’ll go in for the Safari or the Verna or the Fiesta now.

Yeah, maybe the new Elatra is going to be worth waiting for.

As of now im all determined to buy the Magnum, but im reckoning it’ll take me around 2months to buy it.So, logically, I might as well wait till Jan :)

ps: has this post has become more popular than the Sierra post yet?

Hi Rohan,

[responding to your comments in the same order ;)]

I agree with you when you on your opinoin about Raj’s comment. The Scorpio is briniging in a lighter 2.2 L engine which will solve its stability issues and the feeling drivers get about the vehicle feeling like a skate board with no control over it at high speeds.

The new Fiesta will have a 1.6 L engine to take on the Verna. It isexpected to be superior to the Verna and with the orthodox Merc-ish kind of looks, I have a feeling that it could be a hit.

You may want to check out the Safari too. They are talking about at 140 - 150 bhp engine. If they manage to stick to the same price range, it could be a good product.

Also, since you are ready to wait till Jan, Optra may put the magnum engine on the SRV as well, which may be priced lower than the magnum and may feel more powerful due to the lighter weight.

I think it is a good decision to wait till the end of this year before choosing one of them. This segment should see a lot more action by then. I am waiting till Jan too.

Raj,

Your opinion on most of the comments you made is fine. Every individual is entitled to his / her opinion, but the last line where you made the comparision of Skoda to a merc and optra to the verna did not go well with me. Skoda is the economy range of the VW group, for all you know they could have trouble soon now that they have Skoda, VW and Audi all in the Indian market. We’ve really got to wait and watch how sensibly they can position Jetta, Octavia, Laura, Passat, Superb and ofcourse the A4, A6 from Audi.

Hi Rohan,

Going by the comments and the number of hits. Yes, it has ben a bigger hit than the Sierra. :)

Hi Rohan
I agree with you the TBC which will open up only at higher speed. But one thing I noticed its speed limit at first gear ratio which is very poor-May be because it’s a diesel car (even I am a Magnum Lover). But I need to say this. I own VIVA petrol with K&N. It’s beauty, but still I am looking for a change because of its lower torque. I did a test drive on MGNM (It’s a brand new car) I could not find the comfort which I was expecting. I don’t know all about the people over here. But I am a long driver; drives around 2000Km per month. In my exp some improvisation need to be done in the steering, headrest and types for a better drive. (Tyre’s we can upgrade. The tyre which there are providing is also not good. Its 195/60/15-Good Year, even I am using the same. But quality is different). I am using 195/60/14 which gives a better cushion effect (may be because of the alloy size).

Magunm Fans pls forgive me.

BUT ITS A ROCKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well on the subject of laura i am going through a very bad experience. i m n advocate and because of the callous approach of the officals of skoda i have filed a complaint before the consumer disputes forum, nagpur on behalf of my friend Shri Praful Gajbe. The said friend of mine had purchased a Laura on 10-1-2007. That on 30-6-2007 the vehicle had a complete breakdown and the delear has issued an estimate of Rs 6 lacs despite the fact that it is the warranty period. I had personally contacted the company officals who like politicians assured to look in the mater but never reverted. I had also issued a legal notice depite which the company did not respond compelling me to file the complaint. Is it the way the company is run by so called profesionals? There appears to be no sense of care for the customers by skoda. i will now fight the company tooth and nail regardless of the result since the attitude of the company is annoying,insulting and humiliating to sate the least

hi
any Idea about ford 1.6 diesl engine spec and 1.3 Fiat disel engine spec.

thanks
raj

Hi…..
I M owning 2006 model of Skoda Octavia RS.
It is a fantastic car. Ihave gone over 200kph mark with it.
Now i m looking to buy a new diesel car. My price bracket is frm 8-12lacs. Im considering Verna CRDI, Optra Magnum TCDI or Skoda Octavia Tdi. My prime focus is on its high performance, Pick-up, Power, and high TOP SPEED. Also let me know vich one of these car is faster in Top Speed and by how much.
Let me also know whether Verna or Optra Magnum or Octavia diesel is capable for 200kph mark. Fuel efficency is not important…What r the top speed figures of these three car.

