COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: Toyota Altezza AS200 (Lexus IS200)/ RS200 BEAMS DUAL VVTI

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW: Toyota Altezza AS200 (Lexus IS200)/ RS200 BEAMS DUAL VVTI


My (Jeff LIm's) VIEWS:

In this review, I’m covering mainly Lexus IS200. In Japan’s the European IS200’s known as the Altezza AS200. The AS200 is mechanically the same as the UK Lexus IS200, using the same engine and gearboxes. In addition, I'd like to add my own review on Altezza RS200 BEAMS DUAL VVTI.

Why I review this model? It’s because of the ROCK SOLID Resale value pricing in Malaysia. A year 1999 Altezza RS200's up for RM80,000, while a 2000 model Altezza RS200 still fetching RM88,000. A 2001 model’s up for RM98,000. AN Unregistered 2002 model (from Japan): RM120,000. Why is it so? It's all due to the supply and demand thingy. Grey importers brought in Limited units to Malaysia. But the demand's there for Toyota Altezza RS200.

It's all due to the state of the art engine and gearbox. Check it out: Maximum Power 210ps @ 7,600 rpm, Torque: 216Nm @ 6,400 rpm. What the... why so high revving? It's TUNED BY YAMAHA that's why. Gearbox: 6 speed manual or 5 speed Sport-shift (tiptronic) automatic (something Toyota forgotten to install in todays' cars). Eg. The New Camry and the newly launched RM120,000 Corolla Altis still powered by 4 speed Automatic(!).

However the basic specification of Altezza is lower than the equivalent Lexus IS200 but with many options available.


My Toyota Altezza RS200 brief review:

I got a chance to drive a year 2000 Altezza RS200 for a short 20 minutes. The dashboard quality's still akin new with nice to touch plastics. The Dash meter's like a Breitling watch (see picture somewhere in this review). The car's fitted with Electric Sunroof, powered seats, climate control, high quality leather.
In every car there's a downside. For the Altezza's interior, it's the rear seat legroom - it's cramped (I'm only 5 feet 9). It's as bad as BMW E36 3 series.

The Japanese Domestic version of the Lexus IS200, the Altezza RS200's 3S-GE engine was specially tuned by Yamaha to produce 210 PS @ 7,600rpm. It is also the first Toyota to be equipped with BEAMS Dual VVT-i which is only recently available for the newer range of Lexus.

DRIVE TIME

The RS200 gives out an explosion of power, almost comparable to the Honda BIG VTEC (DOHC), feeling and sounding like a race car as the variable valve gear starts. The Toyota Altezza is very enjoyable to drive with a race-feel engine GROWL (when you REV it past 6000rpm) and great build quality. If you are looking for an automatic, the Japanese version has the 5 Speed F1-Style gearshift which is also great fun to drive. Performance of the RS200 is much much greater than the AS200 and there are many after market performance parts available which are lacking on the AS200/Lexus IS200.

Now, the ride and handling: This car handles very very well (My friend's car's fitted with 17" OZ Rims & a set of Continental ContiSport Contact II shoes)! It's one of the better handling cars which was pleasure to drive. It corners like rails with no hit of oversteer cornering at 100km/h (it's a rear drive car remember?), A real driver's car; awesome steering feel and response. Best appreciated on twisty roads. Again, the downside: Due to the hard suspension, the ride was jittery over Malaysian rough roads. The engine's smooth (typical Toyota) when you drive sanely (NOT REVVING IT) but spoiled by my friend's aftermarket Loud 2" Exhaust system.

END OF RS200 review. That's all I can comments, can't review the car properly as I just spent 20 minutes with the car. All is not lost, again, I dished out a detailed Lexus IS200 (Toyota Altezza AS200) "Supertest" by GoAuto Australia topped with NINE OWNER'S Review from Belgium, Canada, US, UK, Sweden, Australia and Ireland.

i)Carsurvey.org (owner's review 1 to 7) and ii) autos.msn.com (owner's review 8 and 9).

CREDITS also given to LEXUS OWNER’S Club UK for some of the Specifications. ALSO, Bonsaicars.com for Top speed & Acceleration times. Here’s the "Go Auto Australia" review. Enjoy!:

Overview (SUPER TEST)

Model release dates: March 1999 - October 2005


LEXUS has always been a brand to be feared in the luxury class and now, with the IS200, it tackles BMW's heartland where the 3 Series has reigned seemingly forever. The IS200 has a balanced chassis, outstanding handling and a sweet six-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine, whereas its similarly priced competition only offers four cylinders. The IS200's only real problem is it lacks a clear sense of identity. And that's rather important at this end of the market. In certain markets, the IS200’s also available in Sportscross wagon (Altezza Gita in Japan). Picture below.


The Car

THERE'S no doubting Lexus' intention with the IS200; claim the small sports crown from the 3 Series BMW. Under the skin it adopts the same front-engine rear-drive philosophy as the BMW, but the exterior and interior design states bluntly that this is a sports sedan rather than a sports tourer. Check out the wedge-shaped side-profile, the aggressive trapezoidal headlights and the large alloy wheels.

Seat Plan

THE IS200'S interior and boot space is optimised by placing the fuel tank ahead of the rear wheels. The compact multi-link rear suspension aids space utilisation as well. There's a lockable flock-lined glovebox with lamp and an upper and centre console, front and rear door pockets and front and rear-centre mounted cup holders.

The Car - Seats

THE IS200's interior speaks of its sporting intent and the marque's luxury heritage. The seat trim is Chenille fabric with metal-fibre highlights, the driver's seat eight-way adjustable and the front passenger's seat four-way adjustable. There are separate headrests for all passengers with the front headrests being four-way adjustable; the rear headrests are two-way adjustable. There are seat back pockets on the front seats.

The Car - Dash

THE IS200 has unique chronograph-style instruments and round air vents. Instrumentation includes speedometer, tachometer, instantaneous fuel consumption meter, fuel level gauge, coolant temperature gauge, voltage meter and automatic transmission shift indicator. The dash is a two-tone design, with a metallic colour highlight running across the centre of the crash pad. There's an electronic odometer and twin trip meter to complete the package.

The Car - Controls

THE IS200's leather steering wheel has perforated leather inserts, accentuating its sporting intent. There are chrome highlights on the gearshift, air vents, doorhandles and handbrake lever button. Electronic cruise control with resume and coast function is available only with the optional automatic transmission. There's a centre mounted digital clock and front centre console bin. Power window functions are mounted in the driver's door.

The Car - Wheels/tyres

LEXUS says the tyre choice for the IS200 was specifically developed to match local conditions and driving tastes. So what do we get? Quite a choice actually. While the standard offering is a 16-inch x 6.5-inch alloy wheel mated to the 205/55R16 V-rated Bridgestone RE030, the Luxury Option offers a machine-finished 17-inch x 7-inch alloy wheel combined with a 215/45 17R Z-speed rated Bridgestone RE040. Two accessory 17-inch wheels are offered: one from Japan the other from OZ Racing in Italy.

The Car - Luggage

THERE'S no split-fold rear seat, but there is a "Trunk-through" capacity which adds to the IS200's flexibility. A sports ski port bag, which can hold four snow skis or two snowboards, is an accessory. A safety triangle and a comprehensive first-aid kit are located in the boot. The kit includes items for communicable disease protection. There are chromed luggage tie-down hooks in the boot.

The Car - Stand out features



THE IS200 reeks of individuality, thanks to its bespoke exterior and interior, including the striking chronograph instruments. The performance of the chassis is outstanding, backing up the sports look, and the gearbox is exceptional. Its equipment levels are high and the pricing is attractive. There are also plenty of options and accessories to customise your car.


The Car - Climate control

CLIMATE control air-conditioning is standard in the IS200, and includes a pollen filter which keeps pollutants to a minimum. Rotary type heater/air-conditioning controls are used. There are also rear seat passenger ventilation ducts. An external ambient temperature gauge is part of the package.

The Car - Sound system

THE Australian Spec IS200's stereo is a premium-grade Fujitsu Ten audio system with 220 watts of power and eight speakers spread around the cabin. The sound system include a six-disc in-dash CD player with controls that includes random and repeat functions. The tape deck includes full logic controls and metal tape facility. The radio has 12 FM station presets and six AM presets. The IS200 has a roof-mounted pole antenna for the radio.

The Car - Security


LEXUS claimed the IS200 anti-theft system was the most sophisticated ever offered in a Lexus when it launched the car. The security system is designed to protect contents as well the car. Keys are laser-milled; theft-preventing radar intrusion sensor detects movement inside the vehicle; a transponder-type engine immobiliser is standard and a self-powered siren is located in boot. The IS200 is also fitted with specially-strengthened door locks (pictured).


We like (+ve): Delightful chassis, smooth, melodic engine, Lexus quality
We don’t like (-ve): Melodic engine lacks punch, car lacks identity


GOAuto's Opinion

By TIM BRITTEN 30/07/99

"THE IS200 is probably the most hyped Lexus since the original LS400 was launched in 1990.

Neither the ES300 - which shares its basics with the Toyota Camry and poses the question of why it should be necessary to spend a lot more money merely to get a supposedly more prestigious badge and a little extra equipment - nor the muscle-bound GS300 that came during 1998, stirred the industry as much as this blatant attempt at claiming a plot in BMW's heartland.

And blatant it surely is, because it is not necessary to dig too deep into the IS200's styling, pricing or mechanical layout to see signs of the 3 Series BMW - or even Mercedes-Benz C-class - peeking through.

The little Lexus apes 3 Series dimensions in all directions, except it is a smidgin smaller, and runs an inline, six-cylinder engine of modest capacity and a liking for high rpm.

It uses short overhangs front and rear, and is styled to appeal to prestige buyers with its sporting lines overlaid by a certain conservatism.

Toyota obviously squeezed every drop of expertise from its suspension engineers because the rear-drive IS200 is undoubtedly the best balanced, neatest handling Lexus yet.

It adopts double wishbones and coil springs at the front, and a multi-link double-wishbone system at the rear, all contrived to give an exquisite ride/handling compromise.

Mate this with the clean revving, twin camshaft, multi-valve six - along with BMW-style variable (inlet) camshaft timing - and there you have it: the magic ingredients that should result in a car no prestige buyer can resist.

And, without doubt, the Lexus scores on every point - with the exception of one significant flaw.


The standard of finish is pure Lexus - tight panel fit and deep, glossy paint - but a few aberrations exist.

And the surprisingly messy under-bonnet layout looks like an amalgam of early Mercedes and Iveco truck with its essentially black treatment, while a conglomeration of plastic component covers keep the viewer guessing as to what sort of engine lies underneath.

The dash, with its ribbed upper surfaces and uninspiring centre console, is not readily warmed to - although the radio controls are large and user-friendly - while the seats, at first well-shaped and supportive, can tend to create a little discomfort after more than two hours at the wheel. And the wheel has only a primitive, one-way adjustment.

The front seats are available with electric adjustment but only on the driver's side; front passengers must be content with normal, manual operation, right down to a primitive lever-style ratchet backrest adjuster and no seat height control.

The back seat caters well enough for its passengers with reasonable legroom although there is no split/fold backrest to make the most of luggage space. A ski port behind the central armrest is at least provided.

But the driving experience is something well above the ordinary. The little inline six, wound out to its red line of around 6300rpm, does not mind a bit and it emits a nice, muted throaty tone at the same time.

