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PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL
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Proton Waja 1.6 First Test Drive
Ini adalah catatan dari penguji kereta Luar Negeri Berkenaan dgn Waja Yang
heboh diperkatakan sekarang (Sebelum pelancaran rasmi Waja)...
http://life.asianauto.com/life/zone/car_reviews/car_reviews_selected.asp?Rev
iewID=227
I�m going to skip the usual pre-test review banter and get right into it,
because if you readers are anything like me, you�re going to want to know
right away. I was the first in the car after the standard �do�s and dont�s�
briefing, and I was the first on Proton�s in-house test track. Just like
you, I had to know.
One of the first things I noted was that in the flesh (well, metal anyway)
the new Waja looks a LOT better than it does in pictures. It is one of those
shapes that sort of �grows� on you, and once you get used to it, the car is
quite attractive to look at. Again however, this is not reflected in the
pictures, you have to see the car �live�. It looks better from certain
�angles�, than it does from others.
Most noticeable (and the one part that has causes the most controversy) is
the �hawk�s beak� front bonnet, which looks huge in pictures, but once
again, in the flesh, it really doesn�t look too bad. But it is from the rear
3-quarter angle that the Waja looks its best.
The Waja is a solid looking car, and while the boot lid seems a tad too
light and flimsy, this is not the case with the rest of the car. The doors
close with a re-assuring thud, and the interior ergonomics are quite good. A
few things however, tend to let down what is actually a very nice interior.
The rearview mirror looks and feels rather cheap, and the switches for the
power windows located on the driver armrest are not very user friendly. The
foot-well for the driver is a bit cramped, but I could attribute that to the
fact that my shoes are USA size 11. On the outside, the wing mirrors are a
bit too small, and tend to vibrate at speed, causing a blurred reflection.
The test car assigned to me was fitted with a light colored interior, which
in my opinion is a risky proposition for a car targeted at families (and
middle execs).
****
As everyone knows, a light fabric interior (even the floor carpet-mats were
a light beige color) tends to get dirty extremely fast, especially in the
presence of children. It is an unexplained phenomenon actually, kids, fresh
out of the bath and squeaky clean, WILL somehow mess up a car�s interior.
This color would be more suited for an executive buyer.
A quick check with the Proton managers in attendance, and I was told that
only 10% of the Waja�s produced will come with the light colored interior.
The rest of the 90% will come in a dark colored interior. The �base� model
comes with a �woven fabric� interior.
Surprisingly, Proton is choosing to launch the Waja (the cars will be in EON
and USPD showrooms this Thursday 31st August) with the �Base� model only.
The �Premium� model, called the 1.6X, will be launched in about 3 months�
time.
The base model (the one we were all testing today) does not have ABS or
air-bags. It also does not have a few other �trimmings� that the �Premium�
model will have. The premium model will have leather seats, a semi-wooden
steering wheel and gear-shift knob, CD Player, etc. Other than the ABS and
air-bags, it is mostly the trim level that separates the base from the
premium model. The trim level and a few grand in OTR price. And before you
ask, no, we were not told the price of the car, not even when we held one of
the engineers hostage. They�ll never find his body.
�Safe and In-control� that seems to be the tag-line that Proton have chosen
for the Waja. Accurate? Only a drive would prove correct or on the contrary.
The Waja is available with 2 different gearboxes, a 4-speed automatic and a
5-speed manual. Of course I sprinted for the manual transmission first�.
Drivetime. Getting settled is quick and easy, the seat adjustments are all
manual, and unlike other Protons, the lever to adjust the fore/aft
positioning of the driver and front passenger seats is located under the
seat and not by its side.
Another difference from other Protons is the location of the indicator
stalk, which is on the left, and windscreen-wiper stalk, which is on the
right. I foresee many new owners inadvertently turning on their wipers when
they signal to turn right. This is very much a continental car thing.
****
Something new and innovative that was noted is the windscreen washer nozzle.
It is called a �fluid oscillating washer nozzle� and what it does is rather
than spray a jet of water that hits only a small section of the windscreen,
the nozzle now sprays the water over a much wider portion of the glass area.
Upon testing it definitely works, and the water is dispersed in a wide �fan�
covering about 80% of the windscreen. Wipers come on automatically when the
washer is activated.
