Proton GEN-2 opinions please

[blackbird]

Proton GEN-2

Seems like you can get an 07plate for about £2 K ! with about 40k on it

Drives like an 80 Jap car you say ? mmmmm ?

 

Discuss .....................

[R9UKE]

Shit. Buy it.

 

It has one of the worst quality cabins I've ever experienced. The plastics look to have been cut by blunt scissors, there's rough edges and loose shavings waiting to be pulled off everywhere.

[ashmicro]

They actually drive pretty well, the gearchange on the ones I drove was surprisingly pleasing. £2k, hmm, I reckon you could save on that, the cars were unloved by Joe Public. We had a dealer round here, and even then there were very few on the road, when compared to the bucket-loads of the Lancer-shape ones that went before.

[blackbird]

Anyone know if they breakdown alot

If they are just old fashioned unloved , noisey , and a bit shite , then these sound ideal !

But jusr wonder if they are reliable

[ashmicro]

I don't think there's a lot to go wrong with them TBH. ISTR someone mentioning ECU issues, but I don't remember any specifics. The autos are meant to be weird to drive. That's it I'm afraid!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

^^^^ valuable information there for prospective buyers

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

You should get a J-reg one instead.

 

 

There. I said it...Getting my coat now.

[Cheggers]

It makes the Mitsu Carisma look exciting...'nuff said

[KruJoe]

There's at least three on the taxi ranks of Skipton. One metallic orange, one JRBeige metallic, and one pogweaseled red, with different coloured bumpers.

Find a saloon for the AS modern daily win.

[R9UKE]

There was a saloon? Christ that must be ugly. Off to google images I go...

[KruJoe]

Nae bother, have a spot of mine:

 

 

(They're called "Persona" here in the foreign.)

[Lankytim]

surely something like an older Astra or Focus would be better VFM?

[R9UKE]

That's actually a better executed design that I thought it would be. I was expecting an old Fabia saloon lookalike:

 

[Spiny Norman]

£2k is a lot to pay for a car for some people, and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much and still only end up with a fucking Proton.

Other opinions are available.

[Shep Shepherd]

GEN-2s seem to be popular as minicabs in Bradford - I've seen several being used there recently. I'm not sure that if it's due to their reliability or how cheap they are to buy and run, but if a car can stand up to taxi use, it must be okay.

[trigger]

I quite like them in a shite kinda way, I can't see you losing too much money if you buy one at the right price, and there's several taxi drivers here which use them which is often a good sign.

 

hey, you could even get this 54 plater for less then a grand, I'm not too sure about what's been happening on that rear seat though.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

[Cavcraft]

£2k is a lot to pay for a car for some people, and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much and still only end up with a fucking Proton.

Other opinions are available.

 

And here's mine:

That's how you end up missing out on different cars, some of which can be quite good. Older Protons may have been desperately dull (like many other cars) but they were damned reliable and two large for a near(ish) new one can't be that bad, surely?

The saloon on (as pictured by Joe) looks pretty damned modern (almost a bit 1 series BMW meets Saab/Vauxhall) and dare I say it quite smart.

[Bobthebeard]

Have been to Malaysia a few times and all the town/city taxis there seem to be Protons. Massive mileages on most of them. Or at least the ones we were in. Proton Wira, 375,000 miles.

Seem ok for durability etc. but given our climate rust may be an issue. The interiors leave a little to be desired but seem to last. Malaysians swear by them, but then they would wouldn't they?

[tooSavvy]

Have been to Malaysia a few times and all the town/city taxis there seem to be Protons. Massive mileages on most of them. Or at least the ones we were in. Proton Wira, 375,000 miles.

Seem ok for durability etc. but given our climate rust may be an issue. The interiors leave a little to be desired but seem to last. Malaysians swear by them, but then they would wouldn't they?

 

Clarkson 'swore AT them' and promptly got banned from the country.......