But the acceleration is about what you would expect of a 155hp, 2.0-litre engine being asked to propel a 1.3-tonne body - it provides rapid forward motion but needs to be revved hard, just like the six-cylinder 320i BMW in its previous E36 guise - not surprising when you consider maximum torque in the Lexus appears at a high 4600rpm.

All that said, the chassis balance and ride quality are outstanding. Few cars come to mind that cope so well with (optional) low-profile 17-inch 215/45 tyres in terms of ride quality, while the handling is pin-sharp and secure with only minimal suggestions of the bump-steer that comes as standard when wheel offset exceeds certain margins.

The Lexus is thus a nice car in which to go in search of fast, winding, traffic-free roads, especially in the six-speed manual version which offers a polished metal, quick-throw lever and well matched gear ratios.

So, overall, the IS200 is a thoroughly refined competitor in the compact prestige class and a real threat, in terms of what it offers buyers (such as the various after-purchase benefits offered with the Lexus package) and in terms of its unquestioned capabilities. It is also very well priced.

The baby Lexus is a carefully contrived offering in the prestige class that loses nothing to its European competition except a clear sense of identity."
END OF GOAUTO Australia's opinions

Mechanical - Plan views


DOES this sound familiar? A small capacity inline six-cylinder engine mounted longitudinally and driving the rear wheels. BMW? No, Lexus IS200 - a most sincere form of flattery.


Mechanical - Engine


THE IS200 is powered by a straight six engine developing 155hp @ 6200rpm and 195Nm of torque at 4600rpm. The engine is mounted longitudinally and powers the rear wheels. It is a sophisticated engine, with power and torque spread aided by intelligent variable valve timing and variable-length induction tracts.

THE IS200'S front suspension is by double wishbones, controlled by coil springs and two-stage gas-filled dampers. The rear suspension is a double wishbone, true multi-link system with a toe control arm for improved rear wheel directional stability under hard braking.

SIX computers control all the major systems of the car. The engine features fully sequential fuel injection. The transmission is electronically controlled, as is the throttle. The electronic throttle is networked to the engine computer to provide idle speed control, shift-shock reduction control, cruise control (with auto only), traction control and snow mode.

Mechanical - Transmission


THE standard transmission in the IS200 is a six-speed manual. A four-speed automatic is optional. The new manual transmission was developed by Aisin-Warner, a Toyota subsidiary, and the IS200 is its first application outside Japan. The auto is intelligent, adaptive and electronically-controlled.

Mechanical - Brakes & steering

THE braking system is vacuum-boosted dual circuit hydraulic with four-wheel discs. The front brake hardware for the IS200 is 296mm x 32mm ventilated discs with twin-piston, floating callipers. The rear brakes are 307mm x 12mm solid rear discs with single opposed piston callipers. The anti-lock braking system is a four-sensor, three-channel type.

THE rack and pinion power steering system is engine-speed sensitive. The overall steering ratio is 15.7, with 3.25 turns lock-to-lock and minimum turning circle of 10.2m.

Safety

AIRBAGS are mounted in the IS200's steering wheel, passenger dash and front seats. The front seats are designed to reduce whiplash injury, through careful placement of the upper section and the head restraint. Lap-sash seatbelts are standard all-round and the front seatbelts have pretensioners. The steering column is energy-absorbing and four-way collapsible. The optional skiport bag was crash tested to ensure it remains in place in an accident. A traction control system is standard on IS200.

END OF REVIEW BY GO AUTO AUSTRALIA.

SPECIFICATIONS:

ENGINE:

1) LEXUS IS200 @ Altezza AS200
* In-line 6, 24v, longitudinally mounted REAR WHEEL DRIVE
* Capacity: 1998cc
* Induction: Twin overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, electronically-controlled variable inlet camshaft timing. Multi- point fuel injection
2) ALTEZZA RS200: As above except in-line 4, 16v BEAMS DUAL VVTi, Yamaha tuned

1) * Bore/Stroke: 75.0mm x 75.0mm
* Compression ratio: 10:1
2) ALTEZZA RS200: 11.5:1

MAX POWER/TORQUE:

1) Lexus IS200 @ Altezza AS200
* Power: 114kw (155hp) at 6200rpm
* Torque: 195nm at 4600rpm

2) ALTEZZA RS200: 1998 4 Cyl 3S-GE
210ps @ 7,600 rpm
216Nm @ 6,400 rpm


TRANSMISSION:

1) * Six-speed manual, Four-speed automatic
2)*6 speed manual, 5 SPEED SEQUENTIAL SHIFT AUTOMATIC

SUSPENSION:


* Front: Independent double wishbone with lower coil
* Rear: Independent multi-link double wishbone with lower coil

STEERING:

* Power-assisted rack and pinion
* Turns lock to lock: 3.25
* Turning circle: 10.2m

BRAKES:

*Vacuum-boosted dual circuit hydraulic with four-wheel discs.
*Front brake: 296mm x 32mm ventilated discs with twin-piston, floating callipers.
*Rear brake: 307mm x 12mm solid rear discs with single opposed piston callipers.
*Anti-lock braking system: four-sensor, three-channel type.
*TCS (Traction Control)

DIMENSIONS:


*Length 4400 mm
*Ground clearance 150 mm
*Width 1725 mm
*Height 1420 mm
*Total (curb) weight 1360 kg / 2998 lb
*Wheelbase 2670 mm
*Track front 1495 mm
*Track rear 1475 mm

Both 1) and 2) IDENTICAL
AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION:
1) FC: 11.6km/l
2) FC: 11.0km/l
*Fuel tank: 60L

PERFORMANCE:

1)* Top speed: 215km/h (Top speed: 207km/h - Auto)
*0-100km/h: 8.5 secs (11.2 secs Auto)

2) *Top speed 233km/h if unrestricted (JDM limited to 180km/h)
0-100km/h: 7.2 secs (MANUAL)
*Top speed 230km/h if unrestricted (JDM limited to 180km/h)
0-100km/h: 8.0secs (AUTO)

http://www.bonsaicars.com/Altezza/
Top speed and 0-100km/h source)


COLOUR CHOICES (All colours can be seen in this Blog, in “Owners’ review”: Silver, Super WHite, Pearl White, Bright Yellow, Super Red, Met. Black, Met. Grey, Dark Green Mica, Dark Blue Mica

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

* Driver and passenger airbags
* Side front airbags
* Anti-lock brakes
* Climate control air-conditioning
* Alloy wheels
* Six-stack CD player
* Limited slip differential
* Traction control
* Trip computer
*Leather seats with front driver seat 8 way electronically adjustable

- END OF SPECIFICATIONS -











The following were sourced from MSN Auto US website:
http://autos.msn.com/research/userreviews/reviewlist.aspx?modelid=10618

MSN Auto (US) User Reviews
9.1 Overall Rating

9.4 Styling
9.1 Performance
8.8 Interior
9.2 Quality
9.1 Recommendation











END OF A LONG REVIEW: Thanks for having the patience to read it.

Subsidised diesel to go can, give us better quality diesel 1st.

JEFF Lim's comments: It's disheartening to hear that the Government wanted to remove diesel subsidy. They don't realise that our diesel quality's the "Worst of the Worst" @ EURO 1 where as the World already using EURO 5. You know what, ironically Malaysia produces the BEST DIESEL in the world by the name of "Shell V-Power Diesel" only to be exported. Here's an extract of article 1. I felt very angry upon reading it... WHY we, Malaysia don't get this quality diesel, YET the Government want to remove the diesel subsidy.

"Shell V-Power Diesel is a top performance diesel fuel designed to help modern diesel engines deliver more power, for longer. Already available at about 5,000 service stations across Europe, Shell scientists have used the same fuel technology behind V-Power Diesel to create this special racing fuel for Le Mans."

"This remarkable result was due in part to the inclusion of Shell GTL (Gas to Liquids) Fuel in the race formulation. Shell V-Power Diesel is the first and only premium diesel to use this special synthetic fuel technology which is created from natural gas in Malaysia using a unique Shell synthesis process. Shell GTL Fuel burns more cleanly and efficiently than conventional diesel because of its outstanding purity and cetane quality."

Here's the DISAPPOINTING ARTICLE 2 taken from today's The Star:

Friday April 25, 2008
Subsidy on diesel to go first, says Shahrir
By TEH ENG HOCK

""KUALA LUMPUR: The restructured fuel subsidy scheme will see the removal of subsidy on diesel first.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad said diesel would soon be sold at the market rate at the pumps when a mechanism to deliver subsidies directly to those entitled has been decided upon.

“We are looking at diesel first, and how to ensure that subsidised diesel gets to the right groups, especially to the transport sector and (those involved in) certain economic activities which require diesel subsidy so that we can cut out leakages.
“Schoolbuses for example. We have to have a mechanism on how to deliver the diesel (subsidy) to the schoolbus drivers so that the cost of transport will not go up,” he said.

Without the subsidy, diesel will cost more than RM2 a litre. The price of diesel at the pump now is RM1.581 a litre.
Shahrir said the move to restructure the fuel subsidy was necessary to ensure the money was not wasted through various ways such as diesel smuggling.
“We want to look at diesel first, then obviously we will have to look at petrol subsidies,” he said.

Shahrir said crude oil prices were at US$117 (RM372) per barrel, and the Government spent RM33bil on fuel subsidies last year.
He said another RM20bil of subsidy was spent on natural gas to subsidise Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s power generation.
“You are talking about RM53bil. And that does not include the subsidised amount that people pay. Our oil export in 2007 was RM77bil.

“So it is almost one-to-one what we consume and what we export,” he said.
On the Food Security Policy, Shahrir said it had been discussed in Cabinet and the Agriculture Ministry would look into increasing production to counter inflation.
“What we have not resolved is the delivery and distribution to consumers. We need to take into account some things. For instance, I want uniform pricing for foodstuff in Sabah and Sarawak and the Peninsula.”

He added that the inflation of food prices was higher than the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which recorded 2.8% in March.
“We cannot use the CPI as an indication of inflation as it does not reflect the price rise in food. The CPI is a theoretical basket of goods based on the consumption of a theoretical average family.

“In the basket, there’s the food component, transport, clothing and so on. If you take out other components and only focus on the food component, then you will see that the (inflation) rate is higher than the CPI,” he said.""

END OF a STUP1D Article.

BA$TARD Shahrir, as I said in my previous post, just remove the stup1d subsidy (except subsidy card/s for School Buses, Lorries, Fishermen, and those needed) and REMOVE whatever Excise Duties, Sales taxes as well. I'm sure ALL Malaysians will thank you.

Remove fuel subsidy. Yes! But remove duties & taxes 1st...

Firstly, I'd like to mention that the Government cannot afford to subsidise petrol and keep prices artificially low forever.

However, I want to point out that when you talk about the price of petrol, you have to also talk about the price of cars in Malaysia. These two items goes hand in hand.

If one expects we Malaysians to pay the real price of petrol (say, RM3.00 per litre) in the future when the petrol subsidy is zero, then the price of cars must also be real, ie, duty and tax free.

If one expects the people to pay the full, real-world price of petrol – and I must say it is a perfectly reasonable expectation – then we Malaysians expects, also reasonably, to buy cars at real-world prices, without the exorbitant taxes currently imposed.

For example, a Honda Civic at the real price is about RM65,000 (as in Labuan). Instead, it's priced artificially high at RM112,000 in rest of Malaysia.