We were warned not to go above 100 km/h around Proton�s test track, but I do
believe that was the first rule I broke. The Waja 1.6i manual accelerates
very smoothly, and the revs climb very quickly and cleanly without any
hesitation whatsoever. It is quite possible to red-lint this car if one does
not keep an eye on the rev meter. The exhaust note, though virtually silent
when at a standstill, comes to life in a nice sedated �growl� when the fun
pedal is hit hard.
Acceleration to 130 km/h is smooth and effortless, but after this point, the
Waja seems to run out of breath, especially the one equipped with an
automatic transmission. It will continue to climb to a top speed in access
of 170 km/h, but it will take a road much longer than the one available at
the test-track.
I reckon top-speed to be in the region of possibly 180 km/h. Proton�s
engineers however, claim that in a recent unofficial �road test� to Tapah,
done under the cover of night, the Waja hit a top speed of 195 km/h. How
true this is I do not know, only a real road test will prove it or
otherwise. At this test track, all that I managed to do was 140 km/h as the
g-forces on the banked oval made my head spin. It�s a weird sensation.
During the drive at the test-track this morning, I was quite impressed with
the Waja. The car demonstrated a very high level of decreased NVH, and
cruising along at 130 km/h seems like the car is only doing 90. There is not
much wind noise, and even though the car rides on 195/55 series tyres
wrapped around 6.5j x 15 inch alloy rims, the ride over bumps (Proton�s
secondary test track simulates the actual road conditions that the car will
face in day-to-day use, pot-holes, bumps, manhole covers, speed humps, etc.)
and other road deformities was soaked up very well.
No rattles, no untoward bumps and grinds coming from the suspension and
chassis, and not a sound from the interior, even when traversing the
�washboard� section, which shakes you around so much it feels like the
fillings in your teeth are going to end up on the floorboards
*****
The suspension was set for comfort, as most cars in this class and category
are, but it demonstrated a good degree of performance handling
characteristics when put through a more �spirited� driving mode. Of course
there was some drift in the impromptu slalom section I set for myself
(imaginary cones) but it was very controllable.
The car does not handle like a Satria GTi, but then again it is not a GTi
class car to begin with. I reckon the Waja strikes a very good balance
between performance handling and comfort. LOTUS had a hand in the Ride &
Handling development of the Waja, along with Proton�s own R&D division.
Though the base model tested here today is not equipped with ABS, the Waja
has excellent brakes, which are progressive and linear, and not prone to
fade or lock-up. The brakes are re-assuring to use as the 14-inch ventilated
discs provide more than ample stopping power.
Another feather in the Waja�s cap has to be the turning circle. It is quite
possibly one of the tightest turning circles of any car I have ever tested.
It is quite possible that the Waja can make a U-turn in a situation where
another car of the same dimensions will have to make a 3-point turn. For a
front wheel drive car, its turning circle is extraordinary.
One of the most impressive aspects of driving the Waja this morning had to
be the overall �feel� of the car. The Waja feels solid and tight. I�m not
sure how else to put it, but here goes. The chassis feels a lot more rigid
that previous Proton cars, and it feels like a solid, sure-footed car. It
almost feels continental.
Another chat with the engineers revealed that this is the �toughest� Proton
yet, boasting a chassis rigidity and body strength that is 40% stronger than
the Proton Wira. Quote: �And while the Wira is by no means a �weak� car, it
just shows how much stronger the Waja is.� end quote, Proton management.
All I can say at this point is that for a first drive, the Waja definitely
impresses. I would recommend that anyone even remotely interested, to hop on
down to the nearest showroom this Thursday, and have a look at the car in
the flesh, it certainly deserves that, and you might just be very pleasantly
surprised. � Chris Wee.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Tiang Jawi
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 9:30 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: H-Net* Proton Waja tak cukup umur-tak cukup penjelasan
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PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL
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Assalamualaikum w.w.
Ingin turut mencelah.
Saya memang berhajat untuk memberi waja, sebagai kereta ketiga keluarga.
