Proton Persona a.k.a Gen2 Sedan

[g88]

http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_1060/P8130318.JPG

http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_1060/to.jpg

http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_1060/w.jpg

:rolleyes: looking at 0-100km/h....very slow ....:tongue_roll:

Launching on 18th Aug 2007

CONFIRMED PRICES
(Price w/o insurance + insurance premium = OTR price)

Persona 1.6 Auto H-Line: RM54,186.50 + RM1,613.50 = RM55,800.00
Persona 1.6 Manual M-Line: RM48,342.50 + RM1,457.50 = RM49,800.00
Persona 1.6 Auto M-Line: RM51,264.50 + RM1,535.50 = RM52,800.00
Persona 1.6 Manual Base-Line: RM43,671.50 + RM1,327.50 = RM44,999.00*
Persona 1.6 Auto Base Line: RM46,593.50 + RM1,405.50 = RM47,999.00*
Persona 1.6 Manual Base-Line: RM44,095.50 + RM1,353.50 = RM45,449.00
Persona 1.6 Auto Base-Line: RM47,017.50 + RM1,431.50 = RM48,449.00

Note: Prices are for Peninsula Malaysia, private registration and metallic finish except the two Base-Line versions marked with *. Extended warranty and security etching on glass included. Interest rate for 7-year loan from Proton financing partners is 3.88% per annum.

http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_1060/P8130018.JPG

No CPS or variable intake yet :(. Only 1.6-litre Campro engine available, with programming for automatic transmission changed to give better low-end performance.

There is no 1.3-litre Persona planned for the Malaysian market at this time though it can be fitted into the car for certain export markets if there is a requirement. It is likely that Proton wants to avoid any clash with the Iswara replacement (BLM) which will come in early 2008 and will have a smaller engine. A Persona 1.3 is not entirely ruled out though and it will depend on feedback from Malaysian buyers but unlike the confusion following the launch of the Gen2 when 1.3-litre versions were in showrooms (plus prices!) and Proton stupidly denied their existence, the situation is very clear at this time.

While it is the same 1.6-litre engine as the Gen2, there is a difference in the programming of Transmission Control Unit (TCU) of the 4-speed automatic transmission which, like the manual transmission, is supplied by Mitsubishi Motors) which makes a difference to the driving characteristics by improving low-end acceleration :) , one of the major criticisms of the engine. Due to the absence of CPS, the engineers could not tune the engine to develop enough torque at the low end of the rpm range so the Gen2 has been sluggish around town.

More details : http://www.motortrader.com.my/NUS/articles/article_1060/page_m.asp

[noordin]

Pricing is very competitive.

[ShaolinTiger]

They re-used the name too, Proton Wira was sold as Persona in UK.

[Chrischong]

Eh, how come got sticker over the power output figures?

A colleague who test drove the Persona said that he was impressed by the improved build-quality of the car's interior compared to a Gen-2. Although it looks identical in photos, it's supposed to be a much better tactile experience (better-textured plastics, fabrics, etc).

By his reckoning, Proton are finally waking up. Hopefully, this trend will continue.

I think a 1.3L Persona is a bad idea - especially if it's mated to the same "4-speed" auto gearbox. I drove a 1.3L Gen-2 up Genting Highlands before and it was a very, very painful experience.

Speaking of the gearbox, Proton really should ditch the "4-speed" auto box, or at least provide one with four proper ratios rather than a 3-speed with overdrive.

As far as low-end torque on the 1.6L, I wonder what's stopping Proton from installing a low-pressure turbo unit (maybe on the high-end model)? Should be able to easily boost power to about 130BHP and maybe 180Nm of torque, which would make it even more of a driver's car. It would also help justify the premium over the base model.

I still find it unacceptable that safety features are omitted from lower-end models. I don't mind if you remove comforts, but you should NEVER cut corners when it comes to safety.

[Alan]

They re-used the name too, Proton Wira was sold as Persona in UK.

The Gen 2 was code named "WRM" or "Wira Replacement Model", hence the linkage. The question now is, will they stop producing the Wira?

[Chrischong]

According to Star Motoring (star-motoring.com), they've stopped production of the Wira

[g88]

According to Star Motoring (star-motoring.com), they've stopped production of the Wira

:o....Wira have become antique now like old Saga...:tongue_roll: but Iswara still kicking and running !! :?