Now, when the average consumer buys a car, he has already paid (in the form of import duties, excise duties, and sales tax) to the Government, IN ADVANCE, a sum GREATER THAN THE PETROL SUBSIDY he can expect to enjoy over the time he owns the car.

Let me give you a scenario:

If a consumer buys a Honda Civic at RM112,000, the duties and tax he pays, up front, to the Government is more than RM50,000.

Then, he enjoys the fuel subsidy each time he fills up with petrol. To benefit from the RM50,000 that he has paid, in advance, it will take approximately 16 years (assuming he uses 60 litres of petrol a week and the subsidy is RM1 per litre)!
So, it is not fair to say that the subsidy of petrol has to be reduced or removed when the commodity price goes up, without reducing or abolishing the hefty taxes on cars.

You can’t use the “cheapest petrol in South-East Asia” and “price of crude oil has skyrocketed” excuses to justify the reduction in petrol subsidy as long as the ridiculously high tax is imposed on cars.

Any Malaysian won’t buy your story because we know that we, as motorists, have already paid for the petrol “subsidy”. In advance.

My conclusion: BOTH the Fuel subsidy AND "Import Duty, Excise Duty, Sales tax and ALL sort of other Vehicle taxes" MUST GO. As seen in The UK, where the petrol price's sky high BUT the car prices there are one of the cheapest in the world. If UK can, so can Malaysia.

Ironically, the British average monthly income's GBP3,000 but their average 1.6cc mid-size car's only GBP13,000 (Toyota Corolla 1.6) whereas we Malaysians earned an average of RM1,800 (GBP280!) but our Corolla Altis 1.6 were priced at 110,000 (GBP17,000), thanks to the Excise Duties, import duties and sales tax.

FULL REVIEW: Proton WAJA (Impian) 1.6X

FULL REVIEW: Proton Waja 1.6X 4G18. Proton Impian in UK.

Model release dates: December 2001 - July 2006

MY REVIEW:

I have 3 Wajas owned by relatives, 2 in Penang and 1 in KL. All were 1.6 Standard Models. I only have the chance to drive once for mere 10 minutes. It’s a 2001 Automatic model. Hence, there’s not much I can test. Based on my observations, the car’s Ride and Handling’s superb, cornering at 80km/h like rails, absorbing bumps and potholes comfortably, seats were quite comfortable. Engine’s smooth for a 4-pot, Great steering feedback. TIMELESS Design (already 8 yrs on, still looks quite good). THAT”S ALL MY COMPLIMENTS. Almost forget, the power is there, pickup’s quick and linear from start till 70km/h before it reached a flat spot, hence quite pleasent city driving. However, 120km/h onwards the car picked up again till the Maximum speed. The Waja’s stable at high speeds believe it or not as I saw lots of Wajas overtaking me at around 160km/h!

Here comes the Bad point: FIRSTLY, THE BLIND SPOT due to HIGH REAR glass & thick C-Pillar. The dashboard’s made of cheap plastic, the glovebox gap is getting bigger and difficult to close, the steering volume control button came off twice, the Aircond switch came loose, the fabric seats’ not grippy as rear passengers slide around (slightly) as I was taking corners. My Uncle’s Waja’s Power windows broke down 4 times (twice driver, 1 front passenger, 1 rear right), once, the Door handle came off. The brakes’ not quite effective (No ABS for Standard spec). THAT”S ALL the CRITICISMS. Nevertheless, I still liked the body shape, ride & handling.

WHY I decided to write about WAJA? Of all the cars why Waja?
Most importantly, I got lots of friends looking for used Waja but they can't find any detailed review of the car hence I get the ball rolling.

Secondly, it's for my own interest. I read somewhere someone bought a Waja and transplanted a Mitsubishi FTO Engine, gearbox, brakes, dashboard. Hmmm… Sounds like a good idea. Should I get a 1.8X budget RM28k, 2003 (full spec with ABS & Airbags, stiffer body), used for 1 year, then upgrade to FTO (OR Galant VR-M) engine, brakes, tiptronic gearbox, fuel tank? (RM12k budget). Ttl: RM40k, just within my budget. Or should I just buy a Perdana V6 (for 2002 RM38k) and be contented? CAN ANYONE advise me?

Why V6? Cause I was hooked to them. Recently sat in Friend's Cefiro V6 AND a Perdana V6, I simply loved the "GROWL" of the V6 engine. Hence, I told myself, next car, must buy a V6. Now I'm in a position to buy a used car to replaced my 13 yrs old car and my budget is RM40k only (at the moment).

Anyway, As I do not have a car for DETAILED TEST, I dished out a “Super test”, comprehensive test by GoAuto Australia. Note that Australian Waja 1.6X have ABS + TRACTION Control, CLIMATE CONTROL, 3 yrs, 1 MILLION km warranty with 15,000km service intervals AND 4 Airbags. PRICE: AUD25400 only (RM72,000). This shows the DOUBLE standard Proton practices. ENJOY:

Overview

PROTON is stretching things a little - well, a lot, really - when it describes the Waja medium-sized sedan as a car equal to rivals from Europe and Japan. True, it has smart outer skin and lots of features contained within. Lotus-tuned handling also impresses. But these do not give the car an automatic ticket into the big league, considering the underpowered 1.6-litre engine, lack of interior comfort and quality glitches found throughout the car. At launch, the car was also overpriced, although this has since been addressed with a $4500 price drop.

The Car

DESIGNED at Proton's Shah Alam studio in Malaysia, the Waja has adopted clean and smooth lines in an orthodox "three-box" sedan shape. Its creators have attempted to imbue both European and Japanese influences, all the while keeping aerodynamic drag - and therefore fuel consumption and wind noise - to a minimum (0.31Cd). The front end features a strong V-shaped bonnet crease that descends down to form the border for a secondary "V" with the corporate badge oozing over the five-bar chrome-bordered radiator grille. Front driving lights are included on 1.6X models. More chrome is found at the rear - on the boot lid above the number plate recess and on the exhaust tip.

Did you know?
Waja is the first car designed and built from the ground up by Proton

The Car - Seat Plan

WAJA seats five people, offering the front occupants frontal and seat-mounted side-impact airbags and seatbelt sash height adjustment, pretensioners and load limiters. All passengers are provided with three-point seatbelts, with rear seat headrests limited to the outboard positions. The centre rear position also doubles as an armrest. Storage facilities include a lidded centre console bin, a tray under the dash fascia, small bins in the front doors, lockable glovebox and two seatback pockets. Two cupholders are provided in the front compartment and two in the 1.6X's rear armrest.

The Car - Seats

THE 1.6X Waja uses leather trim on its "sports" bucket seats, which throughout the range offer 240mm of fore/aft adjustment, seat cushion angle adjustment and 120mm of front head restraint adjustment. This range-topping Waja also has lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat. All seats have three-point seatbelts with the front belts featuring a pretensioner and load-limiting device. The rear bench seat has a 60/40 split and two head restraints - the centre-rear position misses out in this regard.

The Car - Dash

THE 1.6X Waja has a two-tone dash treatment with charcoal grey across the top portion of the dash (and extending to the door panels) and lighter materials used below. Mock wood veneer inserts on the gearshift, steering wheel, doors and glovebox lend an air of prestige, together with the leather trim on seats and doors. The centre stack is sharply angled toward the driver - some would say to the exclusion of the front passenger - and a large hood sits over the instruments in front of the driver. The main cluster has conventional gauges for fuel, coolant temperature, tachometer (redline 6500rpm) and speedometer (to 240km/h).

The Car - Controls

THE 1.6X Waja driver has seat cushion angle and lumbar adjustment, and steering column height adjustment with which to get comfortable behind the wheel. That wheel has basic audio switches on it with the column stalks including a left-hand indicator and variable intermittent wipers. The right-hand side of the dash has the instrument dimmer and controls for the wing mirror, which includes a button for inward folding. Electric window switchgear is situated on the door with switches for the front and rear foglamps, hazard lights and rear demist on the centre stack. A driver's footrest, front and rear maplights, front passenger vanity mirror and internal releases for the boot and fuel access are provided.

The Car - Wheels/tyres

THE 1.6X Waja is fitted with 15 x 6.5JJ alloy wheels in a seven-spoke design and 195/55 R15 85V Goodyear Eagle NCT3 tyres. A temporary spare wheel, a jack and some basic tools are provided in the well underneath the boot floor.

The Car - Luggage

WAJA'S boot provides 1030mm in floor length to the seatbacks, extending to around 1700mm (depending on front seat position) when the 60/40 split-fold rear seat is used. Maximum boot width is 1350mm, reducing to 920mm at the narrowest point. Height to the parcel shelf is 490mm. The use of bootlid hinges instead of struts can serve to restrict luggage space and there are no luggage tie-down hooks with which to secure small items. A temporary spare wheel is located underneath the floor, as is a small storage at the back end near the seatbacks. There is no boot handle; access is made via a key or an internal release. Claimed boot capacity is 408 litres

The Car - Stand out features

THE premium pricing at launch (since dropped by up to $5000) mated with an undernourished engine will hurt Proton's chances of making Waja a success in Australia, however the vehicle has a fair dose of equipment to make it more palatable to prospective owners. All variants are fitted with four airbags, ABS brakes and traction control, for example, with 1.6X upping the ante with niceties such as leather and climate control air-conditioning. As Proton has done in the past, it has used Lotus engineering with the suspension to provide appreciable benefits in both handling and cache. (NOT FAIR!)


The Car - Climate control

AIR-CONDITIONING is fitted standard across the Waja range, with the premium 1.6X model offering an "automatic" function for air distribution and fan speed. Otherwise, the system operates in a conventional manner with three rotary dials covering the major controls. The centre fan speed dial has the air-conditioning on/off button placed conveniently on it, with a separate button used for recirculation. The rear demist control is located alongside ancillary switches such as foglights and hazards.(AGAIN, NOT FAIR, WE MALAYSIA DON”T HAVE THIS!)

The Car - Sound system

ALL Waja models are fitted with a six-speaker, single-CD Clarion AM/FM stereo system. Volume and station search can be adjusted from controls on the steering wheel or from the (neatly integrated) head unit, which is easily reached by the driver thanks to the sharply angled dash. A bee-sting aerial is mounted on the roof above the rear window.

The Car - Security

WAJA is fitted standard with an engine immobiliser and (single stage) remote central locking with an integrated alarm. Attempting to lock the vehicle with a window or door open/ajar will prompt a loud beep to warn the owner. Unlocking the doors does not bring the interior lights on and the automatic function on the driver's window applies only to opening.

THE GOOD: Handling characteristics, long standard equipment list, external appearance, interior and boot space
THE BAD: Underpowered engine, manual shift action, quality


Our Opinion (GOAUTO's opinion)

By TERRY MARTIN 23/03/2002

IT IS true that this is the most complete Proton ever built, a car constructed from the ground up on its Malaysian home soil and which at last helps the company break free from the perception that it is a builder of old-generation Mitsubishis.

But to describe the Waja medium-sized sedan - as Proton has done - as a world-class car equal to rivals from Japan and Europe is stretching the truth.

It has a degree of presence with its clean, smooth and conservative shape, made memorable with the bonnet tip oozing down over the chrome-bordered grille.

And it has a comprehensive list of features which in the "X"-rated form tested here includes cowhide on the seats and doors, climate control air-conditioning, mock timber panelling, high-grade stereo, traction control, four airbags, ABS brakes, alarm, a warranty lasting one million kilometres - we could go on like this for some time.