Thanks

Hi Amrit,

Of the options you have presented, go for the Magnum. The official brochure claims that the top speed is 195 kms/hr, but I am sure you can push it to 200. The Octavia 1.9 TDI’s official top speed is 182 Km/hr. The Verna should be around the 170 - 180 range.

I know you want to go for a diesel car. But, If mileage is not a concern, why don’t you consider the Octavia Rider - Petrol. It is similar to the RS in performance and should fit in the budget as well [Considering Skoda would give discounts for the Petrol Rider]. It is just that you will have two similar cars in your garage.

Hi Raj,

I am not sure about the 1.6 Diesel Fiesta’s spec. But, considering that they are trying to outdo the Verna Diesel, it should be a great package when it arrives.

No idea about the 1.3 Fiat. I am not sure which car you are referring to, but I remember having heard that the diesel engine which Swift has is borrowed from FIAT and FIAT intends to use the same engine on 2 other models, one of which is Linea, dunno the other.

Hey guyz, thanks a lot for this thread, provides a good insite. I liked Magnum after I test drove it. However if I think economy I feel Honda City is a better car than Magnum and If I think Class, Style then Honda Civic comes into the picture. So economy or style itz honda. I am trying to push myself towards Magnum though. :-) …Comments?

hi guyz!!!
am plaaning to buy a new car!! the ones i have in mind are ford fiesta and chevrolet optra magnum!!! which one do u think has a better value for money and is easy for maintanance!!! or is ter a better car in the range of 11 lakhs?? please give in your valuable suggestions!!!

Dileen,

Can you specify your naure of use

thanks
Raj

Hi Rajkiran,
Ofcourse you are right. But if you consider yourself a thrilling drivier then magnum comes first. Honda is for a class diplomatic ride not for a rough and speedy drive,

what do you say
Thanks
Raj

It is very easy to choose - look at AutoBild, AutoExpress, etc ranking of car-makers and models and you will see where Daewoo/Chevy and Skoda are placed:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/driver_power_2007/207910/skoda_octavia_new.html

Hi,
I am owning a ford ikon diesel..So now am gng to change my car.my range is 9 to 10.5 lacs..whish is d best

Hi Vishwa,

Since you can stretch up to 10.5 L, go for the Optra Magnum. You will not repent the decision. If you want to play comfotably in your budget, go for the Verna - that’s the best in that segment currently.

Actually am planning to buy fiesta or magnum…. in wat reasons verna is better than fiesta…

hey guys! I bought a SX4 in may 07 as soon as it launched in bangalore. unfortunatly 2 weeks back, was involved in a reall dad crash. The car is a total loss. Fortunetly i escaped without a scrach thanks to the seat belts and air bags. Well thats history now, but I am cosidering buying Magnum desel fully loaded as it has ABS & Air Bags or should i go for the SX4 itself. I dont know. what do you think will be a better buy and why. I drive about 1500, Km a month and i need the air bags it saved my life, I also want a very fast car as well. Or do you suggest that i should wait for the new models to come in

hey guys, i just booked an optra magnum LT….what colour do you guys advise? pls help

Black looks great on the magnum, but maintaining black could be a pain. My suggestion would be that you either go with the platinum metallic or Cashmere.

look-wise, do u think black will really suit magnum LT? bcos i had already booked a black one…

what do u mean by difficulty in maintaining a black magnum?

Black looks great on the Magnum. The reason I said black could be a pain to maintain is because even a small scratch shows up prominently on a black which on other sober colors [like silver / white/ cashmere] may not show up.

Folks, I have completed 4000 km in magnum in 2 months. Here is little feedback from myside:
Here goes the mileage part:
11-12 in city. 14 if you continuousy drive inbetween 130-150. 12 if you drive beyond 150. The best mileage is 20 if you continuously drive at 100.
Stabily: very stable even @180. I reaized this after looking at the speedometer needle while driving from bangalore to chennai in GQD. Inside the cabin there is no vibration, no noise at 180. Next week I am driving down to goa. If someone could let me know the best route, I would vey much appreciate.

