ok, went for the test drives. i was die hard anti protons after all my experience of broken door handles, stuck power windows, leaky headlight, rusted roof, etc.
first off, the back cabin is row. for children its ok, definitely not adults. this is medium mpv, moving in out needs efforts.
interior finishing is typical of proton. cheap stuff everywhere. plstic feel is still there.
once the engine is on, can feel the vibration of engine for the new car. the power steering fluid is like boiling. this is rather annoying and disappointing to see.
back in the cabin, i can feel the engine compartment intrusion, the detachment is typically not found on a new car. this is later confirmed after I return from test drive, which the engine had already warmed up.
on the test drive, I can hit 160kmh with easy. kudo for the speedy and smooth engine and transmission. for mpv, the sense of stability when cornering has the lack of my confidence. I would stick to the legal speed at cornering.
NVH department has rooms for improvement. so if u are driving the jap mpv so pls dont expect miracles. miracles are efforts and attention to details for making it happen.
u may find my review brute and raw, so if i hav offended the community, I sincerely regretted it.
1. Sat at the back (3rd row) and it's pretty okay to me. I'm 178cm. For old folks yes, 3rd row would not be a suitable seating for them.
2. You say interior is cheap? Which car isn't? I tested the Toyota Innova 2.0G right after the proton. It's 110K and i must say, pretty horrible.
Noise/sound insulation is much worse than the exora. Dash board plastic was flimsy. Plastic panelling below the A pillar showed poor workman ship and the cover was pretty much jutting out. Kneel down and look below the dashboard, proton also looks better. Look outside the car, at the back, under the tyre arches, you can pretty much see everything under there, metal, exhaust pipe, leaf springs and what not.
I come from a family of toyota's, honda's, mercs and what not, however i do not believe in buying a car with a hefty price tag, eventhough it is within affordable means.
End of the day, it's up to the individual and how much dough you're willing to throw away. Proton hit's the sweet spot and it really drives like a car+ acceptable performance and not like a blardy van.
Still waiting for updates of current owners. If all goes well, October 2012-Plum red baby!
Cheers,
K