We must stress, however, that a smart outer skin and lots of features contained within do not give the Waja - a Malay word meaning "steely warrior" - an automatic ticket into the big league.

There is the matter of performance which, until a Renault-sourced 1.8-litre engine arrives, is limited to a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder unit producing 76kW at 6000rpm and 140Nm of torque at 2750rpm.

There are also concerns over quality and smaller but equally niggling aspects like driver comfort.

And there is the price: at launch, Waja was priced at about $28,000 for the baseline 1.6 model and $30,000 for the 1.6X. Slow sales saw the sticker dropped by up to $5000, with the entry level 1.6 now set at $22,990 and the 1.6X at $25,490, plus $1850 for the auto.

Despite the absence of a "handling by Lotus" sticker on the Waja's rump, the most positive aspects we found with the car derived from Proton's 80 per cent ownership of the renowned British sports car and engineering house.

As it has done with the Satria GTi, Lotus has again stamped its mark on what is otherwise quite an ordinary vehicle.

This is more than just marketing hype. Using MacPherson struts at the found end and a multi-link configuration at the rear, the suspension produces a firm ride that maintains excellent control and does a competent job of dispensing with road irregularities - even rough stuff dished out on crook Australian roads.

The ride never becomes harsh, suspension noise is kept in check and bodyroll is not a factor. Grip (and, at times, noise) levels, on the other hand, are high from the 195/55 tyres on 15-inch rims, though understeer refuses to emerge until the car is pushed well beyond the norm.

The steering, too, impresses with its weighting, feedback and response at speed - and we like the feel of the thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel - though some might find the steering too heavy during slower-speed driving around town.

There is no kickback through the tiller across chopped-up corners, however vibration will make its way up to the driver's hands.

With such excellent handling and a well-sorted ride, it seems criminal that the Waja owner is lumped with such an underpowered engine.

Where a humble Corolla, for example, can find 84kW per tonne in the power-to-weight stakes, the range-topping Waja tips the scales at just 64kW/tonne. Claimed acceleration from rest to 100km/h is a believable 12.2 seconds.

Sourced from Mitsubishi, the engine struggles at low and mid-range engine speeds, and though it gets a wriggle on at higher revs the noise, vibration and harshness that arrives about 5000rpm will send the driver back each and every time.

Frequent use of the standard five-speed manual gearbox will keep the Waja running with most suburban and highway traffic, but the shift action is notchy and slow, and fuel consumption increases markedly when the driver decides to stir things along.

Even as it stands now, Proton's claimed figure of 7.7 litres per 100km (combined) is unrealistic. Premium unleaded fuel is also called for at the pump.

The spacious interior features light colours, a modern design, some soft plastics across the dash and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. But the heavily angled centre console tends to exclude the front passenger, the front seats are flat and unsupportive and some of the switchgear is brittle and uninviting to use.

Higher-mounted temperature controls would have been welcome, as would steering wheel reach adjustment, cruise control, better radio reception, larger door bins, a driver's vanity mirror, less-reflective instruments and - a problem specific to our test car, we hope - dash plastics which were starting to peel off from their base.

Indeed, there were other examples of poor-fitting interior trim and a number of creaks, squeaks and rattles that emerged during our time with the car.

Rear seat space is good in all directions bar legroom and all seating positions employ a lap-sash seatbelt. Only the centre rear passenger misses out on a head restraint in a position which doubles as a pull-down armrest with integrated cupholders.

Boot space is generous and luggage capacity extendable with the 60/40 split-fold rear bench, however, the underfloor storage compartment is a clumsy design - bootlid hinges cut into the available space and the spare tyre hidden under the floor is a temporary fix.

The Waja might be the most complete Proton ever but its shortcomings force it to become just another unplaced horse in the race.


Mechanical - Plan views

LIKE all Protons, the front-wheel drive Waja employs a transversely mounted four-cylinder engine up front, driving the front wheels only.


Mechanical - Engine

A 1.8-LITRE engine is expected for Waja in the not too distant future, but for the time being the vehicle makes do with a 1.6-litre, DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder that produces 76kW at 6000rpm and 140Nm at 2750rpm. Premium unleaded fuel is required to deliver its best, which includes a claimed sprint from standstill to 100km/h of 12.2 seconds (14.6 seconds with the auto) and average fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km (6.6L/100km for the auto).

Mechanical - Suspension

WAJA suspension comprises MacPherson struts with coil springs and a stabiliser bar up front and a multi-link configuration with coil springs and stabiliser bar at the rear. The suspension was tuned by Proton subsidiary Lotus. Proton claims the driver can experience the benefits of the suspension through the following ride and handling elements: steering effort and response, linearity, straight-line handling, cornering, lane change, body control, wheel control and comfort from a smoother ride.

Mechanical - Transmission

WAJA is available with a five-speed manual transmission with single-plate dry clutch or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic. The manual shift was designed to offer both a relatively short throw and close ratios between gears, to deliver a sportier feel. Final drive ratio for the manual transmission is 4.052; for the automatic it is 4.042.
Did you know?
Proton cars are exported to 50 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and Latin America

Mechanical - Brakes

WAJA has four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system and traction control fitted standard across the range. Ventilated at the front and solid at the rear, the discs measure 355mm in diameter. The ABS is designed to prevent wheel lock during braking, assuring directional stability and maintenance of steering during braking. The traction system controls each wheel individually to give drivers better control of a variety of low-traction road surfaces.

Mechanical - Steering


WAJA uses a rack and pinion steering system with power assistance. Just 2.8 turns of the three-spoke steering wheel are required from lock to lock. The tiller combines a wood veneer effect with leather and contains stereo controls for volume adjustment and preset station search. The steering column adjusts for height only. The turning circle is 10.2 metres.

Safety

ALL Waja models are fitted with dual front and seat-mounted side airbags for front seat occupants. Inflation of the frontal airbags is claimed to be 0.2-0.3 seconds, with side airbags claimed to inflate within 0.12 seconds. Front occupants also benefit from the standard fitment of seatbelt pretensioners and load limiting devices. All passengers are provided with a three-point belt, however the centre rear seating position does not have a head restraint. Anti-lock brakes and traction control are standard across the range.


SPECIFICATIONS:

WARRANTY:

* Three years/1,000,000km
* Major service intervals: 15,000km

ENGINE:

* 1.584-litre front-mounted SOHC 16-valve transverse inline four-cylinder
* Power: 76kW @ 6000rpm
* Torque: 140Nm @ 2750rpm
* Compression ratio: 10.5:1
* Bore x stroke: 76.0mm x 87.3mm

TRANSMISSION:

* Four-speed automatic or five-speed manual

SUSPENSION:

* Front: independent by MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
* Rear: independent by multi-links, coil springs, anti-roll bar

STEERING:

* Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
* Turning circle: 10.2 metres
* Turns lock to lock: 2.8

DIMENSIONS:

* Length: 4460mm
* Width: 1740mm
* Height: 1420mm
* Wheelbase: 2440mm
* Front track: 1475mm
* Rear track: 1470mm
* Kerb weight: 1190kg
* Power to weight: 64kw/tonne

STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

* Climate control air-conditioning
* Power steering
* Traction control
* Four-wheel disc brakes
* ABS brakes
* Dual front airbags
* Front side airbags
* Seatbelt pretensioners
* 15-inch alloy wheels
* Tilt-adjustable steering wheel with audio controls
* Leather trimmed sports seats
* 60/40 split-fold rear seat
* Electric windows
* Electric mirrors
* Wooden instrument panel strip
* Six-speaker CD-stereo
* Remote central locking
* Engine immobiliser, alarm
* Front and rear foglights

FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Tested by me in Malaysia 7.8L/100km (around RM0.16/km) (A). Tested on Manual in Australia – 6.2L/100km (RM0.12/km mixed)

PERFORMANCE:
Claimed Top speed: 190km/h (M), 186km/h (A)
Claimed 0-100km/h: 12.2secs (M), 14.6secs (A) [ANYONE CAN CHALLENGE THIS CLAIMED FIGURES???]

END OF REVIEW:
Thanks for reading this.

PS. The Waja scored a respectable 3 stars in the EURO NCAP. And from 2006 onwards, the Engine's no longer Mitsubishi's 4G18, instead it's "110hp CAMPRO" powered (for the 1.6). Recently, 2 months ago, Proton launched a CAMPRO CPS, a new engine with 125hp & 150Nm of Torque, an increase of 15hp and 7Nm over the Campro respectively.

Naza Sutera Horror Stories

READ IT BEFORE Buying NAZA SUTERA. Now known as NAZA FORZA.


MY OPINION:

This is a horror story i received from my friend about an owner of a local car, the Naza Sutera. I've heard bad reviews about Naza Sutera before but this is truly shocking. Complaint 2’s in Bahasa Malaysia but I painstakingly translated it to English. It took me 1 week to figure out some of the words (using dictionary and asking friends).

This is NOT ONLY showing that NAZA Sutera’s defective, I posted this to SHOWCASE my TALENT in translating from Melayu to English and English to Melayu (coming soon).

NOTE: Naza must be guilty over these matters. That’s why they redesigned the Sutera and RENAMED it FORZA as Malaysian consumer’s losing confidence. They hope to brainwashed potential “SUTERA” buyers that their product’s now GOOD Quality. Also, in January this year, NAZA Sutera’s for sale in Singapore. Nice try NAZA, 2 years of guinea pigs to Malaysian Sutera owners before selling it in Singapore!

To those interested in Naza Forza. DON’T BUY the FORZA. You’ll be better off with ANY PERODUA. I wanted to say DON’T buy NAZA CARS BUT strangely, the Naza Citra (Kia Carens) and 206 Bestari’s quite good quality, anyone know why?

Here’s the 2 complaint letters:

COMPLAINT 1:

Dear All sutera's...

1st off all, just wanna say that this car is SUCKS!!!...sorry about my words..but i mean it...

Too many defective things goes around..below are the lists

a)wiper and signal motor KONG...(twice)
b)wiper water inside tank, always goes out (settled)
c)power window out (4th times)..on driver seat
d)rear wiper make a noise sound..
e)lamp inside cabin, sometimes ok, sometimes not..
f)fuse box under the hood, always "tercabut"..
g)box compartment (on the dash board) not functioning well due to the bad hinges
h)bla bla

i am not expecting so much on the RM36k car, but all people have to bare in mind that "Cheap things doesnt mean cheap workmanship.Cheap things means cheap materials"..all those defects are workmanship.

On the driving part:-

a)engine sound too noisy..
b)too much body roll..kancil is better..
c)breaking not good (also one of the defect..sound arised)

MY advice, please get perodua (if budget be a problems)...much2 better than this piece of metal...ITS NAZA's DESIGN FAILURE....tried to comment in NAZA website, cant access...

