Farewell report: Proton MPi Iswara 1.5i(A)

My Proton MPI Iswara 1.5i(A) UK-spec 1995/95. It's different from LOCAL Iswara. It came with original 4G15 Injection engine, Original Lancer Fiore dashboard (will explain why later), Lancer Fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel cap (Hard to find the fuel pump (back in 2001), gotta find Lancer), Nippondenso air-cond (Not Proton air), Slightly thicker body shell (more solid) etc...

Q:Why the title "Farewell report"?
A: It's because I'm selling off this car. RM7800 Ono only. CASH BUYER ONLY! If cash, price can negotiate further. What's need to be done, just some touch up on the paint work and rear foglights (mine's stolen early this year).


I'm the 2nd owner of this car having owned the car since 2000. I bought the car for RM32,000 on March 2000 with 114,000km on the clock. Over the past 8 years, I clocked 104,000km (Averaged 13000km per year). Total mileage now: 218,000km.


Without further ado, let’s proceed to my brief write up on this car.


Interior:




The interior’s TOUGH. The seats are Hardy PU & cloth covered coconut husk. The dashboard’s taken from Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore. Why? It’s because back in 1989, the Saga failed the UK Basic crash test as the dashboard collapsed and crushed the legs of the driver. To pass the test, Proton used original Lancer Fiore dashboard and the car finally passed the basic crash test. Words can’t describe the interior, I will now present you the photos.




Engine:

The engine is tried and tested 4G15 “Megavalve” 12 valve engine but with added twist. It came originally with Multi-point Fuel Injection engine with “ECI-MULTI” embossed on the ECU (see picture). The output is 67Kw JIS (91hp) @6000rpm, torque is 126Nm@3500rpm. Generally, it’s quite reliable, except my car’s Throttle body was changed 3 times as it failed to function. It’s not cheap AND RARE at RM800-900 for a new part.
The engine, believe it or not is smooth and quiet (till 130km/h). I swore by it. Don’t believe, call/E-mail me to test drive my car. Apart from the Throttle body, it requires little maintenance and is a Workhorse. As it’s mated with 3 speed automatic with high gearing, the performance’s weak (see “performance” later) and the Noise will crept into the engine from 130 km/h onwards.

Ride and handling:

The car came with Front MacPherson struts, I-arms, antiroll bar coil springs and dampers. The rear suspension’s outdated and inflexible U-shaped trailing arms, coil springs and dampers.

My Iswara started off (1st year owning the car) with soft suspension (nosedived when braked hard), severe bodyroll and understeered easily (80km/h). The “Trailing arms” rear suspension makes things worse. How I solve this problem?

Firstly, I changed all the Shock absorbers to Monroe® Sensatracs. Next, I installed HOTBITS Lower Suspension Tie-Bar. This followed by Anti-roll bar PU Bushings. Finally, I upgraded the rims & tyres to 14” and added “Spacer” to the rear wheels. The end result? SUPERB handling (but RIDE a bit HARD) and now tolerates understeer up to 120km/h. Little bodyroll, No more nose-diving.

The Iswara out-cornered many cars such as TOYOTA VIOS, Altis, Camry 2.4, Honda City IDSI, Toyota Hilux, Perodua Myvi in Tropicana to Damansara Indah road (that twisty corner rulez). It also can keep up with Proton Waja (side by side or 1 car length behind until Casa Indah traffic light), Honda Civic EK VTEC (CKD stock), Perodua Kelisa, Toyota Estima, and Mercedes E230. This regularly occurred until 3 weeks ago, I gave up my leaking Monroe Sensatracs & installed Kayaba Shocks (front Oil, rear gas) which trade-off the handling with better RIDE.

The brakes, though rear’s drum is pretty good especially the front when fitted with good brake pads such as Bendix Metalking. Of course it’ll lock at hard hard braking as it does not have ABS.

Performance:

The car being a 3 Speed Auto, was underpowered. 0-100km/h around 13.6 seconds though 0-70km/h (traffic light start) was quite fast at 6.4 seconds – a bit torquey (126Nm of torque @ 3500rpm). Top speed: 165km/h @ 5300rpm (Redline 6000rpm). Anything above 130km/h = NOISY and slightly unstable.

