1. Before 1985, meaning before we have PROTON, one HONDA ACCORD costed RM 20,000. After PROTON SAGA was launched at RM 27,500 (1985), import tariff to protect PROTON SAGA made the HONDA ACCORD RM 45,000 (1985). For those who are old enough, I think they still remember the joy when they actually profitted from selling their second hand HONDA, at the price more than their purchased price.

Conclusion: the existence of PROTON really sucks our money, and many of us still happy with that.

2. In US, annual income less than USD 10,800 is below poverty line, meaning you are poor, you are entitled to get at least USD 200 government allowance/subsidies monthly. In US, average income is USD 30,000 annual, and one CAMRY costs less than USD 30,000; meaning by working one year, don’t eat, don’t go shopping, the CAMRY is yours. Here in Malaysia, those with annual income of RM 18,000, get a PROTON at RM 50,000 – RM 60,000 with nine years loan, still very proud of our national car?

Conclusion: Malaysians are happy go lucky, taking nine years loans to have a car still very happy (not own, because the purchase agreement states “the bank” own the car). Anyway, we are tough, the government keep sucking our money, we still alive, Malaysia Boleh!!!

p/s: Mine 84 years old volvo is still running on the road, with powersteering and power windows. I never have problem on power windows since bought it 7 years ago when 1:1 trade-in with my lousy proton SAGA.

kalau setakat nak kutuk baik tak payah…
kalau x cantik jangan beli duk diam jee..
comment x salah tapi yang pentingnya jaga ayat tu…
manusia reka tak ada yang sebaik tuhan yang reka….
oleh itu cubalah kita berdoa agar automobil negara kita maju….
p/s: mana ada budak lahir terus bley berjalan…(kecuali nabi)

I’m not into critic and throwing bull at others but the so called ‘high-minded’ ppl of Malaysia thinking in the same ‘well of thoughts inside the toilet while shitting’ need to know something… cars are beautiful and it’ll worth to the eyes of beholder… if you think something’s ugly then don’t have to go and buy it. There are lots of other option out there to have, and if you’re saying you don’t have the money to buy those other average cars is just because you are too lazy to think of good money management, and you dont have patience. You are just too upset with your own failures in money management and you can’t afford those like others did. Dey… in the end, u find something to blame at… POTONG! The scapegoat of my failure to afford meself a Toyota, Nissan, BMW and so other models… Miahahahahaha… pathetic crew.

(don’t believe me? read carefully most of the critics parasentences…. )

after owning 2 alfa romeos – alfettas, the price prove too much of a deciding factor to drop the romancing with alfa and optd for a mega-valve saga back in the late 90’s. my experience with the saga? lots of mid-nite drives on the ipoh roads and an accident which cost my dad 2k in repairs. But i have to say the relationship wasnt too bad, considering it was my 1st love with a proton. my dad kept the car for a while till my mum couldnt resist the cute little suzuki swift. i was a little sad considering my parents choose to keep the suzuki mini-van (those which look like a loaf of bread) and sell the proton. didnt understand back then but later i begin to realize that if the decision was on me, i would have done the same.

Proton… its like feels a little like your 1st love, it seem better kept as memories.

fast forward to present time, i was in a fix for 12 months deciding which proton to bet my money on after driving the Corolla XL – the sedan version of AE86 around for 5 years, if its not petrol price and the spares is getting harder to locate, i would have kept it longer. during CNY, i gave it a new paint job, recarpeted some interior parts and voila! a car good enough to stay committed to her and stay away from proton show room. well, it lasted another 6 months.