[Steven Chen]

Ehh, side view looks good & price is rather competitive, sure owner of Waja & Gen 2 will lose more on second hand value of their car. :(

[LoctorMayat]

so ... those currently still servicing their 9 years loan for the Gen.2...

will trade in and take another 9 years loan for Persona?

[Freaky]

Once bitten, twice shy...

[leslie]

twice bitten, permanent shyness :P

[jayhan]

for those who shy aways but have the dough to splash on foreign suits...
continue to shy away lo... no need to come out from whereever you are. go ahead with a bimmer or accord. no one stopping you.... its ok wan... but for those who are shy but dun have enough dough to buy "new foreign suits" then you better wake up to the reality of boleh-ism-land and look for this brand new option :)

or hey - theres always the "indetical to the next door car" called myvi waving at you. :)

life is simple.

[ykgen]

nice one jayhan! Malaysia (always) Boleh

[Freaky]

i joined the masses and got the car next door...:D

[jayhan]

absolutly nothing wrong with that freaky.
we are all free to have the various options that is within our budget.
just that sometimes there are people who dont have the budget but try to act they have the budget - there are plenty of such people in Malaysia ok! so they join the public mass which gather Proton as a public punching bag. now dats so not cool man...

[DPcanon]

Not a bad car to have. Nice styling. The grafted on booth does not look added on. Rear entry is tight. Better tactile feel in some of the parts but the steering is bad. Good for the small family.

[jayhan]

I actually went to Proton Showroom in Puchong last night to see this car. Well, not that I havent seen it before... but I just wanna see if its the exact same stuff which it was a couple of months ago and what it is now. And Im glad to say it is (minus those black masking camo tapes :P).

As far as the car is concerned, I think its a good value for the buck. Its not the perfect car, but it gets the job done and gives you that extra buck and mile. Sad to say that the Proton Salesperson tried to BS me when I asked some technical questions... I mean, "Dude! I was involved in this car project la dei!". These peeps need more technical training apparently rather than trying to BS their way thru sales. So for potential buyers, my advice is dun take the sales rep's answers 100%. Look and feel the car for yourself.

If one were to ask me the props and slops of this car, here it is:

PROPS:
- A definite improvement in interior quality (Tactile feel and ergonomics)
- Very large and generous trunk space
- Fold flat rear seats an added neat feature for more space
- Rear trunk lid gas struts (no need those creaky spring sound when opening/ closing the trunk)
- Generous space under hood for future powertrain upgrades (smells a low pressure turbocharger coming :P)
- Generous interior space for men/women in the 95 percentile region

SLOPS:
- Similar styling as Gen2 but different naming convention (while to me its understandable why)
- Could improve more on interior plastic trim (to the details of it)
- Same steering as Gen2 (cheaper mah! the car is already priced so competitive!)
- Weird center console design (I dun like the 2 small coin holders)
- Proton stylist need to realize more on the meaning of "less is more".

[duke916]

I - 100% agrees with the:Proton stylist need to realize more on the meaning of "less is more".

It's definitely less for more. I pay tons of money on foreign cars. Why? Cause I rather pay that than having blood suckers doing nothing relak lah brother kind of company sucking money for no good on my next generation.

This is what they call, price them out of the market in a reverse manner. More and more people are rather paying premium for normal car than getting associated with crap like that.

Besides, Perodua is a good alternative. Who wants to look stupid or look like an ill informed consumer driving a crap like that on the road? Nothing to be proud off, it's just a shame of the nation.

Once again, it's not about anything but greed and money.

[mon-fro]

I actually went to Proton Showroom in Puchong last night to see this car. Well, not that I havent seen it before... but I just wanna see if its the exact same stuff which it was a couple of months ago and what it is now. And Im glad to say it is (minus those black masking camo tapes :P).

As far as the car is concerned, I think its a good value for the buck. Its not the perfect car, but it gets the job done and gives you that extra buck and mile. Sad to say that the Proton Salesperson tried to BS me when I asked some technical questions... I mean, "Dude! I was involved in this car project la dei!". These peeps need more technical training apparently rather than trying to BS their way thru sales. So for potential buyers, my advice is dun take the sales rep's answers 100%. Look and feel the car for yourself.

