
Originally Posted by
jut703
I drive a 2.0V pre-facelift Altis and the thing I want most in the facelifted model is the CVT. That won't be applicable to you though, since both models have 4-ATs. Perhaps the next biggest loss is the keyless entry/ignition. You can live without it though, but admittedly it's convenient when you don't have to fumble for keys every time. Then there's the aux port, but you can have this added for around 4k (already includes USB connectivity, which the facelifted Altis still doesn't have).
The soft suspension of the pre-FL Altis isn't really something to worry about if you just drive in normal conditions - even at illegal triple digit speeds, the car feels stable and planted. It's when you make sudden inputs with the steering that the car loses a lot of its composure. It doesn't help that the soft EPS makes it feel floaty.
That said, I'd recommend the 1.8V just because it's got a better engine. Even with the updated 1.6 on the new model, I'm pretty sure the 1.8V would still have more grunt. I haven't verified this, but I read somewhere that the 1.8 accelerstes as fast as the 2.0 since it's a lighter engine. All I know is that I can get 10 second 0-100 runs with the 2.0, give or take a few hundred milliseconds. If the 1.8 cando that, then it truly is an impressive engine. Get it in grey if you can.