Hi Satya,

The best road to drive on from B’lore to goa is on the NH4 - till Hubli (Bangalore - Tumkur - Hubli) and then connect on to the NH17 (Yellapur - Karwar), The road is good.

Alternatively, if you want a more scenic route, drive from Bangalore - Mangalore, take a break in Mangalore, then proceed to Karwar - Goa. NH throughout, good roads, slightly longer route though.

Can anyone compare Magnum with verna? I need to understand maintainnance cost and other parameters? which will have a better re-sale value? please advise

Test drive once to get a first hand impression. It would be a big pain driving verna crdi in city. Interior Space, quaity of material… As verna falls under one class lower. However its better to drive once.

Hi Guys,

This post fits perfectly in my scheme of confusions! I’ve almost made up my mind on the Magnum Diesel LS, but my dad says wait for the Scorpio Eagle in Jan. Does anyone know of the exact launch dates and more info on the eagle, this will help make my decision.

Also, about Magnum, my concern is the stability at High Speeds. Please advise on the same. Re-sale i agree with one of the comments earlier , i will use it for 3 years and expect about 5 lacs from it then.

hi guys i have purchased magnum lt is a awesome car great pickup and good braking system and not very noiseee also its value for money and average is litle low of 11- 12 in city ac is very cool seats are comfortable

Hi

Am contemplating real hard on buying the Optra Magnum Diesel LT/Optra Magnum Petrol. Test driven both of them. My average run on the car would be 1000-1200 km per month.

Good/Bad

1. Magnum diesel is a rocket. I actually realised I am doing 80 on the 2nd gear only after looking at the speedometer. The engine did not make a sound, nor cud i feel the pressure on the accel. Whereas in Petrol, the car’s engine sound and the feel of the pressure on the engine informed me of the speed being at 60 on the second gear.

2. Petrol is almost 1.5 lac cheaper than the diesel variant.

3. Resale values of petrol cars are better than that of diesels

4. 1600 cc petrol vs 2000 cc diesel for Bombay driving. Bad Traffic u see.

5. Diesel should ask for really high maintenance post 3-4 years is what my assumption is, as compared to the petrol variant.

6. Diesel has ABS/Petrol does not.

7. Petrol has sun-roof/Diesel does not. The dealer told me it will cost me a lac to get the sun-roof on the diesel.

8. There are no discounts on the diesel and petrol is carrying a nice package

9. 3 yr 1 lac km warranty on petrol/2 yr 50 k warranty on diesel

Now,
ABS is useful. I wont keep the car after 5 yrs. I love speed and power. With the run that I have, I think the differnece of price in diesel and petrol is taken care of in 3 yrs( assuming diesel averaging 14 in city and petrol 8, as per the dealers info.). Warranty is needed for Mumbai traffic conditions. I will actually be pushing my budget to accomadate the diesel variant. And yeah, I would take only the top end in either case.

And I thought, instead of buying the Magnum Petrol for the price offered, I can go for the Honda City top end for that price.

I am terribly confused. Any pointers….

Hi Pratik,

You’ve brought out a very interesting point. This is something which I have been wanting to write about for quite some time now but for some reason or the other, have never managed to.

The thumb rule says that if you do not drive [atleast] 50 kms on an average daily, it is not worth going for the diesel.

I did some rough calculation. I assumed that you will drive 1200 kms a month, the petrol magnum gives a mileage of 9 kms to a liter and the diesel about 11 and the cost of fuel as 35 and 50. Going by these values, it will take you over 4 years to break even - for the extra cost you have paid for diesel. You say that you will keep the vehicle for about 5 years, but who knows, you may change your mind earlier too.

Also, are you looking at the older Optra or the new Petrol Magnum, not that there is any difference in the engine, but the new magnum looks similar to its diesel sibling?

From the pointers you have given, and assuming that price you pay for the car and the cost to recover the extra money you’ve paid takes precedence over power and performance, I would suggest that you go for the Honda City [high end model]. It has ABS and Airbags. The resale value anyday is better for it than the Optra.