If one were to ask me the props and slops of this car, here it is:

PROPS:
- A definite improvement in interior quality (Tactile feel and ergonomics)
- Very large and generous trunk space
- Fold flat rear seats an added neat feature for more space
- Rear trunk lid gas struts (no need those creaky spring sound when opening/ closing the trunk)
- Generous space under hood for future powertrain upgrades (smells a low pressure turbocharger coming :P)
- Generous interior space for men/women in the 95 percentile region

SLOPS:
- Similar styling as Gen2 but different naming convention (while to me its understandable why)
- Could improve more on interior plastic trim (to the details of it)
- Same steering as Gen2 (cheaper mah! the car is already priced so competitive!)
- Weird center console design (I dun like the 2 small coin holders)
- Proton stylist need to realize more on the meaning of "less is more".



Actually, there's nothing wrong with the car. Just the designers. When Gen2 was launched, the back seatings were too cramped. Only Frodo Baggins and his clans were able to get comfortable. Its still small for the bigger boys.

They always says its better than before. Model after model, the same marketing applies. It's like they did not think things through and when they finally got the answer, says its better/improved. This scares the potential buyers. Now you get better low end torque, wherelse the GEN2 does not deserve it ?

Will the isware replacement be the same as Persona but better back seatings?

[sinister]

:o....Wira have become antique now like old Saga...:tongue_roll: but Iswara still kicking and running !! :?

iswara replacement is 2008...

[duke916]

iswara replacement is 2008...

Wow, how long is this crap's product life cycle? 3 decades?

[leslie]

haha 3 decades :P:P if i recall...the Mitsubishi Tredia/Galant...and Saga/Iswara does have some similarities....hehe...with the exception..Tredia and Galant were made like tanks and rock solid :D

[matcom]

When wira was introduced in Malaysia, in Egypt, saga / mitsubishi (I can recall the model) was scrap there. One of my fellow told me, wira / whatever was used there for nearly 5 years. So old...:?

[aphis]

kudos to Proton for Persona, it's their time to rise to d challenge. nicely priced, better interior (I do think it's like a gen.2 wit Waja interior :rolleyes:), hopefully it's a right choice for a long, long time...

[DPcanon]

Waja interior? The Waja has a much more nicer, comfy & roomy interior. Easy to get in & out too. The seats in the Persona are hard with almost no side support. It just 'looks' nice.

[noruazumi]

after this, i would be expecting Gen2 will release Gen2 Sports Edition pulak.
typical move by local car manufacturer to sell their car. :run_away:

[jayhan]

after this, i would be expecting Gen2 will release Gen2 Sports Edition pulak.
typical move by local car manufacturer to sell their car. :run_away:

standard la... its not a typical move by local car manufacturers. its a typical move by ALL car manufacturers la! look at bimmers, mercs, hondas, etc etc... all also will come to a point where their base products will be converted into a somewhat different "limited ed" release. just that some of them we dont get to see it in Malaysia.

[leslie]

just booked the Persona on behalf of my niece....:P go ahead and bash lar Proton..but my Canadian borned niece finally chosed this fella, rather than others well due to the insistence of her dad also, he wanted her to own a Malaysian made car and not some Hummmer lookalike or Ford Pickup truck hahahaa...

It would make perfect sense for her to use this rather than other more expensive cars on the road

I had no qualms about her dad's selection and hers as well..
Btw her dad is a highly Qualified certified Six Sigma Management Consultant cum Mechanical Engineer who designs and implements improvement measures for company's and goverments. There wasn't any form of doubts of him on Proton. But a lot of improvements can still be made.

He still can afford to get her a bigger vehicle, which intially was a Ford Escape ....but this is not Vancouver....but Malaysia.

[noruazumi]

its a typical move by ALL car manufacturers la!

yaaaa... but most of the car were really upgraded to another level. for example the Mercedes-AMG. even Hyundai Accent RS-x was upgraded to a decent level. not just "sports edition" with some cheapo but overpriced body kit without any upgrades to the engine system and other critical systems. but again, this move was made to give options to consumers. so i guess, there's nothing wrong with it. :P

[ykgen]

sorry for the long promised pix...

the engine..
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7186/p1010180ez5.jpg

the dog fight..
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6491/p1010190zv1.jpg

the car..
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2328/p1010192da2.jpg

sitting only lah.. but i went for the ride with their R3 driver..
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/3676/p1010187sw3.jpg

[jayhan]

show more la. interior shots leh?

[ykgen]

interior.. sama aje.. like Gen 2..

[DPcanon]

Nice pix YK. More, more.

[noruazumi]

does the guy in the blue shirt come with the standard version or only for H-Line version? :run_away:

[ykgen]

very funny.. i would rather have a nice car model to come along

[ykgen]

the dashboarb.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1208/p1010183zg0.jpg