Proton Gen.2 1.6 going for 59K

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

 

1. It seems that there is no place for Malaysian Made car in the Asian Makes Forum. No choice but to post it here.

 

2. Heard that Gen.2 1.6M is going for about 59K with airbags and ABS. The stylish design and features easily rival the korean cars and the low-end Japanese made. The review by various magazines are pretty encouraging too.

 

3. Anyone driving a Gen.2 here? I'm going for a test drive tomorrow and hope it performs like what have been written in the web and magazine. Any comments on this made?

 

Regards,

[Lala81]

proton recent cars break down rate is pretty astonishing. get a korean car.

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

 

1. Exactly which model has a high breakdown rate? Where did you obtain the information.

 

2. There is no ground to get a Korean car that doesn't have airbags and ABS.

 

Regards,

[Lunglungjiu]

Too bad search is down but I do recall there was a thread discussion on Gen2 fairly recently. In that thread, there were a couple of new reportings of Gen2s on fire.

[Kelpie]

Hi here,

 

1. Must be an interesting thread. I was trying to use the search function too but to no avail. This great site seems to have techinical glitches every now and then.

 

2. Anyway, I need more details to pass conclusion. Will check with the SE tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Regards,

[Potheader]

Hi Kelpie,

 

1. Its not the the site has technical glitches. The site was down for 2 days as the mods had to replace the harddisk, and at the same time, re-index the search engine. It will be operationally ready on 10 Oct!

 

2.Your info from the SE will be most welcome! Hoping to hear from you soon!

 

Chill,

Edited October 5, 2004 by Potheader

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

 

1. Test drove Gen.2 and "Value for money" was the 1st thing in my mind. Really, a sporty look for 59K or $550 monthly for 10 years, its a bargain.

 

2. I would say its more stylish than the Korean cars. Anyay Gen.2 adopted a minimalist design, no front glove boxes though. The clean and sleek look appeal better to the younger drivers. Even the buttons are small, those with big fingers will find it hard to adjust. Audio control buttons are mounted on the steering wheels. There is a magent to hold your handphone beside the steering wheel. Not quite sure whether its strong enough to hold my O2 phone. The steering wheel is small and the layout is more conti, for example signal device on the left side of the steering wheel. Not much storage compartments. Some find that Gen.2 cockpit design is very odd thats because most of us drive cars with conventional design. I find it stylish but the car plastic interior lack refinement at the edges and joints. This is what I hate most.

 

3. The car doors are solid, heavier than your Jazz or City. The rear room is great for a car of such design, in between City and Civic I would say. The rear seats can fold away nicely for bulky cargo. The boot is good sized, no problem for 2 full size golf bags. Another dislike, only beige colored interior or a two-tone one. I would prefer a black interior that matches with their popular Energy Orange exterior.

 

3. I drove the auto and thought its road holding and handling is great. Better than some light steering Japanese cars and Korean Cars. The engine is responsive and you dont have to press too hard on the brake. Engine sound may appeal to those who are used to sport cars. If you drove a VW then you know what I mean here. Actually, the engine gets less talkative at a higher speed, around 70/80 km/h. Anyway, Proton claims that the top speed is 190km/h! The Manual car clocked 10.5 from 0-100. That Lotus Campro must have done wonder to the car.

 

4. The current stock level is very low with only that odd looking Super Purple color available for immediate collection. The popular color like the Energy Orange is only due for delivery somewhere in Jan/05.

 

5. IMHO, in term of safety, its a better buy than a 1.6L Korean Car. It has factory fitted dual airbags, ABS with EBD (effective brake on 4 wheels not two front wheels).The body rigidity exceeds European safety regulations. What do you think? they even have cruise control for the auto model. The SE claimed that 13L is common for its FC, I would think 11 is already good.

 

6. The SEs are friendly and accept humbly on any negative comments on their cars. They claimed that they will gather feedback and continue to improve in their future models. Not like those defensive SEs of other brands. About the case of engine caught fire, they told me that they did not have offcial record but view it seriously and asked me whether I could provide concrete evidience of such occurrences. I told them I got the info from the forumers here.

 

7. Lastly, for so much and so little cost, it makes an ideal 1st car or a budget car buyers who wants so much but with little cash. Of course, Campro on Gen.2 is new and some may agrue that it needs time to prove itself.

 

Regards,

[Blackyv]

u sounds like u've already made up ur mind .....

 

anyway, incase u haven't read up enough before signing on that paper...digest this...

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi...y;so=ASC;mh=25;

[Genie47]

Linked for you.