COMPLAINT 2

I wonder what’s the status of this complaint? It’s posted 1 ½ years ago, I hope that this dwarf’s car’s replaced or at least replace its engine. Imagine engine OVERHAULED on a 2 months old car. Here’s the LONG LONG complaint letter:

Laporan Kerosakan NAZA Sutera . Sunday, October 29 2006
Kiriman HM
(TRANSLATED BY YOURS TRULY, Owner of this blog, Jeff Lim)

For your information, next time I’d have to think more than a million times whether I’d buy a NAZA Car because of the Horrendous quality of Naza cars, I’ve bought a Naza Sutera 2 months ago on 1st August 2006 after waiting for about 4 months instead of 2 weeks as promised by FS Trading Sdn Bhd – a dealer. Here, to my utmost regret, I wish that Naza replace me with a New Car. Why? This is the condition of the car given to me:

Untuk perhatian tuan, lain kali saya perlu berfikir
lebih daripada berjuta kali jika ingin membeli kereta
kereta keluaran NAZA kerana kualiti kenderaan yang
amat teruk dan tidak menjaminkan. Saya telah membeli
kereta NAZA Sutera 2 bulan lepas iaitu pada 1hb Ogos
2006 selepas menanti selama lebih kurang 4 bulan
dimana wakil jualan tuan gagal membekalnya dalam
tempuh yang telah dijanjikan oleh pihak Syarikat FS
Trading Sdn Bhd iaitu dalam tempuh 2 minggu sahaja.
Disini saya ingin menyatakan kekesalan yang amat
sangat terhadap kereta yang telah dibekalkan oleh
pihak tuan dan memohon supaya ianya dapat DIGANTIKAN
DENGAN KENDERAAN YANG BARU. Inilah keadaan kenderaan
yang telah dibekalkan kepada saya:-


1) From the quality of the car, it’s clear that NAZA just want to make profit until ignoring the QC of the car. I made a BIG MISTAKE by buying based on the looks of the car only to realize that it’s FULL OF PROBLEMS.


1. Dari kualiti kereta tersebut adalah
jelas bahawa pihak tuan hanya mementingkan soal
keuntungan sehingga mengabaikan tentang kualiti
kenderaan tersebut. Kereta ini lansung tiada kualiti
dan saya melakukan kesilapan besar kerana hanya
memandang dari segi rupa sedangkan ia penuh dengan
masalah-masalah.

2) From my thoughts, the Quality Control division of Naza Factory failed to do a good job as Big part of Exterior and Interior have not fitted correctly and orderly. This includes plastic and steel materials were lose or not fitted properly. Moreover, the screws were RUSTY, an irony as the car’s only 2 months old.

2. Dari segi pengamatan saya Jabatan
Kualiti Kilang Naza gagal melakukan kerja dengan baik
kerana sebahagian besar daripada peralatan didalam dan
diluar kenderaan ini tidak dipasang dengan betul dan
kemas. Ini termasuk bahagian-bahagian yang dibuat
dengan plastik dan besi tidak dilekat atau dipasang
dengan kemas dimana ada yang longgar. Seterusnya
terdapat bahagian-bahagian dan skru yang sudah
berkarat sedangkan kereta tersebut baru 2 bulan sahaja
dan boleh dilihat dengan sebelah mata.

3) On the 1st week on the way driving back from work in the middle of the rain, I had to drive in wet as water seep thru driver side window (a lot). Here, the rubber used was of inferior quality or not fitted correctly. I’d sent to the service centre in Kuala Terengganu, after rectifying, it’s still not right as the door was not aligned with other doors. As a result, all 4 doors have to be knocked again to align it. It’s still not corrected as rain water now entered via rear doors. Can you imagine the inconvenience I faced due to the doors.

3. Pada minggun pertama, semasa saya memandu kereta balik daripada pejabat dan pada masa itu hujan turun; Saya terpaksa memandu dalam keadaan basah kerana air masuk melalui tingkap sebelah pemandu dengan banyak. Disini saya amati getah yang digunakan
juga tidak berkualiti atau pun ia tidak dipasang dengan betul. Saya telah menghantarnya ke pusat serbis di Kuala Trengganu, setelah diperbetulkan ia masih
tidak sempurna kerana pintu tersebut telah tidak selari dengan pintu-pintu yang lain. Jadi keempat-empat pintu ini perlu diketuk semula untuk menyamakannya. Ia masih tidak sempurna kerana semasa hujan air masuk semula melalui pintu belakang pula. Cubalah bayangkan kesusahan yang telah saya hadapi hanya kerana Pintu-pintu ini.

4) On the 3rd week on the way back from Terengganu, the steering made a Donkey sound as if the car was more than 20 yrs old. Imagine what happened to this car after more than 1 yr old.

4. Pada minggu ketiga ketiga balik daripada
Trengganu stering kereta ini telah berbunyi seperti
keldai seolah macam kenderaan yang berumur lebih
daripada 20 tahun. Bayangkan macamana kedaan kereta
ini setelah lebih dari 1 tahun.


5) On the 1st day of owning the car, the Air-cond was not Working properly. The cold air only flow out on the bottom even though I directed the air flow to the top.The next day, I took the car to FS Trading Sdn Bhd and they fixed it fitting “span”, the problem still persisted. Is it the way to fix it? It’s funny, a Big company like NAZA didn’t know how to fix an Air-cond properly, I made a complain but I was not happy with the answer by FS Trading staff saying that it’s Panel Suppliers’ fault and if I have to correct it properly, I have to send the car to Shah Alam and it’ll take more than 2 days as the whole dashboard need to be taken out. Here, NAZA did not check properly as the Airflow not in order also not noticed as it’s Defective on the 1st day I took delivery of the car. Don’t just blame the supplier.

6. Pada hari saya ambil kenderaan ini
system penghawa dinginnya tidak berfungsi dengan
betul; Angin sejuk hanya keluar daripada saluran bawah
sahaja walaupun saya telah mengubah suis untuk angin
itu keluar daripada atas. Keesokan harinya saya hanya
kenderaan ke Syarikat FS Trading Sdn Bhd dan ia telah
dibaiki dengan menyendal dengan sekeping span dan
masih tidak sempurna. Adakah begini caranya ia
dibaiki. Amat melucukan, Syarikat sebesar Naza tidak
tahu camana nak pasang penghawa dingin dengan betul.
Saya komplen tetapi jawapan amat tidak menyenangkan
kerana pihak FS Trading menyatakan bahawa ianya salah
panel pembekal dan jika saya hendak membaikinya dengan
sempurna, saya perlu menghantar kereta ini ke Shah
Alam dan ia akan memakan masa lebih daripada 2 hari
kerana keseluruhan "dash board" perlu dibuka. Disini
pihak Naza tidak membuat pemeriksaan dengan betul
kerana takanlah angin ini ini tidak betul pun tak
perasan sedangkan sebaik saya terima ia sudah rosak.
Janganlah nak menyalahkan orang lain sahaja.


6) On the 2nd day, I went to “Bengkel Naza” which is “Syarikat Mesra Harmony Sdn Bhd”, name only “Mesra”, towing fee also I had to pay. What a pity as the workshop can’t do much as it doesn’t have the proper took needed to repair the Sutera, all need to wait for Naza folks to supply, my car’s still there until today (4 October 2006), it was there since 15 September. Imagine the “Oil Seal” also took Naza more than 3 weeks waiting.


Pada hari kedua saya ke Bengkel Naza,
iaitu bengkel Syarikat Mesra Harmoni Sdn Bhd, nama
ajer mesra, upah tarik kenderaan pun saya kena
tanggung, saya bersama-sama mekanik membuat
pemerhatian ketika kereta ini dibaiki; Malang sungguh
kerana tiada banyak yang mampu dilakukan kerana di
bengkel ini tiada alatganti yang perlu untuk membaiki
kereta Sutera, semua kena tunggu bekalan daripada
pihak Naza, kereta saya masih lagi disitu sehingga
hari ini 04hb Oktober 2006 sejak 15hb September.
Bayangkan "oil seal" pun, Naza ambik masa selama lebih
daripada 3 minggu.


7) The next defect was about Water reservior for Wiper, which was not working properly, one moment fast, and another slow. Sadly, the Wiper’s not working correctly after 1 month of ownership. It’s working when I activated it but when I off the switch it’ll stop abruptly in the middle. It’s only a month, what would happen after 1 year. In workship, it’s difficult to show to mechanic as in workshop it’s OK, but back home the problem persisted. Is this the Quality of a NEW Naza. I felt NAZA didn’t care about the quality of the car’s accessory. Like “catching death” only.

7. Kerosakan seterusnya ialah mengenai pam
air untuk pembersih air (wiper) tidak berfungsi dengan
betul dimana sekejap kuat sekejap perlahan dan yang
paling menyedihkan baru sebulan "wiper" pun dah mula
tidak betul pergerakannya. Bila saya menggunakannya ia
bergerak dengan sempurna, tetapi bila saya tutup
suisnya, ia akan berhenti ditempat-tempat yang ia
suka. Sekejap ditengah-tengah cermin setelah dicuba
berkali-kalibaru ia berhenti di tempat yang
sepatutnya. Ini baru sebulan, kalau setahun mungkin ia
tak bergerak lagi. Ia amat menyusahkan untuk menunjuk
kepada mekanik kerana ia tidak stabil, di bengkel
nampak ok, bila balik ke rumah, masalah ini timbul
semula. Inikah kualiti kereta baru Naza??? Saya rasa
pihak Naza tidak ambil berat lansung soal kualiti
eksesori kenderaan ini. Macam tangkapmuat ajer.


8) The rear bonnet was also not fitted properly as it can’t be open with the key. The problem persists after repairing it. I gotta took 2 days leave just to fix the boot. Imagine the trouble NAZA created to its Consumer.

8. Bonet belakang kenderaan ini juga tidak
dipasang dengan sempurna kerana bonetnya tidak boleh
dibuka dengan kunci. Pergi baiki ok, balik rumah jadi
balik. Itulah kerja saya, kena ambik cuti dua hari
hanya kerana nak baiki bonet kereta. Bayangkanlah
kesusahan yang telah pihak Naza timbulkan kepada
pengguna.


9) The Gear stick vibrated once the engine started, like a more than 30 yrs Old bus in Rural area. At the same time, I can feel as if the Engine is falling. I owned 2 cars before and I never faced this kind of situation, especially when NEW.

9. Batang gear bergegar dan menari sebaik
sahaja enjin dihidupkan macam bas buruk yang
mengangkut penumpang dikawasan pendalaman yang berumur
lebih daripada 30 tahun dan pada masa yang sama kita
dapat rasakan seolah enjin ini nak jatuh. Saya telah
membeli 2 jenis kenderaan dan tak pernah alami keadaan
sebegini ketika ia baru dibeli.

10) The engine emitted a strange noise after 100km/h, hence I have to drive below 100km/h once I took delivery of the car. The noise was like an Aeroplane taking off. As I drive, all passengers turned panic as it’s like going to explode. I met a few owners in the workshop and they too have the same problem and it’s depends on Luck as some have this problem after 110km/h. You have to believe, it emits a strange noise, something not experienced in my 10 years plus of driving. Even my 9 years old Kancil also don’t have such noise.

When I raise up the problem about the engine, the mechanic easily and coolly said it’s due to the use of Timing Chain instead of Timing belt. I’m not a mechanic but don’t just give such excuse to get away from this problem as the engine actually not working properly and the cause I’ll explain further later. This means as if “timing Chain” did not raised the quality of engine at this time. NAZA should check properly before using new technology.