One thing that I also wanted to know was the mainenance the diesel optra would carry over the years. Chevy puts a maintenance guarantee on their website. How much do they adhere to it.
The CRDi engine in optra mag diesel is same as that of accent viva i gues.. How has viva fared with its engine with respect to maintenance. Somehow I cant let the power of magnum diesel offf my mind and may end up buying that even with the low run that i have. Optra dealers say the market feedback for diesel is 14-15 as compared to the 11 that u say… Now I am a bit more confused on that front.

Hi Pratik,

I have tried to answers your questions in the same order.

GM is pretty good with maintenance. I had a Opel Corsa earlier and my experience with them as far as service or repairs is concerned was very good. So, I feel you will not be disappointed on this front.

Also, the CRDi engines have really matured now. I have a Hyundai Accent CRDi which has done 43,000 kms in 2 years and my ownership experience with it has been extremely good. Apart from the regular services and the bulb fuses, I have not spent anything on the maintenance.

No, the engine in the Optra Magnum is a much superior one than that on the Verna or the Accent Viva. When it comes to the sheer capabilities of the engine, Magnum’s engine is distinctly superior than the Verna’s or the Viva’s or even for that matter the existing Skoda Octavia.

I can understand the feeling … I myself am a victim of that. Also, if you want, you can go for the Optra Magnum SRV, the hatchback version of Magnum which has the same engine. You will find the power on the SRV diesel better than the regular Magnum due to the higher power to weight ratio. I think it is priced at about 8+ Lakhs [ex-showroom]. You will just miss the boot, but the SRV looks much more sexier than the Magnum. Think about it.

The dealers generally quote higher mileages. All marketers are liars. Go with 11 for the calculations, if you get more than that.. you will have a bigger smile on your face. Agree?

Hi guys

please advice. I am planning for a car in 8-10 Lac bracket. Now my obvious choice is Magum, but i am having a couple of concerns. I am in chandigarh.

Now firstly, i have been in the process of shortlisting for abut 2 months. About 1.5 month back while enquiring from magnum dealer, he mentioned that they have sold more than 50 vehicles. but somehow i dont see many magnums on the road, in fact it seems a rarety to spot one. lately i have been able to spot a few magnums but still visibility is sparce. i really dont understand. is it not selling as much or what?

Secondly, earlier there was a booking period. is it still on that or is it available “off the shelf”?

Kindly do comment. thanks

Hi Amit,

I agree with you. Initially, it was hard to spot magnum’s on the road, but now you get to see quite a lot of them on the road.

It is selling pretty well. Quite well to send shivers down skoda’s spine.

I am not sure about the booking period.

Yes, the AC problem is pathetic, you have to keep changing the controls to avoid the screen getting condensed. Most people do not know there are four major flaws with all Laura’s:

1. The hose pipe touches the fan near the bonnet, causing a harsh sound. This causes both the fan and the hose pipe to wear out prematurely. If you notice the problem the service engineers wil put two wiring harnesses from the local market that are used to tie computer cables. They will charge you Rs.500 for service and Rs.150/- for each harness (they cost Rs.2 in the market). However the problem will not be sorted until you go to a good garage and ask them toe tie thin ropes (suthli’s). This is a manufacturing defect in all Laura’s.
2. The headlight cleaner that pop’s out after five windscreen washes, has a body coloured cover which falls off on the driver side. The replacement cover costs Rs.500 and and extra Rs.300 for the paint since it only comes in black.
3. The ac control has to be directed to the feet to avoid the screen from getting condensed. This causes the passengers in the rear to become very uncomfortable.
4. The tyres in the Laura develop a bubble after 4-6 months of usage, the only remedy is replacement of all tyres, which costs around Rs.29,000/-

Apart from the above standard problems the fuel lock release switch is also problematic, with most cars facing that problem. After about a years usage the lid refuses to open, Skoda engineers will surely replace something and give you a huge bill, but the problem never completely goes away.