 

POC-UK forum tells all..... can buy lottz more shitezz wheelz 4 more ;<)

 

I declare an interest....

 

tooSavvy

[Lacquer Peel]

5 year old car you can't get common wear & tear parts for, worst.

[costadelglosta]

Hi

 

My Polish chum bought a brand new 59 plate Gen-2 with the dual fuel option and we drove all the way from Manchester to Kracow, right round Poland and back to Manchester in it with no problems. Yes it is a bit noisy, and the plastic are poor quality (bits of the door trims have fallen off), but the leather trim in his is nice in an 80s kinda way. The car gave a good account of itself on the unrestricted Autobahn, the lpg kept the fuel costs down, and we got home without any calamities after nearly 3000 miles.

 

The suspension is sporty/firm and my mate always reminds me that it has Lotus tuned handling?

 

He has had a few small problems with faulty switches and the headlight motors packing up but the dealer fixed them after badgering them.

 

It is luxurious compared to my Micra K12 work hack.

 

Ed

[Micrashed]

2 Grand you say?

 

£800 bags you a fully loaded 2006 example with 75K miles

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-PROTON-G ... 19d70b057f

[Wilko220]

No idea about their reliability or what they're like to drive I'm afraid, but I think they're smart-looking cars. Always surprised me that they didn't prove more popular when they were launched. Much nicer to look at than an Astra of the same vintage, IMO.

Still, I guess that's why I'm here.

[Ben_L]

They're fine little cars, I've driven one and once you get used to the "High Tech - Low Rent" accomodation, they're charming little motors.

 

There's a few things I didn't like... One was the Velour interior on the booted versions. The "Persona" is it's own trim level, as well as being it's own body style and it seems to be all the worst bits from the last set of Protons we got in this country (seats and upholstery).

 

But seeing as you can get a Gen-2 GLS or whatever the top one was, with AC/Climate, Leather, 4 x EW, RCL and a lot of other toys, I would see no reason not to buy one.

 

The Impian is a good little car as well, no idea what it's based on but I think it's equally as attractive as a second hand purchase.

 

Just to put it into perspective, I came into some money and looked into buying a new car. Went to a Proton Dealer and saw a Gen-2 Persona for £4700 which was a year old. The equivelent Kia Rio was £10k+ with the same toys. Proton dealers with a workshop are cheaper than any Vauxhall dealer I use, and some were ex BL dealers, so will work on Longbridge tat all day at the same low price with good experience.

 

I digress, Proton's are good. Look after them, don't expect an S-Class just cos' most have leather and you're half way there.

 

And yes, Lotus did set up the suspension and chassis for all current Proton models as well as the run out "Colt" (Cant remember it's name), Jumbuck pick up truck and Impian.

 

Ben.

[cort16]

hey, you could even get this 54 plater for less then a grand, I'm not too sure about what's been happening on that rear seat though.

 

That colour's quite close to being blue.

[cms206]

There was a Persona at Shitefest. Well, not quite Shitefest but that one time, at Shitefest, when we gatecrashed someone else's bash...

 

YJ12 OXM by cms206, on Flickr

 

... the owner reckoned it was the last one they were importing unless they got more orders. The Persona's not a bad looking motor but I prefer the Impian or the Satria Neo. No experience of any of them I'm afraid, but the J-reg Proton I had was fucking woeful.

[Morgan84]

Old people tend to like them

[JohnDeere]

About the time the Gen2 came out I remember hearing rumours of a Rover tie-up with Proton. I reckon the Gen2 with a Rover makeover and interior would have made a good and much needed 400 replacement... instead they went Tata and we got the ShittyRover which was the beginning of the end.

[Pete-M]

The beginning of the end was the 800.....

 

Sorry, I have to point this out at every opportunity.

[Guest]

The beginning of the end was the 800.....

 

Sorry, I have to point this out at every opportunity.

 

Yes, but that's because you love saying it.