Okay, an update. I once made a comment that the Preve Turbo's top speed is about 180km/h as the engine sounds like it's going to blow up at that point. Just early this morning I managed to go past 200km/h, around 205km/h or 210km/h. Must be due to some new music I was playing at that time that adds to the mood(The Fray and Coldplay).

Coincidentally a Toyota Camry was also doing around 200km/h trying to catch up.

Between high-spec Preve Turbo and low-spec Preve, definitely take the Turbo. No offense to others. The Preve Turbo will render the low-spec Preve to be less enjoyable with lower levels of drivability. The additional RM10k premium of the high-spec Turbo over the low-spec model warrants justice. You just get a much more vehicle apart from the added Turbo power that makes all the difference, apart from the additional features.

Just last weekend I was in a car accessories shop to change a fused light bulb and there was this owner of the low-spec Preve. He mentioned he regretted getting the low-spec model. He cited the lethargic acceleration that is almost similar to his other car, the Nissan Almera.

Frankly speaking, in the Preve TURBO, you are getting a powerful car at just RM70k. There is nothing out there up to RM100k that can beat it in terms of accelerating power. Once you have driven a powerful car, it is difficult to go back to a less powerful "under-powered" car.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Apr 22 2014, 09:28 PM

Not sharing the same opinion doesn't necessarily make one an elitist. I totally understand there will be others who will be completely satisfied with their non-Turbo model, though that doesn't change my earlier thoughts on the Turbo vs non-Turbo models.

And to reply to your points above.

The Turbo engine of the Campro may be unreliable and break down sometime in the near future which means more money. Reliabilty is anyone's guess. It is good to be cautious, though I would say maintenance is something that any vehicle will need to take account for. It's just that some vehicles or models will require higher maintenance than others. For a Proton, I believe it will still be cheap even for a Turbo model considering it is mass-produced, unlike imported models where parts come from foreign countries.

As for power, it is true there will be other vehicles that will be quicker. Though I am not thinking in the same lines as yourself in "bullying" smaller or weaker cars. Or to satisfy road ego. To me, it is for our own driving satisfaction. IN having more power in a vehicle, that doesn't mean the driver will want to intimidate other motorists on the road or drive like a maniac and show off. More power equates to better drivability as the additional power on tap will be useful for many driving conditions on the road, though one may argue it may not be useful. I am fine with that.

Not too sure what are the "other" stuff you would rather spend your RM10k on if not the Turbo model.

Yes, agreed power is subjective.

Wind noise from air-cond vents. Is there any wind coming out from the vents? If the wind noise is loud enough then the service centre should be able to, or ought to fix it. If the noise is not very loud ie. negligible, then the guys will probably brush it off and say they cannot hear any wind from the air-cond vents.

Do all Preve models come in stock Champiro Bax2 tyres? I would like to know how long do these tyres last, and whether anybody has changed the tyres due to worn-out tread.

Do these tyres last up to about 30,000km or more?

You don't expect to pay RM200+ for petrol monthly if you travel 1500km to 2000km monthly even though it's mostly highway drive. It would be around RM400+ for that kind of mileage, dependent on traffic conditions and driving patterns.

Stability and comfort, at the Preve Turbo's price range there are no peers.

I didn't read this thread earlier. Let me know your impressions after having tested the Preve Turbo(supossedly 10.00am this morning?). I am sure after you have driven the Preve Turbo, you will feel the sluggishness of the Almera and find it to be severely underpowered. If youfind the CVT of the new CIty to be poor in pickup, you will not be disappointed with the Preve Turbo. The acceleration power of the vehicle is comparable if not better than most 2.0-litre vehicles out there.

Anyway, you should be able to form your own impressions after the test-drive session. If you find your girlfriend's Myvi to be comfortable, you will find the Preve to be on another level. Myvi is just good for city drive. The stability of the car at highway speeds will not be able to match the Preve. The PReve's stability and comfort at highway cruising speed are much better than the Mvyi due to the overall sturdiness of the vehicle, chassis and stiffer-tuned suspension. Not to mention the higher capacity 1.6-litre Turbo engine that will register lower rpms at higher cruising speeds than the 1.3-litre engine of the Myvi which will be a bit strained in comparison.

For a fresh graduate like you, the Preve Turbo is more than good enough. Even if it has its own shortcomings and weaknesses(which car doesn't), at RM70k you cannot complain much. It is pretty much the most value for money sedan in my book.