Our company has 20 Skoda octavias and 9 Lauras, including one of the origianl imported Lauras with 8 airbags. The quality of Skoda has really suffered, with even the Octavias giving a ton of problems. I spoke to 5 people in Skoda Ahmednagar and they didnt even bother to reply to our directors. This after buying 29 cars, I can imagine what an individual owner goes through.

If you have to go for a diesel go for a Optra Magnum. Chevrolet is trying hard to please its customers and the price is low too. Our company scrapped the idea of buying a superb after seeing the host of problems. We are not even buying the Passat which has been offered to us in a loyalty scheme, since it is the same family and shares the same parts and manufacturing facitilty.

Moral of the story…Old Octy’s rock, new ones suck. Laura is a defective car, not meant for keeps. Our company has already sold 7 of the 9 Lauras.

S A Singh.

Mumbai

I love the Optra interiors. Its the best for the price that you would be paying for it. However I love the Sun Roof. I really wish the Diesel version had one. However I am very very very much planning to buy the Optra Magnum 1.6LT with leather upholstery ……….. and Sun Roof. Hey Deepak, can you please give me more gyaan on owning this beautiful piece of machinery. I am in damn need of sincere advice of actual users of Optra Magnum Petrol. Everywhere I look people think that Optra Magnum = only Diesel but I am more interested in the Petrol version. You can send me a message on bombay_bandit@hotmail.com (i only use this id for MSN and never check the mail)

Melyssa Ford…

Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts…..

hi i am sudhanshu
Folks, I have completed 4000 km in magnum in 2 months. Here is little feedback from myside:
Here goes the mileage part:
11-12 in city. 14 if you continuousy drive inbetween 130-150. 12 if you drive beyond 150. The best mileage is 20 if you continuously drive at 100.
Stabily: very stable even @180. I reaized this after looking at the speedometer needle while driving from bangalore to chennai in GQD. Inside the cabin there is no vibration, no noise at 180. Next week I am driving down to delhi. If someone could let me know the best route, I would vey much appreciate.

Hi Everyone,

Im planning to buy Optra Magnum in this month..Can anyone of you tell me whether the price of the vehicle is going to change in January or not as the showroom people r saying that its going to increase by 25000 in January…

Hi guys,
I am thinking of buying the Magnum Diesel LT. I have test driven the car on the Greater Noida Expressway and trust me it is indeed a rocket - My cousin was sitting next to me and was not expecting me to take the car for a pick-up test - his head banged at the head reast as soon as I accelerated -
However, my only fear is the GM brand - boss the Japanese rule the roost for reliability and also when would the diesel start hitting my pocket and what would be the average servicing cost.
I am almost decided in going for the car - unless someone can come up with something really critical to change my mind
Please help!!!!

Zandra…

Another great read.. not sure how you keep it up!…

HI FRIENDS
I am planning to buy Optra Magnum Petrol LT..Anyone can tell is it good car?
My average driving per day is 30-40km per day and 150km on highways per month ..
Please advice Me

hello everybody, i want a diesel car. i m pretty impressed wid optra magnum LT by reading all d reviews. Actually i am a big fan of skoda cars. i liked their looks, huge body specially Laura, their success rate n all… now Octavia has become older n common, so my mind is between Laura & Optra Magnum.
i cant decide between these two cars. as per reviews, Optra Magnum has good and powerfull engin configuration than Laura but its matter of 100cc. Ans Laura is more specious n comfertable with many systems like climate control ac, rain sensors, auto adjestable lights from cabin, auto dimming mirrors, tyre pressure monitering, etc etc..
which is not availale in optra. i know tht we dont need all these systems but some of them are usefull tht is available in lower Laura models. one more big thing tht turns me to laura is, it has greater length, width, height n other dimentions, more cabin(head and leg) space at front n rear both. so it looks huge, tht optra is not. so these some points r confusing me to make a dicision. please help me with your final diagnosis. i m not concern with pirce. pls pls help me……………what should i do?

Chirag,

I am not sure if comparing Magnum to the Laura is fair. They are 2 different segments. Laura is definitely superior and you should go for it. What I fail to understand even today is why Skoda decided to launch Laura in a different segment here in India whereas the rest of the world Laura was the replacement for the Octavia.