10. Enjin ini akan mengeluarkan bunyi amat
bising yang ganjil setelah kelajuan melebihi
100km/jam, jadi sebaik saya ambil kenderaan ini saya
terpaksa membawanya dibawah 100km/jam. Bunyinya
seperti sebuah kapal terbang hendak memulakan
penerbangannya, semasa saya pandu, semua penumpang
jadi panik kerana ia macam hendak meletup. Saya
berjumpa beberapa pemilik kereta ini di bengkel dan
mereka menyatakan perkara yang sama dan ia bergantung
pada nasib, kerana adanya terima masalah ini setelah
ia bergerak lebih daripada 110km/jam. Tuan-tuan,
percayalah, ia mengeluarkan bunyi yang ganjil, saya
telah memandu lebih daripada 10 tahun dan kereta
kancil saya yang berumur lebih daripada 9 tahun pun
tidak mengeluarkan bunyi sebegini.

Bila saya suarakan apa-apa yang ganjil mengenai enjin ini, dengan mudah
dan selamba sahaja, mekanik menyatakan ianya kerana ia
tidak menggunakan "timing belt" dimana ia gunakan
"timing chain". Saya bukan mekanik, tapi jangan alasan
ini sahaja untuk selesaikan masalah ini, sedangkan
enjin ini sebenarnya tidak berfungsi dengan betul dan
akibatnya akan saya Terangkan dibawah. Ini bermaksud
seolah-olah "timing chain" tidak meningkatkan mutu
enjin pada masa ini. Naza sepatutnya kena menyiasat
dengan teliti sebelum menggunakan teknologi baru.

11) The next defect was the WORST compared to the SYMPTOMS above. On the 6th week using this car with only 3000km done, in 15th September 2006, the car failed to start. After an hour trying, I shook the car then only the car started. This shocked me as I saw white smoke came out a lot, I taught the engine haven’t warm up but it persisted and water began to came out of the exhaust non stop. I switched off the engine and open the bonnet, the black oil and collant appeared to in good condition.

At this time, I was shocked as the engine did not turned off even after I pulled out the key and this SHOCKED me. Apparently, NAZA invented a “turbo without turbo“ engine. With care, I restart the engine and drove slowly to FS Trading Sdn Bhd which was about 10km away. The Mechanic checked the car and what shocked me was the temperature risen suddenly and the water was dry. What sadden me was FS Trading closed one eye on ths problem and I had to wait for more than 2 hours waiting for tow truck to tow the car to Mesra Harmoni Workshop in Taman Melati. I was told that I don’t need to pay towing fee BUT I was asked to pay upon reaching there. Consumer’s always at losing end. After inspection, the workshop cannot find the root of the problem and asked me to come again the next day.

11. Seterusnya kerosakan yang paling teruk setelah simpton-simpton diatas, pada minggu keenam dimana saya menggunakan kereta ini dan ia baru bergerak lebihkurang 3,000km; Pada 15hb September 2006 kereta ini gagal dihidupkan. Setelah sejam mencuba, saya mengoyangkan kenderaan ini maka Enjin boleh dihidupkan; Ia mengejutkan saya, dan saya perhatikan asap putih keluar dengan banyak, pada mula saya ingat enjin belum panas, tetapi ia tak berhenti dan air mula keluar melalui ekzos dengan banyak dan tak berhenti-henti. Saya matikan enjin dan buka bonet hadapan, saya periksa minyak hitam dan air/coolant, ia masih berada dalam keadaan yang baik.

Pada masa ini saya amat terkejut kerana enjin tidak
mati setelah saya cabut kunci dan ia amat
memeranjatkan saya; Naza telah mencipta kereta turbo
tanpa perlu meletakan enjin turbo. Dengan hati-hati
saya hidupkan semula kereta ini dan pandu dengan
perlahan ke pejabat seterusnya ke pejabat FS Trading
Sdn Bhd yang jauhnya lebih kurang 10km; Disana mekanik
telah memeriksa kenderaan dan apa yang mengejutkan
saya ialah suhu telah meningkat dengan mendadak dan
air telah kering. Apa yang menyedihkan saya, pihak FS
Trading pandang sebelah mata sahaja masalah saya ini
dan saya terpaksa tunggu sehingga lebih daripada 2 jam
menunggu kereta tunda untuk menunda kenderaan ini ke
bengkel Syarikat Mesra Harmoni di Taman Melati. Saya
diberitahu bahwa saya tidak perlu membayar kos tunda,
malangnya sampai disana saya diminta membayar kos
tunda tersebut. Biasalah pengguna memang Selalu
malang. Setelah diperiksa, pihak bengkel belum
kenalpasti masalah dan minta saya dating keesokan
harinya.

On the next day, I was told that the engine needed to be opened and an overhaul’s needed as water entered the engine. Earlier symptoms were because the engine is not working properly and the workshops just made assumptions ignoring my symptoms report. I wonder why 1 month old car have this SEVERE PROBLEM and IT”S A NEW CAR. Imagine what would happen after 2-3 years down the road. Consumer like me would suffer due to obligation of paying 7 years installments.

Pada keesokan hari saya diberitahu bahawa enjin ini kena dibuka dan perlu "overhaul" kerana enjin ini telah dimasuki air. Jadi yang simpton-simpton sebelum ini adalah kerana enjin ini tidak berfungsi dengan betul dan pihak bengkel hanya membuat andaian tanpa
mengendahkan apa yang saya laporkan. Saya hairan kenapa kereta baru sebulan ini telah mengalami masalah sebegini teruk dan ini adalah masalah yang serius dan ianya adalah kereta baru. Bayangkan apa akan terjadi jika ia setelah dua tiga tahun nanti. Jadi pengguna seperti saya yang akan merana kerana terpaksa menanggung sengsara kerana terpaksa membayar pinjaman selama 7 tahun.

I was disappointed that the mechanics there also failed to address the root of the problems and did NOT ADMIT that it is a “MAJOR PROBLEM”. It’s the 3rd week the car was in Mesra Harmoni Workshop, a SOPHISTICATED but no spare part and REFUSE to bear the TOWING costs of RM30 due to NAZA slow refund to their workshop, after more than 3 mts. Normally, Consumer needed to bear but don’t just blame here and there.

Saya amat kesal kerana mekanik disitu juga gagal menjawab punca kerosakan tersebut dan tidak mengakui ini masalah serius "MAJOR PROBLEM". Sekarang telah masuk minggu keTIGA kereta itu di bengkel Syarikat Mesra Harmoni, sebuah bengkel yang canggih dan gah tetapi tiada bekalan alatganti dan tidak mahu menanggung kos tunda tersebut sebanyak RM30.00 hanya kerana pihak Naza lambat membayar balik kepadanya
iaitu lebih daripada 3 bulan. Biasalah pengguna kena tanggung, saya pada mula tidak berkira soal ini tetapi janganlah asyik Hendak menyalahkan orang.

When I asked the workshop staff, he accused NAZA for not supplying spare parts and asked me to contact NAZA. Ironically, until today EVERYONE’s action were as if I’m NOT IMPORTANT. My Conclusion is that whatever happened just let consumer bear the burden as long as Company made profit until no staff’s left out, while THEY RIP-OFF Consumers.

Bila saya tanya pihak bengkel dia menyalahkan pihak Naza masih tidak membekalkan alatganti dan menyuruh saya yang menghubungi pihak Naza dan saya terpaks hubungi pihak Naza, tapi amat menyedihkan bahawa sehingga kini tindakan semua pihak seolah-olah saya ini tidak penting. Apa yang saya dapat simpulkan ialah apa pun yang terjadi biar pengguna yang tanggung bebanan janji syarikat buat untung selagi tiada nyawa yang melayang, selagi kita hentam pengguna.

On 30 September 2006, I asked why the car’s not ready, the workshop replied weare running service campaign for Naza Cars in conjunction of festive month and because my car’s case was chronic it’s not repaired on time and its also caused by delayed cylinder head which arrived 2 weeks later. Worse, their oil seal haven’t arrive. I waited and waited until I decided to collect the spare part myself.

Sir, you must understand that I bought a car to make my life easier AND NOT to burden me. The service campaign’s more important compared to my difficulties bear by me, those people who service their car have no qualms without car whereas I HAVE to BEAR all sorts of problems due to no car. They should understand my problem as it brings negative image to Naza itself.

Pada 30hb September 2006 saya tanya kenapa kereta ini tidak siap, pihak bengkel menjawab bengkel ini sedang menjalankan kempen serbis kereta Naza sempena
bulan perayaan dan kerana kereta saya mengalami masalah kronik maka ia tidak berkesempatan untuk dibaiki dan ia juga disebabkan kerana setelah 2 minggu berlalu baru "cylinder head" dibekal oleh Naza dan ia tidak cukup kerana "oil seal" masih lagi tidak dibekalkan. Satu-satu alatganti kena tunggu dan tunggu untuk dibekalkan sehingga saya menawarkan diri untuk mengambil sendiri alatganti tersebut.

Tuan kena faham saya beli kereta untuk menyenangkan hidup saya bukan membebankan saya. Kempen itu juga lebih penting jika dibandingkan dengan kesusahan yang ditanggung oleh saya, mereka yang datang untuk serbis kereta tiada masalah ketiadaan kenderaan sedangkan saya terpaksa menanggung berbagai masalah kerana tiada kereta.
Sepatutnya mereka perlu faham masalah saya ini kerana ia memberi kesan kepada imej Naza sendiri.

I hereby made a complaint to Naza and explained how the condition of the car delivered to me and request for NEW Engine as I lost hope with this engine. This is because the mechanics can’t find the root cause of problem and by right NAZA’s OBLIGATED to deliver a car in GOOD CONDITION. It’s a pity that my request’s not entertained and folks at NAZA act as if there’s no problem with the car. The Customer service centre said that NAZA will not replace the car with a new one AND they’ll just repair it only. You must imagine and understand that this is engine problem, A NEW CAR shouldn’t have this chronic problem. It’ll be better if the engine or the car’s replaced with a new one.

Disini saya membuat aduan kepada pihak Naza dan menerangkan bagaimana keadaan kereta yang telah dibekalkan kepada saya dan memohon supaya sebuah enjin yang baru kerana saya sudah tidak beryakinan dengan enjin kereta ini. Ini adalah kerana mekanik disitu tak dapat mengenalpasti punca masalahnya dan sepatutnya pihak Naza wajib membekal kenderaan yang berada didalam keadaan baik. Malangnya permintaan saya tidak dilayan dan macam tiada masalah langsung yang wujud dihati pihak Naza. Pusat Khidmat Pelanggan menyatakan bahawa Naza tidak akan menggantikan dengan kenderaan yang baru dan ia hanya akan membaiki sahaja. Bayangkan atau fahamilah ini masalah enjin, kereta baru sepatutnya tidak timbul masalah seteruk ini. Jika ia amat sedikit adalah lebih baik enjin atau kereta ini digantikan dengan yang baru.

Here, I understood that I have to accept whatever the condition of the car as if Naza supply me scrap metal I’d to accept it like it or not. Thanks for ruining my life. I was treated like a ping pong ball, being hit from left to right and Naza blaming one another until we confused and dunno what to do.

Disini barulah saya faham saya kena terima apa pun keadaan setelah saya beli kereta itu, seolah-seolah jika Naza bekal saya besi buruk pun saya kena terima samada saya suka atau tidak. Terima kasih kerana telah berjaya menyusahkan hidup saya. Sudahlah begitu saya dibuat macam bola ping pong dipukul kekiri dan kekanan dan asyik menyalah antara satu sama lain sehingga kita keliru dan tidak tahu hendak berbuat apa lagi.

In the end, consumer had to bore all problems and difficulties in terms of time, money and sufferings not only when without car to carry on daily life and possibly the loss would accumulate in years to come.

