A quick look at the Proton Persona

[R9UKE]

 

Picked this up the other day, thought you guys might appreciate a closer look at some quality Malaysian shite.

 

1998 Proton Persona 1.3 LSi

One owner from new, 35k miles, all old MOTS, two keys, service books, FULL SET OF PROTON MATS!!!!

MOT until May 2013, tax until March 2013.

 

 

 

I couldn't resist the opportunity to get to know a Proton. The first sign of what I was in for came when the dropping of the bonnet after checking the oil etc made probably the best metallic echoing sound that 0.5mm thick steel is capable of.

 

 

 

 

I love how they popped down to their local printers for the boot badges. And then to Halfords for the wheel trims.

 

 

The car is suitably equipped with power steering. That's it.

 

Oh but these cassette storage drawers make up for no central locking

 

 

The interior is a lovely place to be if you're a recent release from a Turkish prison. The wind down windows require a fair bit of muscle to operate which is a complete contrast to the steering and clutch which could operated by your tongue.

 

The petrol gauge fluctuates anywhere between empty and a half, and the door open and courtesy lights flicker constantly as the road surface changes, demonstrating the excellent shut lines and superb build quality.

 

 

 

 

 

The owners manual is a great laugh. Apart from spending all of £15 on a translator, most instructions are followed by "probably". "If the coolant temperature gauge enters the red zone, the engine is probably overheating". "If the fuel level gage enters the red zone, the tank is probably using it's reserve fuel".

 

 

 

 

 

The 1.3 litre engine is loud and harsh, but the car weighs absolutely fuck all so it's a proper nippy chuckable thing. It's great fun but you gotta remember about the lack of ABS.

 

Anyway, it ain't staying. WIL SWAP 4 A SHIT RENO FONE OR TXT ME W.H.Y

 

[vulgalour]

Proton best for weird purple shades.

[ashmicro]

Looks pretty fit, that one. Much-beloved of minicabbers these cars. My mate ran one as a cab up to about 250k when the gearbox gave up. H Wilson here in Carrick used to be a main dealer for these.

[retrogeezer]

I think they look alright, prefer the saloon tbh and there was a 'coupe' too that if you poked yourself in the eyes looked a bi like a subaru impreza.

[Cavcraft]

They're pretty competant little cars really. Reliable enough and pretty much unloved so usually a few bargains about. Obv. you'd be better off with an MOT-less Nissan Almera though.

[Micrashed]

Another one of those cars that I think "I'm going to have to get one of them at some point"

[hairnet]

hai bai

 

tin of quality street and 400 pesetas??

[Skizzer]

The interior is a lovely place to be if you're a recent release from a Turkish prison.

 

The owners manual is a great laugh...most instructions are followed by "probably".

 

That write-up made me properly chuckle.

 

Rather you than me though - GLWTS

[wuvvum]

I had one of those once - a P reg 1.5 hatchback in Pogweasel pink (although I think it was actually supposed to be that colour rather than having faded à la 1980s Peugeot). At the time it was the newest car I'd ever owned. I remember it being ridiculously effortless to drive, and the upholstery was made of the kind of material you'd expect to see on a maths teacher's jacket. Other than that I can't remember much about it, apart from the head gasket went and I sold it to a chap who came up with his Mrs. in a Suzuki SJ and did the head gasket on the car park in the pissing rain before driving it away.

 

I also have vague memories of the owner's manual - IIRC it was printed on toilet paper and had amusing cartoonish drawings of people to illustrate various points. The cartoons weren't consistent all the way through obviously - it would have been asking too much for them to use the same artist for the whole manual.

[R9UKE]

hai bai

 

tin of quality street and 400 pesetas??

 

Up that to 450 and you'll be shitting yourself at the lack of ABS in no time

 

That's the one Wuv, I'll scan a few highlights if I get time at some point!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I like that!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Heres avery cheap diesel one (didnt know they existed)

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-Proton-P ... 1093960990

 

£250!!! 63bhp it reckons, doesnt sound very 'turbo' to me

[Mash]

I reckon that's pretty cool - but then I do like shitty far Eastern tat. Didn't know they'd done these as a 1.3 though, only the Compact.

 

I'd roll in it - 80s feel in a 90s car.

[stuboy]

theres one near me with my initials im waiting for them to sell so i can rob the plate

[wuvvum]

Heres avery cheap diesel one (didnt know they existed)

63bhp it reckons, doesnt sound very 'turbo' to me

The ever-useful biomotors.co.uk says they're 82bhp - the non-turbo one (which I didn't know existed) was 65.

 

I've just remembered another feature of mine - it had an "auto down" function for the driver's door window, but unlike the similar function found on many modern cars this simply consisted in a little tab built into the switch surround which locked the button in the "down" position when you pushed it past a certain point. It then remained in the "down" position (no doubt merrily burning the motor out) until you manually lifted it back up again. Brilliant.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

 

Up that to 450 and you'll be shitting yourself at the lack of ABS in no time

 

 

is that the price, 450 nuggets?

 

What happened to that Rover 820 you had, that was a cracker.

[R9UKE]

Aye, 450 to a shiter, however being in NI is obviously a bit of a barrier...

 

The 820 looked fugging brilliant, but it was dull as pish in nearly every other aspect. Had it been an 827, it'd still be here. I don't know where it's ended up now, hope it's in the hands of someone who appreciates it more than I did.