Also, you may just want to check the feedback on the Laura from some existing owners. I remember people having posted some complaints about the Laura on this blog.

Hi Arjun, you are right that they are from different segment, but it doesn’t concern to me neither its price. I just want a good n best Diesel car. Actually i haven’t listen about Laura’s complains from anyone b’coz of poor contacts so i don’t know about that, but what Mr. S.A. Singh (#66) has writen is right or not? & Can u please tell me the complains and negative points of Laura from your point of view?
If you are at my place than which car will u choose? Laura OR Magnum?

And i have heared about Magnum tht its power steraing is numb n gear box is also hard. Rear leg room is less. Is that right? Is it noisy from outside? what is your response about that?

Hi Chirag,

The comments I’ve heard about the Laura are that the ride quality is a litlle bad, On bad roads - the ride quality detiroates further. This is the most popular negative review I’ve heard. Apart from this - the others are more on an individual basis.

If I were to be in your place, I would have definitely gone for the Laura.

As far as your comments on the Magnum are concerned - I did not get to feel the numbness in the power steering nor did I feel the gear box was hard. In fact, I felt this one had a better gear box than the previou Optra. But, one thing that I noticed was the front suspension tends to make some noise or does not seem to be properly aligned when you swivel the vehcile from one side to the other. I am not sure again if this was a problem of that particular vehicle I test drove or if the statement can be generalized. The rear leg room is decent - better than Octavia’s, but then again I’ve not compared it to the Laura’s.

I am sure you will have fun immaterial of which car you decide to buy of the two. Have a fabulous 2008.

Danny T….

Wow, nice blog….

hi guys
I am owner of Optra magnum LT diesel & i bought this car before it was officially released in Surat ,its been 15560 Kilometers of drive on this run machine ,running for 15-17 kilometers on highway, I have drove the car above 160 KMPH on NH8-A ,great response for braking & acceleration,marvellous suspensions and good seating comfortability. everything is just so good , people only can make out that its old chevy optra (refurbished) by looking its hump and i find people still astonished to make out which car is it ?looking its front , I guess GM should work changing the rear exterior looks and little bit of hands on front lower showgrill changing it into a stronger mesh ,the only draw back i could feel is the low resale value ,may be its a stigma that GM cars are all with low resale values, overall i must rate this vehicle as one of the best owned vehicles by me untill now.

Jessie…

I’ll admit it. i have been to your blog SIX times since your last post looking for a new post…….

I have found only 2 issues with my Magnum.

1) Not so smooth 1st and second gear (But my vehicle is done only 2K and I cud feel a good +ve change than my intial 100KM)
2) Head light not so bright / focussed. Im planning for a 100/110W Philips rally bulb upgrade.

Apart from this I found every bit of this vehicle is Value For Money…

Love the way she pulls.. I feel Im in an airbus which takes off by a irritated pilot :)

Hi Guys,

I am contemplating between a Optra magnum LS petrol and Verna xxi ABS. I am particularly interested in knowing mileage from the car both in city drive and highway drive. Can the petrol magnum owners provide their feedback., Also heard and read a lot about the low resale value of GM cars which is a cause of concerns. Can anyone let me know to what extent it is bad as compared to other cars…say a honda city or a verna. Please provide your valuable feedback as I am really confused between the 2 cars. I liked optra more for the rich interiors.

Arjun,
Man…im dropping by after almost a coupla months and I notice The Optra Magnum post still doing strong as ever..I think this must be a world record..superb interest generated eh?
Hz it going man..been long.
Did you buy the Magnum or what? And c’mon..give us some new post…waiting for your reviews on the Fabia and the Captiva.
cheers :)
Rohan

I heard the resale value for Optra Magnum is not that good. How far it is true for a Disel version(LS), 3 years single hand drive touching around 75-80 thousand Kms.

