Mar 10, 2012 09:33 PM
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Cars owned in the past. Maruti 800, Indica DLX, Maruti Esteem, Honda City, Maruti Wagon R, Volkwagen Vento.
I bought and sold Vento petrol highline in a period of less than one year. The main reason was the rising petrol prices, otherwise barring some niggles Vento was phenomenal. The only major grief I had against the car was constant need to downshift for overtaking and acceleration. The ride was comfortable but the driver had to be constantly active tweaking gears. On the backdrop of Honda city this was a major source of discomfort. Also the claimed maximum power was available at very high RPM, so under normal driving conditions the power was often inadequate.
On a trip to Solapur the average was mere 12 kmpl under very adverse driving conditions.(Hot sun, constant diversions, traffic jams.). That started me thinking about the diesel cars. So far I did not want to go for diesel vehicles as a responsible citizen, what with the pollution factor and unfairness of using subsidized fuel for private means. But with this kind of average and petrol prices, finally the self control snapped. I thought why I alone had to be Shrimaan Satyawaadi.
My first thought was to sell Wagon R and buy a diesel hatchback. I reached this decision very unwillingly because I like Wagon R. It's an excellent vehicle for city driving.
To cut a long story short, after weighing options like Ford Figo, Maruti Ritz, Nissan Micra, Skoda Fabia, finally settled down on Chevy Beat. Trendy looks, driveability were some of the factors that went in favour of Beat. And also availability ex stock was also an important factor.
After taking couple of test drives with M/s Pashankar Auto had almost decided to write a cheque. While we were waiting for the paper work, the salesman mentioned casually that Optra diesel is also available. Since we were not really thinking of selling Vento in a span of less than 1 year, we were not serious. But what auto enthusiast can resist a free test ride?
They brought out the car. The car looked magnificent from outside. Inside was like a luxury sedan. I was half sold nearly by the looks. And then the test ride. Harish the sales executive took out the car from the showroom in a burst of speed that pushed our backs against the seat. The exhilaration went nonstop. I took the test ride on the Katraj road. What impressed me most were the ride quality and the raw power. For the first time I was experiencing a performance car. I had never experienced such a brute power in any of my previous cars. They were all economy vehicles. For the first time understood the mystique of BMWs and Mercs.
The car hit me viscerally. After the test ride I was not prepared to look at anything else, so much so that I wanted to drive it straight home. My son dragged me out to look at some of the options like newly launched Ford Fiesta and Skoda Rapid. Looked at new Ford Fiesta. It has all the gizmos like voice activated control system and all. The looks are also very modernistic. But got a feeling of being an egg in the crate. The interiors are so busy. From every side the car clamors for attention. As against that Optra is spacious and unobtrusive. You sit in Optra like you sit in your office. No doubt the looks are little old fashioned for some like my daughter, but they hooked me with their simplicity. The car looks like the cars looked in their heydays.
Skoda Rapid is nothing but Vento Diesel at heart. I had also heard horror stories about the spare part prices. And once something clicks with you, you find all the right reasons to reject the alternatives.
Nothing in the competition offered 125 BHP and torque of 300+ at fairly moderate RPM, independent suspension on rear, all wheel disk brakes, all leather seats, and the refined feeling. I had sat in a 1980 model Merc once, and knew that I am not ever going to afford it. The spacious and understatedly elegant cabin of Optra reminded me of that car. Well sue me for saying that, but I was convinced that I am getting a poor man's Merc.
My son told me that the music system is very old fashioned with no blue tooth and USB connectivity. I said so what? If I want to listen to music I would do it at home. Look at the ride quality due to independent suspension. It also has ABS and airbags.
The horn buttons are smallish and you have to hunt for them. So what it is matter of getting used to. Look at the specious seats in leather. Look at the faux wooden accents in the cabin. Look at the excellent cabin insulation. Nobody sitting inside can imagine that the vehicle is diesel. The cabin is totally vibration free.
The only thing that surprises me is why the kind product managers of Chevy want to hush up this car? Probably they want to push Cruze, which is a phenomenal car but in a different price bracket.
So undeterred by my son and son in law I went ahead and booked the car.
Now it is almost a month. I held on writing the review till I got to know the ‘beast’ quite well. I must say that the three cars that I bought delivered more than what I paid for them, Maruti Esteem, Honda City and now Chevy Optra.
Because of the independent suspension the ride quality is smoothest of the cars I listed. The air conditioner meets all the demands that Pune weather can place on it. Even when you switch the A/C on in the middle of a steep incline, there is no hiccough like other under powered cars. On the highway there is never any need to downshift to either accelerate or to overtake. People have talked about the turbo lag, but for me that is hardly noticeable. Other than cars like Superbs or Mercs nothing, nothing can leave this car behind. The monstrous SUVs are also frustrated considering the weight to power ratio.
In city I could hardly ever drive the Optra in the 4th or the 5th gear, that is something that was possible in Honda City. Their gear ratios are just optimum for city driving like the name suggests. When driving on the highway I never felt any need for additional power. I never had to think twice before accelerating as there is always reserve power.
The headlights are just adequate. For a car of this class, Xenon lamps would have been super.
There are no rear seat vents as Vento has but the cooling is so impeccable, I never missed the rear vents.
The front seat adjustments are such that I get excellent lumber support. The driving posture gives good road visibility even though the car is low slung. While driving one has to make adjustment for the looong bonnet of the car.
The A beam does not occlude the visibility in the ghat section. I drove to Baramati in full sun amidst heavy traffic. Never felt like a business drive but like a pleasure jaunt. I could get an average of about 15 kmpl with A/C on all the time.
There are no niggles that I experienced in the car so far. Cabin insulation is excellent.
What can I write more? Now my son and my daughter are contrite souls. They now grudgingly admit that the old man was right.