Fuel economy:

The fuel consumption’s CRAP. Full tank’s (45 litres) only good for 290km town driving. 380km Highway driving. This started in 2001, few months after I changed the fuel pump. My fuel consumption got worse. Is it because it’s taken from Late 80s Lancer Fiore (ie. Old)? To Next owner: If you want better fuel consumption, you have 2 options, Either changed the Fuel Pump or Convert to NGV.

Wheels and tyres:

The Iswara came with 175/70R13 and fitted with 5 spoke 13” JRD Rims. The PCD is 114.3 four holes, 5Jx13”. I used the stock tyres and rims for 2 years. In 2002, I upgraded it to 185/60R14 with 14” Japanese alloy rims (KOSEI Laufer).


Transmission: 3 speed automatic gearbox
1st: 2.846
2nd: 1.581
3rd: 1.000
Rev: 2.176
Final drive: 3.600

Dimension and weights:

Length: 4260mm
Width: 1630mm
Height: 1360mm
Wheelbase: 2380mm
Weight: 895kg
Boot space: 370litres
Turning circle: 9.4m



Lastly, to cap it off, here’s the Major parts I changed:

2000:


- Kenwood RDS Cassette player + CD-Changer (RM1300 - June 2000)
- K&N Air filter (RM460 - Speedworks) (July 2000)
- 4 new tyres (Michelin) 175/70R13 (RM600 - ripped off) (March 2000)
- Timing belt, fan belt, spark plug, front brake pad. (RM -NA-) => July 2000
- tinting (SunGard and RIKEN (Front windscreen) - RM560 (August 2000)
- MONROE Sensatracs (Front and back) - RM510 + workmanship) - Sept 2000)
- Fuel Pump (Used Lancer) - RM340, Sept 2000
- Rockford Amp, RCA Cable (RM300) - Sept 2000
- Taiwan Amp 600W, Mohawk Front speakers + tweeters, RCA Cable (RM800) - Aug 2000

- 2 oil change (service)
- Changed bumper, knock right mudgard (hit by motorcycle)
- New Battery (NS70)

2001:
- HOTBITS Lower suspension Tie bar (RM200)
- PU Anti-roll bar Bushings by CARMANIA (RM120) - April 2001
- Rear wheel bearing
- Power window relay (RM120)
- Bendix Metalking brake pad
- 2x oil change
- Enforcer Security system. (After my car was broken into & money, roadtax stolen)
- Changed the Throttle body (RM800)
- Changed Engine Mounting (1 set, SET TULEN)

2002:

- 14" Rims (used KOSEI Laufer RM380) and tyres (RM660)
- New Battery NS70 Maintenence free
- 1x oil change – Changed spark plugs
- Lowered the car with OMP Springs.
- Changed front bumper – soft brushed at the side with another car, bumper dropped.

2003:
- Fixed the Roof (Rust blisters) - Anti-rust, respray)
- Front tyres (14" Goodyear Ducaro GA)
- Monroe Sensatrac (Rear) + Camber
- 2x oil change
- Removed the OMP Springs (Not comfortable, too hard)

2004:
- Monroe Sensatrac (Front)
- Radiator Fan Motor and switch
- 2x oil change (Changed spark plugs)
- Changed the throttle body (RM850)
- Changed Timing belt (184,600km)

2005:
- Goodyear Ducaro GA tyres 14" 2x)
- Bendix Metalking Brake pad
- Timing belt
- New Battery (NS70)
- Rear wheel bearing
- Radiator fan switch, top & lower pipe
- 2x oil change
- Camber

2006:
- Monroe Sensatrac (front) (197,000km)
- NEW Maintenance free battery (NS70)
- 2x oil change, changed spark plugs
- New Front Bumper (Hit kerb)
- Changed the Throttle body (RM900)
- Monroe Sensatrac (rear)

2007:
- New tyres (Dunlop 185/60R14) 2x + Camber
- 2x oil change
- Changed Trestor fr Brake pads, brake hose, changed whole rear brake shoes.


2008:
- New absorbers (Kayaba – Front Oil, rear Gas), driveshafts, Bushings
- Removed Kenwood RDS Headunit + CD Changer, 2 amp, RCA Cable, install Sony Cassette Headunit
- Rear foglights stolen (Cannot find replacement in Accessories shop) AND Looking for Original Air filter set to replace the K&N. The car will be even SMOOTHER and QUIETER with original air filter (Cannot find replacements in Chop shops).


THAT”S ALL FOLKS. Thanks for having the patience to read it.