Well said, all in all from the eyes of an outsider :)
The launch
of the new Proton Suprima S was supposed to prove that Proton has shown its
capability to produce a world class car and design and specifications that can
meet other C segment rivals from established car marques. However the moment
leaked information on the Suprima specs and pricing has been unleashed on the
Internet, it is actually a blowing horn in disguise, indicating the “Proton
Bashing Session” has begun. Keyboard warriors has been warming up their fingers
and emotions either to defend or to bash Proton’s latest creation during the
launch date of August 17th.
Take a
look around on motoring blogs, forums and the social media and unexpectedly,
the new Suprima has met with less fanfare. In fact it was digital warfare
between Proton fanboys and Proton haters. The keyboard warriors has been
ferociously bashing the Suprima, from the hideous design (let’s face it, design
is subjective matter), ridiculous naming (named after an adult diaper from
Germany is a little distasteful), trims and equipment, engine, performance and
the one that gathers the biggest complain of all (including yours truly), the
steep pricing. Somehow, every ordinary Malaysians has turned into Jeremy
Clarkson when a new Proton car is launched.
The launch of the new Proton Suprima has met with less fanfare
The
problem is a part of your in laws, Malaysians are some of the hardest people on
this planet to impress and satisfy when it comes into motoring cravings. Yes we
lived in a unique country where we have to rely on cars as main mode of
transportation due to the current abysmal state of public transport and our
national cars are the obvious choice if you were not born with silver spoon
feeding. There no need to mention about our car pricing as well, as many known,
our country has the highest car prices in the world after our neighbor down
south. The sadder fact for Malaysians is Proton is still struggling in their
home market and internationally where Hyundai and Kia, once on the same league
with Proton, has emerged as a top 5 automotive player in the world.
Back on
our context, when the first generation of Proton cars were based on badge re-engineering
of older Mitsubishi cars, Malaysians ranted we are copying designs and we will
not be not good enough to design our own car. So Proton took the feedback from
some “Pak Cik”, and few years later when Proton launched its first
self-designed car with the Waja and Gen2. Still some concerned mid-thirties
from Kuantan bashed the Waja has no basic safety features to protect this
family from becoming the next Milo tin. To be fair on the same time period,
Japanese and Korean cars on the same category were equipped with standard two
air bags, ABS and EBD. Proton heard them so they added these basic safety
features with additional cost, with the Waja and Gen 2 reaching RM60-70K range
which is not cheap, complains of the car being too expensive for a national car
came from the mouths of many Malaysians.
Believe it or not, typical Malaysians will be transformed to Jeremy
Clarkson the moment Proton launches a new car
The cash
rich Proton with the help of the Malaysian government has shown it’s might to
the automotive world by purchasing Lotus and MV Augusta. Sure it helps the
marketing side for Proton that Proton cars are engineered by Lotus and there no
doubt the ride and handling department for Proton were sublime compared to
their competition. Unfortunately, they have forgotten about Lotus abysmal
quantity control and to add salt to Proton injury, knowing quality control is
Proton’s Achilles heel which leads Proton quality woes to spiral downside. With
that, all Malaysian from all races united to voice their incendiary flames of
frustration towards their Proton’s broken plastics, malfunction power windows
and many more. Mind you these are the complains prior the Internet and social
media era comes in place.
Then
some young punks on a traffic light drag race in Jalan Ampang launched their
Proton like how Clarkson shouted “POWAARR” and found the underpowered
Mitsubishi engines were like hamster powered. So Proton took the notch a little
higher by self producing the underwhelming Campro engines. Over the time when
the global oil hike crisis hit every average Malaysians, they came and unite to
bash Campro engines were rather too thirsty.
During
the mid noughties when Proton is losing the top spot to Perodua and losing
sales from disappointments from the Savvy, Satria Neo and Gen2, Proton went
back to the drawing board and understands they need to replace the aging Wira
saloon. So they added a boot on the Gen 2 model and release the Persona model,
which comes with basic safety features and the eye opening life time warranty
on power windows. However, some keyboard warrior who watches too much Top Gear
UK replied on some local automotive blogs bashed Proton for not keeping up with
times as Volkswagen has already produced a turbocharged engine for mass use.
Then his peers commented on some automotive forum saying two airbags is not enough
and that makes Proton still a substandard car.
The new Suprima S has been launch, unleash the keyboard warriors
from the 38th Royal Digital Regiment!
With all
feedback obtained and millions spent, the new Preve was launched and it is
Proton first global car. As you can understand the trend of this article is
written, yes you guessed right, more bashing on the Preve. From the hard to
pronounce name “Preve”, the underpowered and fuel sucking turbocharged engine
issue are some of the few weakness every “Clarkson” from all parts of Malaysia
has pointed out. Amazingly the power window issues that haunted many Proton cars
were almost unheard when the Preve is launched. Also, quality issues have been
reduced dramatically. Yet no a single Malaysian mentioned or praised Proton on
this.
Come
2013 and now if you look back to what Malaysian wants and what Proton has
delivered, you can see actually Proton is currently following global car trends
by attempting to match what renowned car marques like Volkswagen, Hyundai and
so on offered for their range of cars the Suprima S is offering. The thing is
Proton can chose to offer a cheaper variant for the Suprima with lesser
gadgets, say 2 airbags (instead of 6 on the S), key starter instead of push
start button, 15 inch wheels instead of 16-17 inch offered and many more. Name
it as Suprima V (value?) and perhaps it can sell at below RM70,000. But bashers
will always be bashers; they will yet find a light at the end of the tunnel to
find faults on the Proton.
Will the Proton Suprima S overcome the odds?
So with
the constant bashing and dissatisfaction gathered from the basher’s feedback,
there are a few questions pointed for them. What they can gain from all these
bashing, either to become Proton vice-chairman position or perhaps to host Top
Gear Malaysia TV show? Have they driven the car before? Most importantly, have
they owned the Suprima S? Personally I don’t have the proper answer for these.
But maybe I can answer the first one, where I had a brief test drive for 5
minutes a day after it was launched. To me, I think it is not a bad car, with
great ride and handling, not underpowered, roomy interior and generous
equipment list. Just that it is slightly pricey for a national car but compared
to its C segment hatchback competitors it isn’t that bad. No doubt it is a
better buy compared to nearest B segment cars.
After
all, one meat is another man’s poison. As what great comedian Bill Cosby says, “I
don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please
everyone.” sums up everything. The Suprima may never able to please
everyone, but honestly on hindsight I can’t be sure if this car can be
successful.