Jadi akhirnya pengguna yang terpaksa menanggung segala masalah, kesusahan samada dari segi masa,duit dan keperitan tidak hanya pada masa ketiadaan kenderaan untuk meneruskan kehidupan harian dan kemungkinan kerugian ini akan berlarutan bertahun-tahun.

Here I questioned what is consumer rights for me when this situation happens, if only repair, I felt not good and the benefits and profits’s always in Naza’s side and consumers have to be the victim.

Disini saya tertanya-tanya apa hak pengguna seperti saya bila keadaan ini terjadi; jika hanya dibaiki saya rasa ia tak memuaskan dan kelebihan serta keuntungan hanya sentiasa ada dipihak syarikat dan pengguna perlu jadi mangsa.

12) A week after the car at the workshop, I went to see and what hurts me more’s when seeing a new car akin a Junk. Most of the screws’ rusted. It hurts me most was when I was at the workship, I was rudely told off why came so fast when the car’s unknown when would be ready, no symphety at all. Is this the attitude of panel workshop appointed by Naza? There’s many claims that the workshop’s 1st service workshop in Kuala Terengganu not doing a good job. Again, always accused one another.

12. Setelah seminggu kereta di bengkel, saya pergi menjenguk dan tambah menyedihkan apabila melihat keadaan kereta baru tapi dah macam kereta buruk kebanyakan bahagian dan skru sudah mula berkarat. Paling menyedihkan semasa saya tiba di bengkel dengan sinis saya di perli kenapa datang cepat sangat sedangkan kereta ini tak tentu bila boleh siap, tiada rasa sempati langsung. Macam inikah sikap panel bengkel yang dilantik oleh Naza???? Dan ada suara sumbang mengatakan bengkel tempat saya membuat serbis pertama iaitu di Kuala Trengganu tidak membuat kerja dengan betul. Lagi sekali asyik hendak menyalahkan pihak lain.

I went there to see and get answers why new car which was so grand in television would be so badly defective but this is the RUDE answer I get especially when I paid RM38,000 for the car AND not RM3. Next, I saw the big screw which holds the tyre’s rusted and disc brakes rusted too and that was shocking as the car’s only 2 months old, NO ANTIRUST???

Lately, all the screws from front to back’s rusted. Why Naza did not test or research the parts which would be used to make this car. Please don’t be so busy finding big profits and consumer being used as guinea pig to cut costs. I can see that my grren car would not long be RUSTY colour.

Saya pergi kesana hendak melihat dan mendapatkan jawapan kenapa kereta baru yang begitu megah di televisyen itu boleh rosak sebegitu teruk tetapi ini jawapan yang saya dapat sedangkan saya beli kenderaan tersebut dengan harga lebih daripada RM38,000.00 dan bukannya RM3 sahaja. Seterusnya saya lihat skru besar yang memegang tayar telah berkarat dan disk brek juga berkarat dan ia amat mengejutkan saya keran baru 2 bulan sudah sebegini, tiada "antirust" ke?? Malah banyak lagi skru-skru daripada depan hinggalah kebelakang juga berkarat termasuk beberapa bahagian yang dibuat daripada besi lain juga mula berkarat. Apa pihak Naza tak uji atau kaji bahan-bahan yang akan digunakan untuk membuat kenderaan ini. Janganlah hanya keuntungan besar hendak dicari dan pengguna dijadikan bahan uji untuk mengurangkan kos. Saya nampak kereta ini hijau dan tidak lama lagi akan jadi warna karat.

Subsequently, the remote key problem. It’s fine when 1st time using it. But as we moved more than 50km and stopped, the remote key stopped working. This problem also can occur. It’s just 1 month, I don’t know what’s in store after this. I bought problems worth RM38,000 which ironically’s a NEW CAR. Too late to wake up and understand this problem.

Seterusnya masalah bunyi "remote" pada kali pertama guna untuk hari itu ia sempurna dan setelah kita bergerak lebih dari 50km dan berhenti; kunci "remote" tidak berfungsi lagi dan tidak mengeluarkan sebarang bunyi lagi. Tunggu sejuk dulu baru ia berbunyi, hairan ini pun boleh jadi masalah. Ini pun jadi masalah, ini baru sebulan entah apa lagi akan saya tanggung selepas ini, nampak saya membeli
masalah berharga RM38,000 bukannya kereta baru. Sedar dan fahamilah masalah saya.

Naza have made a big and stupid mistake by giving bad impressions to its costomers. If you want to know that this report might changed my friend’s decision to buy your product and lots of them ordered MyVi by Perodua which in turns benefits both parties.

NAZA telah membuat kesalahan besar dan bodoh kerana memberi gambaran buruk kepada pelanggannya. Jikalau tuan hendak tahu bahwa dengan laporan ini mungkin telah mengubah cadangan kawan-kawan saya untuk membeli kereta keluaran tuan dan banyak yang telah menempah semula kereta MyVi keluaran Perodua yang memberi keuntungan kepada kedua belah pihak.

If I had a camara, I’m sure I’ll record these other small problems which NOT Supposed to fell on new car, where I had to correct the problems myself as I’m too lazy to complain anymore as I have no ability. Eg. Seatbelt cover suddenly came off. So I went to a shop, bought a glue and gule it myself. Sutera looks “Stylish” but full of problems as if it’s made by FEET.

Jika saya ada kamera, pasti akan saya rakamkan masalah-masalah lain yang kecil dimana tak sepatutnya ada pada kereta baru ini dan ada bahagian-bahagian saya terpaksa perbetulkan sendiri dan malas nak komplen lagi kerana sudah tidak mampu. Contohnya penutup talipinggang keledar boleh tercabut dengan tiba-tiba. Jadi saya pegi kedai beli gam dan lekatkan semula. Itu pun tak reti nak pasang, boleh gila dibuatnya. Nampak canggih tetapi penuh dengan masalah, macam dibuat dengan kaki.


CONCLUSION: If there’s an Award for WORST Production car without quality, I’m confident and sure that Sutera will win this award with no protest from anyone. Here, if this car’s not corrected, I will made promotion everywhere to show how BAD the quality of the SUTERA.

Kesimpulan????? Jika ada anugerah untuk kereta keluaran terburuk dan tanpa kualiti pada tahun tersebut; Saya yakin dan pasti kereta ini akan memenangi anugerah tanpa sebarang bantahan daripada mana-mana pihak. Disini jika kereta ini tidak diperbetulkan saya akan membuat promosi keseluruh tempat untuk membuktikan bahwa kereta ini amat buruk kualitinya.


Believe me, I’m not from Proton or Perodua but 2 cars produced by both companies I used have NO problem as worse as this ever happened to me. Eg. I used KANCIL for more than 8 yrs and it don’t have such problems.

Percayalah saya bukan dari Proton atau Perodua tetapi
dua kenderaan keluaran syarikatnya telah saya guna dan
tiada masalah seteruk ini terjadi pada saya, contohnya
saya telah guna kereta kancil lebih daripada 8 tahun
dengan tidak memberi saya masalah sebegini.

NAZA CORPORATION made this car and made the buyers as guinea pigs or R&D for the car so that costs will be bore by Consumers and NOT BY NAZA and most likely, it’ll goes on when new model introduced as long as NO LIFE’s LOSS or injured.

SYARIKAT NAZA BUAT KERETA INI DAN SETERUSNYA MENJADIKAN PEMBELINYA SEBAGAI BAHAN UJIKAJI ATAU R&D UNTUK KENDERAAN INI SUPAYA KOS DAPAT DITANGGUNG OLEH PEMBELI DAN BUKAN DITANGGUNG OLEH NAZA DAN BESAR
KEMUNGKINAN IA AKAN BERTERUSAN SEBAIK MODEL BARU DIPERKENALKAN SELAGI TIADA NYAWA YANG MELAYANG ATAU CEDERA.

In the beginning of my car’s CHRONIC damage, NAZA should take PROACTIVE action by replacing with a new unit to show that it’s fully conscientious in what it gives to consumer. Unfortunately, they ignored my claim and RUDELY and PROUDLY, “NAZA Customer Service” representative said that NAZA will NOT Replace your car with a new one, Naza will repair it when spoiled, repair again, repair until warranty finished, and this is dreaded as the spare parts and workmanship would be too expensive to take back the cost of repairing for free before warranty ends. Imagine, engine oil of NAZA’s so expensive compared to Proton and Perodua. This is just the engine oil not other spares, so difficult to supply now, I wonder how it happen?

Sepatutnya pada peringkat awal kereta saya ini rosak teruk begini, pihak NAZA patut mengambil tindakan yang PROAKTIF dengan menggantikan dengan yang baru maka kita nampak dengan jelas bahwa ia bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya dengan apa yang dia bekalkan kepada pengguna; malangnya mereka tak mengendahkan tuntutan saya malah dengan sombong dan bongkaknya wakil daripada "Naza Customer Service" mengatakan bahawa Naza tidak sekali-kali akan gantikan kereta saya dengan yang baru. Naza akan baiki bila rosak, baiki ,rosak lagi, baiki, sehinggalah tamat tempuh gerenti dan masa inilah ditunggu-tunggu kerana ia akan bekal alatganti dan upah baiki yang mungkin terlalu mahal untuk mengambil kembali kos-kos pembaikan yang diberi dengan percuma dahulu. Bayangkanlah minyak enjin kereta Sutera ini sahaja mahal jika disbanding dengan kereta keluaran Proton dan Perodua. Ini baru minyak enjin, itu belum alatganti lain, sudahlah sukar untuk dibekalkan sekarang ini dan saya hairan dimana punyanya perkara ini terjadi.

CAN you Gentlemens imagine this is just a 18 mts old car, yet had to lift engine and overhaul and it’s claimed that it’s a SMALL and Standard problems. This is a serious “MAJOR PROBLEM” not “MINOR”.

BOLEH TUAN-TUAN BAYANGKAN, KERETA BARU SEBULAN SETENGAH KENA ANGKAT ENJIN, KENA OVERHAUL DAN INI DIKATAKAN PERKARA KECIL DAN BIASA. Ini masalah serius "MAJOR PROBLEM" bukannya "MINOR".

What can be done by a poor DWARF like me? I had to work hard for 9 yrs to change a new car with hope what it’ll make my life easier. My hope is that AT LEAST I hope that the new car’s better or same quality of Kancil which I owned previously. Unfortunately, not even 2 months, I had to bear all these problems and I was NOT Confident in the safety of this car anymore.

Apa yang boleh dibuat oleh orang kerdil dan miskin sepeti saya. Saya terpaksa berusaha selama 9 tahun untuk menukar kereta baru dengan harapan kereta ini dapat memberi kemudahan kepada kehidupan saya. Bukan besar harapan saya terhadap kereta ini kerana saya beli kereta ini dengan harapan ia lebih baik atau sama dengan mutu kereta kancil yang telah saya milik dahulu tapi malangnya tak sampai dua bulan; Saya terpaksa menanggung segala masalah ini dan saya tidak yakin lagi dengan keselamatan kenderaan ini.

Disini jika apa yang saya harapkan daripada Naza tidak diendahkan saya hanya mampu berdoa pada tuhan moga kereta yang saya beli dengan tulang empat kerat saya ini akan berada dalam keadaan baik dan mohon tuhan sentiasa lindungi saya dan keluarga saya supaya selamat semasa menggunakan kereta tuan ini walaupun mulai dari saat ini saya pasti akan menanggung kerugian dari masa kesemasa.

