Which is faster.... Why not compare a Lambo with a 70 years old lady driver and a Saga BLM with a 25 years old man? I think such comparison are better....

20 years ago, indeed Japanese car quality are on par with Mercedes and BMW.
After 20 years, what Japanese cars on par with Mercedes and BMW are, the spart parts price and not much 3rd party foreman can service them. Everything can be on par but not quality.

^Then what you expect? Is normal situation... If want to make noise, big companies got their lawyers standing by to play the game with you. Just go for court hearing for 5 times are good enough to burn your money. Those coward bashers knows this, that's why they simply bash in the forum, because they know by bashing end users, they no need to waste money...
Most Malaysians now like to live under self denial.
Most of the Malaysian are coward.

What to do...
That's why Forte not much people talk about, in fact, with that price for what we can get, in some sense it will be better than Inspira.... Just the setback is the second hand value... Let Naza has their hands in, is something like let Proton have their hands in....

A pair Proton absober cost <rm250 but a piece of BMW or Merc absober can cost rm1000.
If you see properly, when a fellow drives a Merc, they will have another car standby... Why? Because when it enters Merc workshop, it won't be able to come, if they don't pay the ransom fee(even change a bonet cover can cost rm50k).....

From my point of view, resale value is greatly depend to market drive. Just like the 2 brand H and T, even the quality dropped by >50% compare to older models, but still got people stupid enough keep on buying them. So as for Kia/Naza Forte, it is a sad case for them, of not much people wants them, despite all the good review from other countries.
Regardless of CVT or not, it is not important. More important is the cost for changing/repairing it. We know that CVT are quite expensive when need to change them. Like the C are a good example, now touch rm27000......
Now car manufacturers build the parts that won't last long. Just only Kia? Suggest go to third party workshops especially air cond. Then you will see what's the most failure rates.... N, T, H is the common brand I can see now after the P1 and P2....
Like my friend's Grandis, he bought it recond from Japan few years back(when MMM not yet bring then in). His orignal battery lasted him for 4 years and he changed it because he worry the battery can fail anytime... After he changed to local brands, it can last him 1 year+....

And, the SA that selling cars, most of the time they don't knows the car's tech specs in details....

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Added on January 23, 2011, 9:34 amBut they maybe safer than Inspira.. Power wise, it up to our right leg.... Still want more power, Inspira would be better as it is built for that(in some sense)....

This post has been edited by kyheng: Jan 23 2011, 09:34 AM

Well, Spectra are quite good, at least my friend still driving it... After change his exhaust... Cannot get good review in Malaysia means nothing, is just because Malaysian see the branding look rather than quality... When Malaysians starts to go for quality, Korean cars will shine....

Well, I only know that I use my car battery to help 2 Camry owners to start their car back.... I only know that repairing a Camry's air cond compressor cost rm5000, I only know I have to fetch my neighbour back from Toyota SC due to suspension system failed after 2 weeks... Ah, almost forgot, my friend's Altis change a leaking top engine cover for rm8000 after 4 years....
As for Honda, nothing much, I got my friend and his family almost burnt to death because of fuel hose dislodged, I only know my friend's City changed his gearbox for rm28000 within 3 years, just after the warranty over.... Aiyah, got that My Honda Tak guna case also.....
And all the call backs, are you trying to forget about them? Typical H/T protector..... If I'm blind, you are dumb..... Because you forget about all this... Even recently got a thread for Vios that repair cost touch rm1++++...

^^^Don't know why people like to condamn Proton on power window issues... But still a fact that cannot be denied, haha. I just changed mine for rm60 because changing the tint....
I like Forte also, in some sense, especially the engine compartment, pretty big and easy to work on it(by foreman).... Just that, exhaust is something you need to check it out....

I was very sure that it cost rm22500 last time until my foreman tells me that it cost rm27500 excluding workmanship....

Protectionism are good, to protect certain group of people.... But not good for others that never benefited from this. When the group of people always complaint on this they are jealous basically. For me, I don't care much what they want to do, they want to protect Proton or whatever... What I care and mind the most is the maintenance cost after warranty period over. I buy a new car and will keep it for at least 5-10 years depending on situation.
I still remember back to 2005 when my friend bought his Honda City, I feel jealous also. But then I got more things to do, settle my share market debts, getting marry and buying a house. Plan to ditch my Wira and get a City stopped there. Soon I know my decision are right when my friend's car enter Honda SC for changing the gearbox. And he have not enough money and the car just rested there for 5 months... And he till today don't want to tell me the total cost... But considering his car rest in SC for 5 months, you know I know......
Such problem may or may not happens, but until foremen also knows about this, for sure it is a common problem...
Like my Wira also got problem on the brake, always partial jammed after 30000km(I always service it 35000km)... Knowing its behaviour, I have to change follow the shcedule....

If ask me to choose in between protectionism or monopolized market, I'll choose protectionism without thinking twice...
Even my foreman always make noise on proton, but at the same time he is an expert on repairing a Proton.... But others T/H he can't touch due to too much wirings attached.... So I always tease him what he want? "you want to have cars to be serviced/repair or jobless?"
Under protectionism market like Proton, lower parts cost and knowledge to service are always there.
But under monopolized market, higher parts cost and lack of knowledge are always an issue.
That's why I never "wow" on CVT..... Normal gearbox with "perfect" gear ratio are better.....

That's the advantage of monopolized market, you can increase the price whenever you want.....

^^No more rebadge already.... More local parts used.... So can call CKD already....
Sit both of them, Forte win a bit on rear seats....
Situation may be changed... Don't know when... Maybe 1 day Korean cars rules the automotive market?

Good catch...

People's mind set on Proton is, what ever cars that comes out from Proton assemby plant = Proton cars = balia cars....

Actually the review from that UK jerk are biased and no ground at all.... Take as reference you will regret later on...

Finally, the kid hit wall again....

^^Totally agree with this... At least can see such neutral review on car....

I regret have a Livina(even the name is my wife's).... Just too much of problems slowly surfacing out... Worst than Proton.... If looking for quality cars, European still the best(excepth Merc and BMW), follow by Korean, T/H/N is quite on par with Proton. If were to reflect on steps where 1 is best, 10 worst, T/H/N will be 8,9 while Proton 10.

During the first few years, the C might be better, but after few years, I in doubt.... Nightmare always comes after warranty period over....

For Malaysia, with current attitude people driving, a car can have 20 air bags inside but they will still die..... We can put all sorts of gadgets in, auto slow down, 20 air bags, ABS, EBD or whatever just to "keep" us safe... But if our mind don't have safety, all the efforts will be wasted... Just read newspaper that a driver died on road accident driving a Camry... It is a "safe" car as some will say, but why he died?

^1 year lost rm3555, 1 day only rm10... You rent a Saga also rm100 per day.....