Hi guys,
Proud owner of the Optra Magnum LT which has done about 5000 kms by now. Ok now the reviews. My dad alredy has a Honda Civic and so I had bought this car purely for brute force it exudes. I have touched 185 km / hr on the expressway (yes you ready it right - One hundred and eighty five km / hr). Now the list of victims - cars that I have thrashed on the highway - Honda Accord, Skoda Octavia, Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari and Toyota Corolla - all I need is a gap of 30 metres and the moment both of us (me and the other car) have to brake due to traffic, this monster with a killer torque crushes anyone ahead. Trust me guys-this car defines what g-force is
As far as mileage is concerned - 13-14 with premium fuel (say Speed or Power). Awesome braking - all disc brakes have helped me accelerate really well as I know I can stop at will - some irritants - rear view mirrors have to be folded manually - no sun roof - both of these are available in the petrol version
Just a thought - dont race it with BMW or the Audi - I tried - ok lets not talk about it…..
Will keep posting reviews - lets make a record guys

Guys, am a first time poster here.

Until the Magnum diesel LT, I was not a car buff. But now, I read all car magazines with a jealous passion to see if ayone’s giving my Maggie a run for her money.

So far nothing. Although I see the new Lancer revving in Evo tones on the horizon.

The car is a beauty. The space is insane, the power mephistophilian and the looks… well, not bad at all. GM has proven reliable but expensive on service after a freak accident. (4-ft steel pipe from sixth floor on parked car)

My only compaints: ac makes a bit of a whirring racket, and mileage is closer to 9-10 in Bombay. But oh, what fun to know whats under the hood. Its like picking a fight in Bombay knowing you have a gun, even if you don’t intend using it.

Can’t wait to leave town.

Oh, and I must admit. Recently drove the City (test drove Fiesta, SX4, Verna and Corolla before Maggie) and boy, the gearshift and steering are a different ballgame altogether. My advice, if power’s your thing, its the Mag. If you like sense, sensibilities and the like, The City is still the one after all these years. And thanks to the Logan, its no longer the ugliest car on Indian roads.

Hi guys,
It was good reading your posts on Optra Magnum. I am planning to buy a car, and have the Optra Magnum Petrol LT in mind (I have a thing against diesel cars, and am willing to compromise on power). I read through all entries here but no comments on Petrol Magnum. Could someone help, please - I have to finalize by this weekend!
Thanks!

Hi Guys

go for OpTRA MagnUm Ls, ask for better discount atleast 45 K, ABS and airbags not required wasting 1 Lakh more on LT bcuase this is INDIA and no chance driving more that 80 - 100 KM/Hr….good car

thanks

Nandkumar

I am Sivashankar from Tamilnadu. I Purchased My New Optra Magnum Diesel (LT Model) on October 2007. I have also given the 2 start(**) rating as JD Asia pacific Customer.

Now my car passed 35000kms
till date(1/9/2008). On 27th August, 2008 I just parked my car in a place and went to a shop, came back in few min’s and started my car. The car did not start. I tried three four time nothing happened.

Immediately I called the Coimbatore GM service center regarding this issue. They said the Diesel Pump failed to pump the fuel to the engine as it has become heat, you need to wait for 10/15 min the pump will cool down and then you can start. The same way it happened the car started. The GM service person assured they will replace the Fuel pump with a new one in warranty. Still the pump has not changed. They say the pump has to come, they don’t have it in Stock.

Till 1/9/2008 morning i dint come across the same problem by 12.00pm when I was passing the city the same thing happened that to i was in driving. As the engine stopped i could not even stear the car to move to the corner of the road as the Hydraulic pump requires engine support to operate. I was very badly put in deep trouble in the public.

The American GM-General Motors getting Rs.1000000/- and making the Indian Customers to suffer to this extreme end is very bad to say. What GM is going to do for this. Even if they replace the faulty component now, what is the assurance that this will not happen again after 30000kms again.

Latter I came to know, this not only in my car, An Optra Magnum Diesel with a driving Kms of 17000kms also faced the same complaint.

Is it the “?” situation of the one who buy the GM Optar Magnum Diesel.

I am preparing list of in issue in the Optra Magnum which i will plant to submit it to the company and to the Public which holds some 60 pages.