Proton Savvy (2005 - To Date) : SAVVY SEARCH
Wednesday July 18
Models Covered: 5 door city car, 1.2 petrol [Street, Style]
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
* Introduction Im guessing that the Proton Savvy probably isnt the used city car thats at the top of your shortlist. In fact Id be surprised if its there at all given the wealth of alternatives your money could stretch to. If youre looking for a nearly new cheapie though, the Proton could be worth a look. With engineering input from Lotus, its even pretty good to drive.
The Savvy is a neatly proportioned car, measuring 3710mm in length. This compares with 3456mm for the Citroen C1 and 3495mm for the Kia Picanto, so its a little bigger than the city car norm, coming half way between these tots and the 3917mm of a supermini like a Ford Fiesta. This means that access to the back through the rear doors isnt as cramped as in certain city cars, helped in no small part by a generously stretched wheel at each corner stance. Where the Savvy isnt quite as good as rivals like the Citroen C1 is in terms of interior width where it breaks the tape at 1345mm.
Needless to say, you wouldnt want to sit three adults across the back. Still, theres a reasonable amount of luggage space, with perfectly flat-folding 50:50 rear seats contributing to a 909 litre boot capacity when theyre flat.
Youll need around £4,500 for a 2005 55-plated Savvy 1.2 Street or around £5,000 for an equivalent vintage Style variant. Yes, this would stretch to something like a 54-plated Fiat Panda. You pay your money and take your choice.
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 1.2 Street) 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.
Only one engine is available, but its a pleasantly punchy 1.2-litre unit that makes 74bhp. This translates into the ability to hit 60mph in 12.2 seconds which is very good indeed for a vehicle in the city car class, as is the 106mph top speed.
This is a car with genuine motorway ability. Proton are again quick to point to Lotus involvement in the chassis development. "We wanted a small car that offers practicality, fuel economy, generous space and great all round performance," said a senior Proton suit. "Its not a sports car nor does it look like a Lotus but certain elements have been engineered into the Savvy thatll give you a taste of what its like to drive one of the worlds best handling vehicles. The results are outstanding." These elements involved engineering a new, stronger and more rigid chassis (platform) and bringing Lotus Dynamics into a small car, resulting in a vehicle that is superior in handling, safety, responsiveness and which has good power to weight ratio - all the necessary ingredients needed to make a powerful and enjoyable small package. The Savvy was tested and verified to be stronger than the German and Italian marques that were used as a benchmark in the development process. Although you wont step from a Savvy knowing exactly what a Lotus Exige must feel like as a result, the steering feel alone is leagues better than most small cars.
The Savvy isnt the easiest car to recommend as a used buy. While its quite a sparkling drive, its price advantage from new is rather erased when buying used. Most would see a year older Fiat Panda or a Ford Ka as a more desirable choice. Still, if the price is right and you want one of the best warranties around, this Proton has a certain appeal.
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