Hmm, I'll throw in the Golf and the Focus as well and split them according to type.

NA engines:
Octavia
Ford Focus

Benefits: Linear power delivery, no drastic dips in power especially at higher rpm, time-proven technology
Disadvantage: No quick shove in the butt, CO2 emissions, fuel consumption (very subjective as it very much depends on driving style but on highway cruises, the turbocharged wins due to lower cc)

Notes: Since the Octavia isn't exactly a hot hatch, let's just focus on the Focus (pun intended). The Focus is, IMHO still the best when it comes to steering accuracy. It's not overtly light yet effortless to manipulate and it responds beautifully well to your inputs. The only thing I don't quite like (especially compared to the Germans) is that as nimble as it is, it doesn't feel as solid when chucking it around corners. It's certainly planted and chomps corners like straights but the sense of confidence that you're in a solid piece of metal with controllable weight being shifted around as the car balance changes is not there. Ford makes up for this by providing tons of technology such as active vectoring system but I've always been more old school and prefer to rely on self rather than tech to get me out of trouble.

Forced-induction (turbocharged/supercharged or both):
Peugeot 308
Golf 1.4TSi

Benefits: A wide smile like someone is fondling your *ahem* when you floor the pedal, superb FC when driven sensibly, easily tune-able for higher output
Disadvantages: Reliability issues, higher cost of maintenance and repair

Notes: Both the French and German make provides great driving experience and styling although the Golf is better as an all rounder. The 308 can get jumpy on uneven roads and until now, we hear stories of depollution horrors. The Golf would also suffer from depollution but not as frequent as the sensitive Pug and it's an absolute joy to whack the car around corners. I think there are enough praises about it not to elaborate further.
Now, if we take all that into consideration and compare them to the Suprima S, it's not as simple as Proton-has-made-lots-of-improvements or give them a second chance. The fact is, QC still has lots of room to improve (not to mention their SAs need to have their asses cleaned when it comes to service and training. I mean if someone comes up to your store and messes up the display, you just stand around and shrug like an idiot if someone asks you how come QC is so bad? What's so hard of going to the back, ask a mechanic to come to the front and do a temporary fix so that it doesn't cheese off potential buyers? Oh, that's the boss's job, right? Wrong, it reflects badly on your attitude!), the styling (although subjective) is not dramatic and already getting old with all the Preves around and in terms of the skill to create the best driving experience based on an amalgam of steering, suspension, rigidity, power and transmission, I think most Asians cars still needs more experience to reach the standards of a conti. Heck, not even Kia and Hyundai, who sells a lot more cars then us dare to claim and make public internal testing data which is completely unsubstantiated, highly biased and critically inaccurate (to date, I have not read one single test drive saying the Suprima is better!! I can now ditch my Golf or Focus for it! Yay!!! (yeah, try doing that to the wife whom you promised a Golf and say the Suprima is better-waat! The couch would be your bed for the next few months)

I hear you, mat79 and I understand where you're coming from. And I just hope Proton will always remember one critical point: It is useless to base today's standard with your own in the past. In short, don't live in the past because that's not where the customers are. Today, we compete on a global level and to survive on a global scale, past trophies is irrelevant. We Malaysians can be great but the problem with most Malaysians is the psyche of inconsistency. We don't push ourselves hard enough and often accept mediocracy as an answer. How often have we heard in the forums it's ok la. Proton has improved a lot already. Give them a chance. We should .... and I have never ruled out buying a Proton in the future. But at today's standards, in comparison with OTHERS, not themselves, I find it difficult to accept their offering.

Oh, and we'll also find commentors who say "you so clever bashing Proton, how about you lead Proton and see how you do?". Hello, everytime you go makan outside, you're the judge and jury of the quality of food and whether you want to go back to that restaurant to eat. That does not mean you're a good cook if the food does not match your expectations, right? 

the problem is bad english. doesn't matter if it was posted from ipad or any other platform.
dia sekolah mana dulu?

"Boot space is down from the Preve’s class-leading 508 litre to just 309 by ISO/VDA measurement, but you do gain a much larger/taller cargo area with the seats folded flat. One issue though; there’s no external boot release. You either have to hold down the unlock button on the keyfob (no dedicated boot release button here) or open the driver door and pull the switch hidden in the door pocket. Seriously, Proton?"
Honda Accord and Prius also similar. WTF is this writer toking about?

I'm referring to the rear foglight la

so can drive hand like this while window is shut


manual dari dalam kereta memang ada....tp bukan guna kabel..electronic release gak... 

Myvi also 

hahaha...cudnt agree more! 
i guess if suprima is a H or a T logo, though the price is 1++k... they will still buy..
but since its proton, always a lousy car to their thinking..