Proton GEN-2 (2004 To Date)
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Proton is a company with one or two tricks up its sleeve. As well as acquiring the Lotus brand, it has started to develop cars that are surprisingly good to drive. The Impian was the first Proton to really raise eyebrows with its crisp road manners but it was always too conservative on the inside and a little dated on the outside to appeal to a wide audience. The Malaysian company fixed that in 2004 when it launched the GEN-2 hatchback.
With modern styling and a chassis carried over from the Impian, this is a car that needs no excuses. Inexpensive to begin with, a used GEN-2 nets you a lot of car for your money.
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Everywhere you look there are neat design touches, from the unorthodox handbrake grip to the semi-circular door pulls. Equipment levels are competitive across the two trim levels, as is pricing. The 1.3-litre comes only in GLS guise.
As for the 1.6-litre models, the GLS opens proceedings, theres a mid range SX variant and a range-topping GSX. Automatic gearboxes tacked another £800 onto new prices but unless youre using your GEN-2 for the dullest of urban commutes, we wouldnt bother. All models get twin airbags while the GSX gets side airbags, a tailgate spoiler and body coloured door mirrors and door handles and (in automatic form) cruise control.
All models also get air conditioning, an adjustable steering column, electric front windows, power steering, a CD stereo, reverse parking sensors and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel. One grouse is that anti lock brakes arent featured across the range, with only the top GSX model getting ABS as standard. Work that one out.
A £5,000 budget doesnt stretch too far these days. If you want to buy nearly new, a Proton GEN-2 is well worth a look. This sum will land you one of the first 1.6 GLS models although they are more commonly found lurking between £4,800 and £6,750.
The 1.3-litre models didnt offer that much of a saving and so the vast majority of GEN-2s on our roads are the bigger engined cars. £5,400 is the opening point for a 1.6-litre GSX on a 54 plate.
Insurance is predictably inexpensive, starting at Group 6 for the 1.3-litre GLS and topping out at Group 7.
Not a lot goes wrong. The interior fittings are not of the highest quality and the centre console does look a lot better than it feels. Make sure the car youre looking at has been serviced on the nose. Other than that, this is one of the least troublesome budget cars you can buy.
(Based on a 2005 1.6GLS) A new clutch will be in the region of £175 and a full exhaust about £450. Front brake pads will set you back about £45 for the front set and £38 for the rear, while an alternator will be around £185 and a replacement starter motor about £140.
Although the GEN-2 will doubtless sell on the basis of its looks and value proposition, a great deal of attention has been paid to how the car drives. Proton now own 100 per cent of Lotus and they want a return on that investment. Quick-witted steering and an alert feel are Lotus trademarks and the GEN-2 isnt found wanting in this department. Factor in a chassis that corners without a great deal of understeer or body roll and you have a setup which will be more than adequate for most of the target market.
The more demanding minority may well find themselves wishing for a little more engine, so good is the ride and handling. The ride is firm without lapsing into harshness and float over longer undulations is well suppressed. There are only two petrol engines available - of 1.3 and 1.
6-litres in size - and neither are bad units. The 1.6-litre 110bhp CAMPRO unit has been developed in collaboration with Lotus and develops reasonable torque in the mid and upper ranges, but youll need to resort to the gearbox to make progress in the lower gears. Fortunately this isnt too much of a hardship as the standard manual gearbox is a slick system.
The 1.6-litre GEN-2 will cover the sprint to 60mph from rest in 12.6 seconds and run on to a top speed of 118mph. A combined fuel consumption figure of 39.
2mpg and CO2 emissions of just 169g/km are both extremely competitive.
Although its not the most obvious choice, the Proton GEN-2 makes a very sound bet if youre after a modern, nearly new family hatch and funds are tight. Most of the time this would mean downsizing to something like a Nissan Micra but Proton offer a full-sized five door that is very appealing to drive. Cheap and cheerful was never this good.
