2006 Chevrolet Optra Sedan from Singapore - Comments

The Hold button is suggested only can be used during these circumstances:-

1) Emergency Overtaking. Press the hold button and drop the gear. Please see the rev meter. Do not over rev.

2) Going uphill whereby the hill angle is more than 40% steep.

It is not advisable to use the hold button during cruising especially high speed.

Using hold button means you need to shift the gear.

Otherwise, other than the above circumstances, just drive using 'D' as much as possible. Use "Step Down Accelerator Method" for normal overtaking.

What I've always been told is that the time to have the overdrive off is when you are driving around in stop and go traffic. I've noticed when I just put it in D with the overdrive on, it always shifts into overdrive too soon, and then as soon as you step on the gas again it shifts back down into 3rd, and back and forth, back and forth. This increases wear on the trans. I can't figure out why you would turn off the overdrive when you're passing, because if you step on the gas pedal it will down shift by itself. You're also supposed to down shift if you are going down hills so you don't ride the brakes.

The hold button only applicable on 1.8LT model. It does not come with Overdrive function.

While 1.6 model do have overdrive button (at certain countries).

I would never recommend a Chevrolet Optra to anyone. It is a really bad car!!! Do not buy. I have a eight month old 2006 model and I have taken it to the dealers four times since I got it. There are numerous electrical problems the engine light comes on, and the car shuts down.

I have a 2005 OPTRA LS and since I've gotten the car I have never had any major problem with it, other than having the wheel balancing and fuel pump being replace at the dealers expense. I love this this car because it not only good on gas, it's also very reliable. I use my OPTRA for work and pleasure and having that said I at least rack up to about 200kl-300kl a day and sometimes more because since I've gotten my car I've put some after market performance stuff to it such as COLD AIR INTAKE, TURBO, INTERCOOLER and change my whole exhause system from 1.5 inch pipe to 2.5 inch with HI FLOW CATALYTIC and a PERFORMANCE EXHAUSE, SPOILER, BODY KITS AND 18inch rims and by doing all this my OPTRA NOW went fron 119hp to 178hp and untill now I have not come accross any major problem still eccept for the gas price (HAHAHA) >. So in my own opinion I don't think that the car is the problem, its the the people in the service department are.

PROWD OWNER OF A

2005 OPTRA LS

VANCOUVER B.C

CANADA.

Definitely is not a good car, i encountered too much problems with my optra 2005.

I have a 2004 Optra LS Sedan.

I have run into many issues with the vehicle, many of which, I am told are "normal". Well in any other vehicle I have never encountered these issues.

I purchased the car in August 2004, in the fall of 2004 I started to notice my windows were fogging up extremely bad, even out of the blue while driving. It became so bad sometimes I had to pull over to have it de-fog before I could drive anymore. I tried using de-fog spray on the windows, this helped slightly. When I complained they said it was due to moisture in the car. Sure, no problem, but I have had vehicles before and NEVER encountered anything like this. They never fixed anything with it, assured me it is normal, even in the middle of the dryest summers with the windows rolled down my windows will all of a sudden begin to fog up. This is NOT normal.

My front lights have needed to be replaced twice since I got it, bulbs burn out really quickly. Not sure if this is "normal" or not.

The clock in the console kept flickering on and off for about a month until finally it stopped working and they finally would replace it (because my luck was that it worked whenever I brought the car in).

One of my most recent problems has been the AC. I went to turn it on for the first time this summer and it would not work. I took it in once and they said there was nothing wrong with it. A week later it still was not working and I took it in, seems like there was a silent recall for an AC part for Optra and they did not even look at the part, but said, yes there is a new part they will order it for me, come back later to have it installed.

Another problem I am actually asking them tomorrow is my airbag light is on constantly now. As well as the car is jerking and stalling when it tries to change gears (I have an automatic). I think it may be leaking transmission fluid as well, which would explain the problem.

What I am scared about is what kind of problems am I going to run into when my warranty runs out? This is getting stupid.

I have an Optra 5L 2004 - and have had many issues with it as well. I'd say I go in to the dealership with it more times in a year then I ever did with my previous car a 97 Ford Escort. I leased the Optra because of the price/option ratio - I could only dream of having cruise control and a/c on a Toyota. The Optra seemed like a good deal since for the same price as a base model T, I was getting a slew of other features.

I must admit after having driven it for 3 years that I don't find it particularly good on gas, and the parts are crap. For instance, I have had to change the rims twice. I live in Montreal - pot hole hell - so accepted my demise the first time around. But there is no justification of having to replace the front rims a second time other than the parts are crap as I am not what one might consider a careless driver and try to avoid the holes as much as I can.