Though you have to consider why people go for other vehicles that may not not be value-for-money such as the Japanese for instance, as it is seen to be more reliable with higher QAQC which translates to less rattling sound in the cabin. Although the Preve TUrbo is comparable in terms of power, or perhaps even more powerful than say the Toyota Altis, Honda Civic and Nissan Sylphy, if you disregard the value of the Preve Turbo and look at the overall quality, the T, H and N are all better built with higher levels of refinement. I have owned the Sylphy and it is one of most powerful and quietest vehicle in its price range. No rattling sound at all in the first 4 years, and only minor rattling comes up from the suspension due to wear and tear after 5 years. For the Preve Turbo, I get not only minor rattling sound from the gear lever area but intermittent rattling from the passenger door. The most apparent unrefinement of the Preve Turbo, for me, is the loud Turbo engine and CVT "woo woo" sound during acceleration at all driving conditions, apart from QAQC issues.

A caveat though. My Preve Turbo is now about 9 months old and 15,000km clocked on the mileage. The engine and CVT sound during acceleration seems to be louder now and has an "unrefined" quality to it compared to when the vehicle is less than 10,000km. The reliability of the car is pretty much unknown. I will report back when the car has completed the 20,000km service with the engine oil replaced to a higher quality type, to see if the unrefined/unpleasant roar from the engine can be reduced.

Yes, agreed to take it step by step especially for a young man like you who just graduated. Dont' need to aim for the skies unless you come from a rich family and your parents can afford to pay a large chunk of downpayment of a >RM100k car for you. For me, my philosophy, is to choose the shortest car loan as much as you can afford. If you cannot afford to pay for high monthly downpayments for short periods, get a cheaper car. I never take a loan that is more than 5 years. For my Ford Focus I wanted 3 years loan but the bank doesn't offer that as they wanted minimum 5 years. For the PReve Turbo I paid cash(I am an old man already, so yeah). If possible, try to limit your loan to not more than 6 years. To each his own anyway.

I get this sound too but it comes up very rarely, only when the vehicle goes over bumps at moderate speeds. Yes, it sounds like it's coming from the bonnet or rear wheel arc area, or perhaps the rear suspension. However, when the vehicle goes over bumps at low speeds, there isn't any sound. May I ask in what conditions the "kruk kruk" sound in your car come up?

There is another "kruk kruk" sound in my vehicle which originates from the driver's seat, the seat where the back is leaning on. When the back rubs against the seat, it is as if there are air pockets in the seats. When moving your back, there is "kruk kruk" sound from the seat. I have lodged a complaint late last year and after the Proton guys failed to resolve the "kruk kruk" sound by tightening something, they changed the whole seat for me. However, just recently, the sound came back. It's just poor quality seats, or I'm unlucky for the 2nd time round to have defective seats. I will bring up this matter to the service centre again during my next service.

The performance of the car is good, but the quality of the fittings and parts + loud engine sound are some of the major downfalls for the Preve Turbo.

Have you managed to sort out the kruk kruk sound?

Good handling, and apart from the fittings I don't particularly like the low-frequency growl from the Turbo engine and the CVT whine. In other words, the loud engine and CVT sound during acceleration. Rebadged Lancer is Inspira? Perhaps the design of the Inspira is copied from the Mitsubishi Lancer and as such chances of rattling sound from loose fittings or poor QAQC may be lower.

I experience problems with the gear knob, though nothing breaks, yet. When pressing on the button of the gear knob, sometimes it clips my fingers.

Just claim for warranty for the broken gear knob. IT's just poor quality material used on the gear knob.

For Preve Turbo owners, do you notice that the vehicle registers better fuel economy when you drive at speeds below 90km/h? Yesterday I was driving between 70km/h to 90km/h along the highway (I rarely drive at these speeds), and the electronic mileage meter that shows the kilometres left before the fuel tank is empty doesn't nudge much even though I have driven for more than 30km??! The meter shows 420km left before the fuel tank is empty, and I was driving for like 20km+ and the 420km remains as it is, going down to 419km then 418km after I have driven close to 30km.

My usual driving speeds are 110km/h to 140km/h and the mileage meter drops rapidly at these speeds.

It appears that the optimum speed in registering good FC with this Preve Turbo is below 90km/h? Between 80km/h to 90km/h. The fuel meter doesn't seem to drop much when cruising at these speeds.

Does anybody share the same observation?

Yes, about 80km/h +/- the vehicle gets quite remarkable mileage. And true, at one point the mileage meter goes up from 420km to 421km.

Above 90km/h it gets less fuel efficient already.

Gone are the days of boosting the Turbo engine up to 200km/h.

The ugly looks of the Suprima is already a bad choice for me.