2004 Chevrolet Optra LT from Malaysia - Comments

Cup Holder clip broke on the first day. (Rectified and replaced).

Whining Sound from engine. (Bearing replaced).

Wind noise at 110km/hour. (Paned re-glued and rectified).

Air Conditioned compressor sound when pressed the accelerator. (Still awaiting parts to be replaced).

Tyre Noise. (Not under warranty).Therefore I have to resource other 'silence type' tyre by myself.

This car comes with Full Time Traction Control. It controls handling very well. Even a suspension was tuned nicely just like Lotus handling.

Cabin is seriously nice until those who sat in my car felt like it has no Korean car feeling. Legroom is spacious for front and back.

The engine derived from Holden.Rough, but tough. Somehow rather the engine timing has been advanced. Add some X1-R will soften the engine noise. Be careful with the type of fuel used for the engine. Lower fuel quality caused the engine to knock.Means, be careful with the petrol station you used. They may add some substance and it will reduce the fuel quality. OR buy octane booster.

Agent: No comment.

MAIN COMMENT:Dealer need to justify the promotion.'Quiet' car. A brochure shows the car in the philharmonic hall is not quite right. I can feel wind noise at 100km/h and tyre noise need to be rectified.

Customer: Technical knowledge needed. With the knowledge you will know how good is this car. I learned myself.

Hi, what is that X1-R you are talking about, can you provide more info of website.

Thanks.

Henry.

Please email me.

Armanico81@yahoo.com.sg.

XR-1 is a oil additive that is supposed to reduce the friction in your engines moving parts, thus improving performance by abit and also reducing noise. shud be able to find it at most motor accessories shops.

The Chevrolet I bought in April 2004 was first “nice” to handle on the road, its’ suspension feel much better then the local car and still is. Of cause one must expect it to be, at the initial price then and the automotive features not found in others. However, the nightmare begin when the engine timing start to fluctuate inconsistently with the idling speed of the engine.

I got it service by the Chevrolet technical team that came in from K. L just so happen that they were in J. B as the vendor mentions it, but that did not solve the problem. Only later it was noted that, since the car is fully “wired”, any kink in the circuiting system would cause intermittent impulse to any of the connection causing the engine to run on a “war path”.

The solution then was to strip all the wiring harness again and straighten any kink in the layout, well that did some good for a while. Now since then, the same problem is lingering back. But this time the engine check indicator light won’t goes off after the engine is started.

My goodness what a fright, can you imagine in the middle of perhaps between Bandar Muazzam to Negeri Sembilan should the car break down, ever pass through that route before a night or the north south highway? What then? Bye-bye amigos. There goes your BUCK.

Another visit to the mechanic discovered the wiring harness – wiring itself plus the insulation coating have frayed???, - what just got it like two years ago the wiring starting to crippple. Imagine in another 2 year to come, I wonder what connection should I supplement then, we should know best – the Malaysia boleh attitude. Any thing can as long it works.

I am contemplating, getting rid of the harness now an refurbished it with a BMW harness of course this take some thinking, but since the making of an entrepreneur is in all of us there no harm in practice (– ta..da…) perhaps this will solve all Chevrolet car engine from going into a WAR PATH itself. CrazyCar.

I'm considering Optra5 and I heard from my friend that, there might be spare part concern whereby Chevrolet spare parts are very hard to find and ~2x more expensive compared to Japanese car. Appreciate if existing Chevrolet Optra car owner can comment on this. Thanks.

I have an 04 Optra5 with 38,000 kms on it. Overall I am quite happy with the car, with the exception of the tires! The only thing I wish I had gotten on the car is ABS, as with the 4 wheel disc brakes, combined with the awful factory tires, it is like a skateboard on snow.

The headlights are fantastic, great distance, I plan on getting the same style of bulb changed over in my 04 Montana.

I would recommend it as a commuter car.