eventually i gave in, due to long distant travel along the coastline, the Corolla prove it can only serve me thus far. Bare in mind a 20-odd years car, driving from Alor Setar to Mersing in 10 hours and no break-down in all those years. by the time Myvi came around, the temptation proves to hard to resist. still, being a malaysia and a kid who use to dream driving a Satria GTI, i gave my benefit of the doubt for proton. numerous showroom visit, countless online research, and even a test drive on my friend Gen-2, one incident made the decision easy for me. i was walking into the proton showroom in Cyberjaya, within the Limkokwing University premise, i pass my ic, my driving licence, the saleman walkaway to make copies, i turn around and admire my future love, a black Gen-2. Sexiness just oozing from those curvy bodylines, that high and arching rear, whoosa! then i did something and spoil it all, i wanted to take a seat in the cabin. 1 pull, perhaps i skipped lunch, 2nd pull, maybe the door was lock, 3rd pull, “i want my IC back!!!”. in the end i have to put my hand againts the rear door panel, took a firm stance and lunged my body backward for one last pull. i almost fell to the floor (well, you know how new proton showrooms are, white slippery tiles). i didnt proceed to seat in the car, 10 sec later i told the baffled saleman, i decided not to place my bookings. 2 months later…. im driving a gold colored Toyota Avanza, Auto 1.3.

Proton… its like feels a little like your 1st love, it never meant to last a lifetime.

lets all recall the last time we went shopping in a mall, doesnt retailers put thier best and newest product in front, where its most visible? doesnt retailers make sure thier window displays is the best to attract the customers? have you guys log-on to proton website, they even have a corporate video to explain thier interior design brief and concept. after 20 years, they still cant put a better car in a show room. by the way the Gen-2 i mentioned, was actually sold and waiting for delivery. all the best to the owners.

i have to agree to all posted comments, simply because everyone would have their own unique feel and experience with their beloved or disgusted protons. just like 1st love, some are with sweet and some are with bitter ending. some might want to go through it all over again, while others will be happily settled with their wife. but one glaring fact, 8 out of 10 relationship with proton seems to be an ex you dont want to meet again, thats depressing.

fact-it only took proton 20 years to have their own R&D center, auto city, university(soon). it took the korean longer to make anything you can associate with the word beautiful, let alone sexy (that doesnt include the latest Sonata, beware Hondas)

fact-korean and japan, even China have much more economical scale to allow a totally new platform design for a new model every 10 year cycle. basically proton dont sell enough cars.
fact-Buatan M’sia, does anyone know, samsung produce a re-badge sentra? korean still do re-badge car, similar to Myvi. so there is nothing to shout about Myvi. even the redesign kancil is a more of a significant m’sian product.

fact-proton lack of persona marketing. proton product line just lack of appeal, except Gen-2, but they marketed it as a classy, family based hatch and down play all the sex-appeal and sportiness. then they tried too hard with the fun factor with Savvy, which make it look ridiculous to be driven by a young exec or not know small car appeals to ladies market, and do you think you want a car that dont have a color to match their lip-color.

fact-proton dont learn or refuse to learn, or maybe to learning is beyond them. marketing 101, greatest sale force is driven by the consumer, not any ad campaign. except you are 111 years old Benz, then you can be snobbish and adopt Emperor marketing technique. otherwise, product loyalty is vital to ensure returning customers. means you get old customers + new customers = more car sales.

fact-jaguh kampung. korean car industry success is generated by the acceptance the biggest automobile consumer market in the world, US. proton keep saying how we have done well in Australia, one simple 3 year old question, how many cars does the Aussie drives?

fact-PERT is still driving a Mitsubishi Evo, i rest my case.

fact-consumer are getting wiser everyday. there is a evil force which caused proton 60%(then) to 40%(now) market share, the Internet. you cant control, stop or curb bad news these day, coupled with a not so effective PR department = ingridients for disaster. how can you say we are selling cars in UK when Autocar, one of the most established car mag in the world reviewed proton cars to be stayed away. worst still you are trying to sell an englishman a 20 yr old car-WIRA/PERSONA. duh! they make bently and rolls, you think they dont realize when you dont have a passenger air-bag written on the dash?

Proton… its like feels a little like your 1st love, it will never feel the same.

the fact there is more Avanza than Savvy on the road. proton it will take more gimmick than R3, your beloved special additions, TUV etc. to get back your fans base. after all. we are all malaysian, who is usually a romantic sentimental fool. my best wishes for SRM24 launch.