Lastly, I wished Naza Motor and Tan Sri Nasimuddin’ll continue to be RICH and Successful on days to come by running activities to make subsequent model cars and producing more problems to buyer of Naza Cars. As far as I know, this is the 1st and last time I’ll buy a car or any car produced by Naza and it’s a sorrowful burden bore by Poor and stupid me. Naza should Understand that the buyer of Cheap cars’ only by lower-income where MOSTLY are BUMIPUTRA (Taai sei!!! - JeffLim)

Akhir sekali, semuga Syarikat Naza dan Tan Sri Nasimuddin akan terus cemerlang dan kaya raya pada hari-hari berikutnya dengan menjalankan aktiviti pembuatan kereta seterusnya mengeluarkan lagi masalah-masalah kepada pembeli kereta buatan Naza. Ketahuilah inilah kali pertama dan terakhir saya akan membeli kereta atau apa-apa kenderan keluaran pihak tuan dan cukuplah derita ditanggung oleh saya yang
miskin dan bodoh ini. Syarikat Naza kena faham bahawa pembeli kereta murah ini hanya dibeli oleh golongan bawahan dimana kebanyakannya adalah bangsa bumiputra.

To the Governments, NGO, Newspapers and those who direct or indirectly involved, pls look into or investigate this problem and I’m positive that it’s not LONG time no problem occurance and if no investigation’s made. I’m not surprised why Motor Indusry in Malaysia continue to cover it up like a Malay idiom: “Completed house PAHAT(?) Sound”

Kepada Badan Kerajaan, NGO, Pihak Akbar dan mana-mana yang terlibat secara langsung atau tidak; Tolong tenguk-tengukan atau siasat perkara ini dan saya yakin ia bukan ia sudah lama berlaku dan jika tiada jalan penyelesaian dibuat, saya tidak terkejut kenapa industri otomobil di Malaysia terus suram seperti kata perpatah Melayu lama "RUMAH SIAP PAHAT BERBUNYI".

**LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, all my comment’s focuse on my NAZA SUTERA only and it might mappen to other Sutera owners and there might be other problems. I can afford to conclude this by my observation while “Camping” in Naza Kia workshop in Kuala Terengganu and (Mesra Harmoni Sdn Bhd, Lot 7G and 9G, Jln Melati Utama 4, Tmn Melati utama, Setapak, 53100 KL). Please see for yourself if you don’t believe my words. ONE Naza Sutera sure will have more than 10 stupid problems.

** TUAN-TUAN; SEMUA KOMEN INI HANYA DI FOKUSKAN KEPADA
KERETA NAZA SUTERA MILIK SAYA SAHAJA DAN IA MUNGKIN
TERJADI KEPADA PEMILIK-PEMILIK KERETA YANG LAIN DAN
MUNGKIN TERDAPAT LAGI MASALAH LAIN YANG TELAH MENIMPA
MEREKA. INI SAYA MAMPU SIMPULKAN DARI PEMERHATIAN SAYA
SEMASA SAYA BERKAMPUNG DI BENGKEL NAZA KIA DI KUALA
TRENGGANU DAN (Mesra Harmoni Sdn Bhd, Lot 7G & 9G,
Jalan Melati Utama 4, Taman Melati Utama, Setapak,
53100, Kuala Lumpur) Tel:603-41070828. PERGI TENGUK
SENDIRI JIKA TIDAK PERCAYA DENGAN KATA-KATA SAYA
DIATAS. SATU NAZA SUTERA PASTI ADA LEBIH DARIPADA 10 Masalah Bodoh!

END OF a LONG ARTICLE. Thanks for reading this.

Gadgets 101: My NEW TOY review: K810i

I GOT A NEW TOY! Sony Ericsson K810i, Just bought on Thursday, fresh from the Phone Shop. Here’s a review of my NEW phone. Why I bought this phone? Well my reason’s stated at the “Conclusion” of this phone review.

NOTE: Got this review from http://secentral.net/forum/ (Sony Ericsson Singapore user group) forum by an Anonymous Forummer. START OF REVIEW (next paragraph onwards). My OWN Opinion’s in “Conclusion”.

When K810 was first announced in Feb 07 by SE the initial response was that it is an cosmetics improvement over the k800 cybershot series and critics was right on it. But the phone I believed are mainly targeted at those using the older K series and 1st time SE user. User of K800 should read no further as this is the same phone with just its outer makeover with no significant changes to its firmware.

The first thing unusual about the phone is its button, which hate it or love it, is it's good feel for the fingers as compare to the normal keypad generally on SE series (except W880) is all close together. Pressing wrong keys/button is a thing of the past as the buttons are very much space apart. The one thing I cant get over is the shiny surface of the keys area which attracts fingerprints and smudges like the Z610 surface, fussy user like me will give the phone a miss over this “feature”.

K810 keypad like all new SE phones have an internet shortcut button next to the call button which my seem to be an gift from heaven for tech savvy but for me it is seem to be a nuisance to user as most of the time it get activated even without most user knowledge. And yes Telcos charge you for this connection time (conspiracy between Maxis and…?!?!……<- don’t sue me).

The back of the phone is rubberize like those from the W880 which generally gives the phone a nice feel and hold as oppose to the cheap feel of the previous series.

The next best thing of the K810 over the K800 is the shutter itself. K800 shutter have the overhang and shaky feeling due to its awkward placement and the K810 have since rectified this by shaping the back profile of the phone to incorporate the shutter itself. The cuts down the accidental activation of the cam by shutter as complain by most K800 user.

Radio and Media player



K810 have an built in tuner and with the supplied headset acting as the antenna, reception of the radio channels are clear and loud.
The media player for MP3 are an improvement over the K750’s but still lose out to the W-series player but since this is marketed as a Cybershot so the comparison stops here. The player can identified song/tracks or artist by the ID3 tag on the MP3 thereby playing it or through user customize playlist.

Cameras and features

Activation of the cam can be by menu based or just simply sliding the shutter down , user will see the 1,4,7,* key symbol lightening in a blue tint as the phone transit from phone to cam mode. Each key correspond to Image size , Focus , Timer and Flash respectively . Movies record are in 3gp format. K810 like the K800 comes with the Xenon flash which adds a true flashlight capability to the mobile phone , user of K750 can forget about using this as a torchlight as the Xenon are powered by 2 large capacitor unlike the k750 2 bright LEDs.

For new user there is a BestShot™ features which let user takes 9 shot at once of the same scene, user can choose which frame is the best to choose from or all 9. Also preview of the photos taken by the cam can be access during standby mode by pressing the 2 buttons located at the top left and right of the LCD.

Firmware and Menu

SE has retained the general looks of the menu itself since the T610 days and is quite easy to use and navigate. The joystick 4 direction can be customize to individual user shortcut needs

The K810 does have the capability to upgrade it firmware over the air but the high GPRS cost may deters user from this. Flight mode is an standard on most SE models and what is does is that for places that restrict cellphone signal ,user can turn on this features.

Battery use are the BSt-33 series with the CST75 charger which have the capability to charge and use the phone concurrently and the K810 does comes with 128mb M2 supplied. BUT Only lasted for 1 ½ (18 hours) on a single charge only.


Conclusion /MY RAMBLINGS!

The SonyEricsson K810i's a good phone with good photo capability (“cybershot” mah). For me, K810 is an good choice as it’s a sizable upgrade from my SonyEricsson K618i. From 2mp manual focus with NO FLASH to 3.2mp Autofocus + Xenon flash, Also, FM Radio with RDS, Track ID. But downside, slightly bigger and heavier than my K618i.


K810i, It’s an obvious choice for me because Motorola and SAMSUNG’S OUT (NOT- user friendly, NOT used them), Nokia E65 my dad already owned one, I ACTUALLY LOVED SOME OF THE NOKIA N-series, BUT N73’s TOO OUTDATED AND TOO COMMON (August 06 model!), Nokia N70’s too bulky, Nokia N81’s Expensive, Nokia N76’s too Auntie or Ah Lian looking (RED COLOUR!!!). Nokia N77, N82 and N95 don’t bother, WAY OUT OF BUDGET. Budget’s below RM1000. Here's hoping for buying a Nokia N82 sometime Next year February (as my Next phone). I'm sure as seen in N73, by then the pricing will drop.

Note that K810i was my 2nd choice. 1st choice was SE P1i. LOVED that PDA Phone very much. But too $$. AP set RM1300!

Below, My Previous Phone, SonyEricsson K618i Black.
Also, I have 512MB M2 memory card from my K618i can transfer to the K810i (which only came with a pathetic 128MB) AND lastly, I’m used to SonyEricsson interface and SMS having owned 4 Ericsson/Sony Ericsson.

Here’s list of phones I’ve owned: NEC DB500 UK-spec (1999 till 2000), Nokia 3210 (2000 till 02 April). Ericsson T39 (2002 Apr -2004 Apr) => SE T610i (2004 Apr to 2005 Nov) => (a Symbian Nokia in between, Nokia 3230 – 2005/11 till 2006 Dec) => SE K618i (2006 Dec till 2008 March 19 and now, SE K810i (March 19 - ???).

NOTE that I owned a phone for AT LEAST 1 YEAR, Unlike Adults and kids nowadays who changed hand phone every 1 to 2 months.

The BONUS is I Bought the Phone for RM770 ONLY, AP set, warranty from “Final Choice” at a Hand phone shop in Old Town, Petaling Jaya. Original Midland phone still selling for RM1099. Wow! What a HUGE difference.

END OF REVIEW. Thanks for Reading this.

GADGETS 101: Gadget's rechargable batteries care...

GADGETS 101: Gadget's rechargable battery (batteries) care. Especially Notebook, Handphones and Digital Cameras.

Hi, this is a new twist of this blog. I'll be writing articles, giving reviews and tips on Gadgets. Here's my 1st post:

Q: "Ever wonder why your gadget's Li-Ion or Ni-MH rechargable battery kept on losing charge or lifespan getting shorter and shorter? OR Battery suddenly goes from 50% to 0%?
A:It's because your gadgets' battery (batteries)'s not "CONDITIONED".

Q: What is "battery condition" AND how it is done?
A: Conditioning battery's where you drained your battery (wait until your gadget batteries' EMPTY) before you recharge them. Make sure you charge it full. Make it a habit to condition it often and your batteries will LAST (No joke).

Example, my 2004 DELL INSPIRON 510m laptop. Despite it's age, its Li-Ion battery is still good for 2 hours of heavy usage (Wifi and music at the same time), or 1 1/2 hour playing DVD Non stop. As a comparison, my friend's 2006 Fujitsu Laptop's battery's losing charge day by day, from 4 hrs at new to just 2 hrs MAX. Why is it so? Again, conditioning battery's the secret.

This is NOT just applicable to Laptop's battery. Any Li-Ion and NimH batteries need to be conditioned (or layman's term: EXERCISE). Remember: NO Recharging of battery if you still have 50% Charge, this will affects your battery life in near future. MAKE sure it's EMPTY (5% for Notebook and 0% for other gadgets) before you charge it.

Additional tips FOR NOTEBOOK/LAPTOP: IF YOU want to Use AC Adapter, FIRST use up all the battery, then only you plug to the Wall outlet. Otherwise, make sure your battery fully charged before you plug on the Wall outlet.

Thanks for reading this...