Walau bagaimanapun keputusan tersebut terbantut kerana jurujual EON sendiri
tidak tahu jangkaan kereta tersebut boleh diperolehi. Waktu saya
bertanyakan itu kira-kira seminggu selepas dilancarkan jualan. Saya
tangguhkan niat kerana rasa amat tidak patut kita menempah barang yang entah
bila baru kita boleh dapat. Tambahan pula bayaran tampahannya tidak sedikit
(RM 3k). Saya congak kalau seorang 3k, ada 30k orang menempah,
senang-senang dapat kumpulkan RM90 juta. Yang menempah tidak mendapat
apa-apa dalam jangka waktu itu, malahan harga tempahan tidak semestinya
harga sebenar jual-beli. Kalau ternaik harga kereta itu, naiklah harga
jualbeli. Saya rasa sepatutnya bayaran tempahan tidak sepatutnya setinggi
itu, mungkin sekadar RM 500 - 1000. Lainlah kalau 1-2 minggu kereta boleh
diperolehi.
Saya tangguhkan niat sehingga Q nya dah berkurangan dan dalam masa yang sama
segala masalah awal dapat diatasi dan diperbaiki. Saya naik risau kerana
inilah kereta nasional pertama yang ingin saya beli setelah didengari dengan
berbagai masalah kereta nasional lain sebelum ini.
Ada beberapa perkara utama perlu kita fikirkan dalam memperkatakan masalah
kereta baru. Pertama asas pergerakan kereta. Ini termasuklah injin, gear,
brek, suspensi dll. Ini tidak sepatutnya ada kecacatan major sebab amat
merbahaya. Injin waja tiba-tiba mati tidak sepatutnya berlaku. Bukan
sahaja memalukan tuanpunya tapi yang lebih penting amat merbahaya.
(Sayangnya pengeluar waja tidak mempunyai perasaan seperti ini). Dalam hal
waja, satu kes telah dilapurkan dalam forum autocom. Nasib baik hanya motor
yang sodok waja tersebut. Kalau ditakdirkan lori atau bas ekpres .. kan
lain ceritanya. Dalam satu lagi kes, setelah beberapa hari dalam bengkel
EON, masalah injin mati masih lagi berlaku pada kereta tersebut.
Masalah kemasan dalaman, reka bentuk, aksesori dll adalah lebih bersifat
individu pembeli. Tak ada satu kereta pun yang dapat memberi kepuasan kepada
semua orang. Mercedes C200 model baru yang di pamerkan di KL tempuhari pun
saya komen dashboardnya. Yang penting akesori ini mesti berfungsi dengan
sempurna. Tidak seperti 'power window' pada wira sebelum ini. Sungguhpun
Proton mendakwa power window waja jauh lebih baik dari keluaran sebelumnya,
tapi dah banyak rungutan terhadap power window khususnya belakang sebelah
kiri.
Saya sebagai warga Malaysia amat-amat sangat supaya Proton lebih
profesional. Biar kurang bercakap dari diketawakan orang. Ingat tak apa
yang orang besar proton kata ketika perlancaran dahulu. Waja akan menyaingi
kereta-kereta seperti Audi, Accord dan yang setara dengan kelasnya. Hanya
mereka yang kurang tidur dan termengigau sahaja yang akan percaya dengan
kata-kata ini. Sebab waja gagal membuktikannya, setidak-tidaknya sehingga
kini.
Dan setelah semua masalah utama ini dapat diatasi, dan setelah Qnya
bertambah pendek, InsyaAllah barulah saya masuk Q. Jika tidak mungkin
Sentra atau Corolla ataupun PV6 ataupun tunggu lagi sehingga AFTA.
sekian
----Original Message Follows----
From: john lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: salam sejahtera <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: H-Net* Proton Waja tak cukup umur-tak cukup penjelasan
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 11:30:24 +0000 (GMT)
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PAS : KE ARAH PEMERINTAHAN ISLAM YANG ADIL
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Assalamualaikum,
Saya rasa sdr Putra sulong kena explain dgn lebih
detail pasal interior kete waja ni sebab takkan sekali
tengok pada interior kereta terus hilang minat?
Cerita la sikit,kat mana interior yg sdr tak puas hati
tu, mana tahu idea sdr mungkin bernas.
Saya pun juga pun ada memberi komen pasal waja ni tapi
komen saya terus ke jurutera proton demi kebaikan
kereta ni sebab saya fikirkan sekarang ni hanya PROTON
aje pengeluar kereta nasional.
Perudua bukan lagi dianggap pengeluar kereta nasional
sebab toyota punya share dlm tu berupa 51% (due to
shrewd and several company link to UMW toyota
investment)
--- salam sejahtera <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote: >
>
>
> >
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