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi...y;so=ASC;mh=25;

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

 

I'm attracted by the review published by some car magazines and websites. I'm driving a Focus.

 

Regards,

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

 

1. Good for me as I didn't read the thread that you guys go thru, so I can be more objective.

 

2. Korean cars caught fire and Porsche also caught fire on Singapore roads. Did you see a Gen.2 caught fire in Singapore, lets wait and see.

 

3. I read in that thread that Malaysian Gen.2 does not have safety features like airbags, ABS and etc compared with the Singapore version, which has those as default. After seeing the photos, best not to speed and always insist on cars with airbags and ABS.

 

Regards,

[Mtoh]

seen news recently there r few incidents of few day old Gen-2 burning up on MY roads !!!

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

 

1. A friend of mine bought a new BMW that broke down within 2 weeks. So there are always lemon around.

 

2. I guess the concern here is more on the reliablity of the car as the fire case has been the most talk about subject. It the same kind of process that the Korean car gone thru when they made their debut here.

 

3. Well, I don't want to be seen as a die-hard Protonist here but to share my personal opinion on the test drive.

 

Regards,

[Silverarrow]

Just brief replies to some of your points:

 

1. Test drove Gen.2 and "Value for money" was the 1st thing in my mind. Really, a sporty look for 59K or $550 monthly for 10 years, its a bargain.

 

It's a good thing the Gen.2 is cheap. Because body repairs for low speed carpark collisions (see pictures below) will add up if you're unlucky.

 

 

 

 

2. I would say its more stylish than the Korean cars. Anyay Gen.2 adopted a minimalist design, no front glove boxes though. The clean and sleek look appeal better to the younger drivers. Even the buttons are small, those with big fingers will find it hard to adjust. Audio control buttons are mounted on the steering wheels. There is a magent to hold your handphone beside the steering wheel. Not quite sure whether its strong enough to hold my O2 phone. The steering wheel is small and the layout is more conti, for example signal device on the left side of the steering wheel. Not much storage compartments. Some find that Gen.2 cockpit design is very odd thats because most of us drive cars with conventional design. I find it stylish but the car plastic interior lack refinement at the edges and joints. This is what I hate most.

 

Here's the opinion of an Autocar reviewer on the Gen.2's interior:

 

However, the driving position is so awkward it borders on the bizarre. You sit far too high, with no way to lower the seat other than a tight knob which only lowers the front edge of the cushion. And the steering wheel

[Silver_blade]

I have test driven the gen2 b4 and find it very value-for-money at that price. Cannot expect to get an VW standard for that kind of money. I am very impressed with the specs (eg. All-round disc brake, ABS, Airbag, Cruise control, Trip Computer, Climate control and Remote-controls on the steering wheel.) It's handling and ride is more bias towards sportiness which I prefer. The steering is also more communicative than most Korean's and Jap's car.

 

If you take all that into consideration and look beyond it's badge, the Gen 2 is a very good car within it's class. The only let down is the quality of the material used on the inside.

 

Having said all that. I doubt Gen 2 or any proton models will do well here. Most ppl still consider it a 3rd-class product. It took S'porean over 20yrs to look beyond the badges and accept korean cars as what it is (value-for-money, reasonably well-built, improved design, etc). Guess Proton will have to take even longer to change S'porean's perception, all b'cos it is made in Malaysia.

Edited October 6, 2004 by Silver_blade

[Silver_blade]

The photos may not tell the full story. What it do not tell is how the accident happened (eg. what speed, location, etc). It looks like the accident did not happened in that exact location, b'cos there is not debris on the road. There is also a possibilty that the Gen 2 and the kencil (not sure of the model)did not run into each other head-on, cos the impact points and the extend of the damages of the 2 cars doesn't look 'right'.

 

Modern cars usually suffer more in a frontal collision, cos of the crumble zone concept.

 

Btw, I do not/ever own a proton.

[Nicholas]

all I'm going to say is: You'll get what you pay for.

[RadX]

Hi there,

 

1. It seems that there is no place for Malaysian Made car in the Asian Makes Forum. No choice but to post it here.

 

2. Heard that Gen.2 1.6M is going for about 59K with airbags and ABS. The stylish design and features easily rival the korean cars and the low-end Japanese made. The review by various magazines are pretty encouraging too.

 

3. Anyone driving a Gen.2 here? I'm going for a test drive tomorrow and hope it performs like what have been written in the web and magazine. Any comments on this made?

 

Regards,

Make sure the price comes with a fire extinguisher FREE!!