Other issues are that I find that the a/c takes forever to cool the car, particularly on a hot day. Um...isn't then we need it most?? I've had to have a timing belt inspection done at 50K which I found absurd seeing as most cars schedule it at 120K - and of course they only tell you this AFTER you buy the thing. The SSPS light is on now... not sure what that means, and I don't get why the car down-shifts on its own sometimes, but other than that, I'm satisfied.

But what I really want to say after reading all your comments on this - servicing at the right place really does make a difference. If you don't like your dealership, go to another one. My dealership is amazing - they take the time to explain the issue, and go to great pains to ensure I am satisfied every time and of all the dealer service shops I've dealt with, these guys are by far the best. If you can't trust the guy who fixes your engine, move on. A car carries precious cargo... the driver and their passengers so you need to find a dealer that actually cares about that and that is willing to stick their necks out. Few and far between, I know... but they exist.

2005 chev optra 5 as a Canadian licensed automotive service tech... starting a family I bought a new optra for my wife, I did not have time to work on a old car, I wanted something reliable. The optra is far from. The service I got is worse. At 2500 kms a cv joint went. The dealership wouldn't warranty the repair. Nice warranty! Had it warrantied in another province. At 3000 kms the manual transmision started grinding going into reverse. Gm told me "car is not as refined as a Honda. At 6000 kms Noticed power steering leak, topped up at every service. at 55 000 kms steering rack was changed. Wife complained car would not go straight on ice. After 3 visits to local gm dealer and some yelling car was still not fixed. Performed an alignment myself, car was towing out 3/4 in. not acceptable by any safety standards. At 65 000 kms steering rack is leaking again. Guess what no warranty. At 70 000 kms for no apparent reason air bag light came on. Guess what no warranty. At 80 000 kms instrument panel lights quit. Next day fog lights quit, next no right side marker lights. Guess what? no warranty. with the problems that I have had with the dealership and gm of Canada I will never buy another gm product in my life even though all I have ever owned is gm products. Maybe I should have kept the old chevy. At least it was a little more reliable.

I leased a 2006 Optra 5 less than 2 years ago and have had nothing, but problems.

It all started with having to replace the car's computer at just over 6 months, 2 safety recalls -one of which is very scary: the lights turning off while driving. The alarm goes off intermittently for no reason, which I have had to take in 4 times so far - still not fixed. Now the car won't start (once again intermittently) and I will be taking it in again tomorrow for the third time in the past month. In total I have been in the shop every month or two since I got it.

I have taken it to three different dealerships and always have the same experience --- drop it off, days in the shop, just to have the car returned not fixed properly.

One of the service centre staff at my dealership said that he has noticed that Optras are frequently in the service bay with a multitude of problems that they just don't know how to fix. Another actually told me that I would have been better to get a Honda!!! I can now say that I definitely believe him. With lost hours at work, it would have cost me less.

I have a 2004 Chevy Optra LS. Two Days ago my head lights (low Beams) just stop working, then yesterday while I was at work the lights came on by themselves, I had to take the battery off in order to get them to shut off so that it wouldn't kill my battery, then today everything stopped working, Gas Gage, car temperature, odometer, speedometer, RPM's nothing will work, I have no warranty as I leased it 2nd hand and my 30 day warranty was up in Sept. I thought I was getting a great car, but I'm am learning that this car has more problems then I could dream of.

I also own a 2004 Optra and have electrical problems galore. One of my headlights burns out about every 4 months. My drivers side power window won't work at all. I can't get my window down. My rear defog doesn't work nor does my cig. lighter. The power locks don't even work so I can't lock my car.

I just went to the dealers about the electrical recall to the headlights. It seems my bulbs blowing out has nothing to do with it. What a funny coincidence...

I bought a 2004 Optra hatchback, and have nothing but praise for it! it gets me where I'm going, and I have travelled to some pretty rough places. 32 hours over dirt roads (one way) took it toll on the tires, but the car ran great. I have never had to take it in for any repairs. I kept a record of regular maintinence. For me, this car is a keeper!!!

I have a 2005 Optra5 which I purchased new 2 1/2 years ago. I currently have 35000kms on the car and I've only had small issues, none which could be considered at all serious. I found the shift on the automatic transmission to be "clunky" at speeds of around 50km, so I took it in to the dealer and they reprogrammed the firmware. Now it shifts super smoothly, however, I did lose some acceleration due to the fix (well worth it though). My struts creak and groan in cold weather, but it doesn't bother me. Overall the car is a joy to drive and has been very reliable. If GM was still selling I would buy another. I had the "opportunity" to rent a Cobalt recently and I was so disappointed in it compared to my Optra. The Cobalt's blower motor rattled, as did the dash. The windows were hard to crank and the car was not near as much fun to drive (the Optra drives lighter with more responsive steering). I think GM should have dropped the Cobalt... :)