1998 Proton Wira 1.5 from Malaysia
Summary:
A steal for this car range
Faults:
Front wheel out of alignment after a few years. Not really a problem from the car, but from the driver actually. I drive fast and take bumps and pot-holes aggressively, so it's expected to be unaligned.
General Comments:
This car handles like it should when I first got it. Not too fast and moderate acceleration, but expected of this car.
I have had several accidents with this car, and sent it for repairs. Not too bad prices for repairs though. Funny thing is, it drives more smoothly and comfortably after the accidents.
I didn't make any upgrades or added any extra booster like a bigger exhaust pipe or air intake. I just changed the engine oil to using synthetic from the normal one and this car EXCELS superbly when using the synthetic oil. The acceleration of course is much faster and at a straight line speed, I can reach up to 176km/h max. Its max indicator by the way is 180km/h, I only reached that one time when I was already driving fast and then going downhill.
To accommodate this sudden increase of power, I changed the brake oil to DOT 4. This of course causes the brake oil to withstand more heat and sometimes you can smell something burning. Later when I sent it for servicing that I found out that my brake pads were worn out faster than usual. Nothing drastic or endangering, but that's where the burning smell came from. So I had the brake pad changed. Kind of cheap to boot.
After all this, at around 140km/h, the side view mirror starts to shake, but not if you hold the steering wheel steadily though. This I think is a defect that came from my various accidents and not a general fault with this car's model.
What can I say? This car not only filled its promise, but I can even change some stuff like the engine and brake oil only, and its increase in acceleration and comfort is AMAZING.
Even greater considering the fact I don't send the car for fine-tuning, boosting and adding 'extras'.
If you intend to own this car, I suggest you change the engine oil to synthetic and always rev up your engine to keep it 'healthy'.
I treat mine like it's my baby, and it treats me like a king.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st April, 2002
19th May 2005, 21:37
I bought Proton Wira here I Sri Lanka. It's Reconditioned, 4 years old, first owner in Singapore.
The car looks superb. With engine capacity of 1.5 and I'm not sure weather it's only in my car, it has a very good pick up. The Air condition is very good. Sri Lanka is very hot these days, but the car can comfort 5 passengers.
The car is front wheel driven some times it skids when the road is not good, especially in the first gear, driving up hill.
My friends complaint my car is old looking (Sri Lankan market is dominated by Toyota and Nissan cars), where as I think it looks like a Jaguar.
For Sri Lanka the car is a bit low. It hist the bumps in the road.
All and all I love my Proton... It's a Proton in the road.
2nd Nov 2002, 21:21
I had ones... wira 1.5 auto 2001.,due to the budjet. The unit was good.but I facing the problem with the internal part..quality.all low quality... or maybe look low quality... Proton will be grow up... but should be more honestly in their job...