Don't expect local reviewers to be honest.
Even if it is utter trash they won't dare give much negative comments.
Unlike European reviews where they focus on the owner in terms of "how it drives", "how much is the upkeep", and "how practical it is".
The local reviews usually 60% is explaining the spec sheet, 35% overall test drive feel and fuel consumption report, 5% negative feedback with a spin.
Here is an example from the Persona review:
"
The experience is hairy to say the least – at speeds above 100 km/h, a sudden, violent flick of the steering wheel one way, then the other, is enough to upset the car, causing the Persona to snap into oversteer before the computers very quickly gather it all up. It’s a very stark reminder on why we champion this active safety feature, as it is essential in preventing accidents during emergency manoeuvres such as these. Kudos to Proton for yet another car with stability control as standard across the range."
Any reviewer from outside this country will instantly call this out. Nanny electronics is good but it shouldn't have to be so much in your face and the car depends on it so much. The reviewer said above 100km/h which is a pretty common speed nowadays if like that also need nanny electronics there is a critical flaw in the car's design and handling. Additionally, it instantly means this car cannot go on any highway with a 110 speed limit because Malaysian style you'll need at least 130/150km/h speeds to overtake even lowly lorries crawling at 90km/h.
"
It’s not perfect – some of the plastics still feel low-rent, and there are still a few quirks like too-small instrument gauges and mismatched switchgear fonts. But it’s inched closer to being a complete, well-rounded car than any other Proton, and while we’ve said that many times before, this time it’s tantalisingly close."
Cheap plastics is inevitable nowadays so can't complain, even most under 100k Toyota's feel pretty darn cheap like just 30% improvement over Perodua. Mismatched fonts is probably forgivable but it shouldn't happen. The big mistake are the tiny instrument gauges, as you can see from pictures at <a href='http://<link removed>/2016/08/12/driven-2016-proton-persona-first-impressions-review/' target='_blank'>the source</a> the tachometer seems okay but the speedometer is too busy making the thing overall bigger would make it easier to read, i wouldn't go as far as say you'll need to concentrate and probably cause an accident trying to read it (unless you're a senior citizen with an eye sight problem) but it takes that little more effort.
Before you go and bash local reviewers, which you should but not blatantly without knowing this first, the car industry here if you look properly is pretty much a controlled market by a handful of companies (see below) and because the population in Malaysia is small for so many brands they really cannot afford any of their models getting an honest review as some of the brands they're carrying is already standing on the grave like Citroen, Skoda, Alfa Romeo. Thus non co-operative media won't get called for media events or given cars for test drive.
Naza Group is the franchise holder for Kia Motors, Peugeot, Chevrolet, and Citroën. With the option to rebadge Kia vehicles under their own brand.
Sime Darby has BMW and Mini (Auto Bavaria), Ford passenger and commercial vehicles, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo, Hyundai, and also Inokom when they JV with Hyundai.
DRB Hicom has Honda, Isuzu, Suzuki,Proton, Audi, Mitsubishi.
Berjaya Group under Bermaz has Mazda and Skoda.
MBM Resources has Daihatsu, Hino, Perodua, VW, Volvo.
Tan Chong Motors has Nissan and Renault.
Bloggers are also split between two types, one type doesn't care about the industry and try to give information out anonymously online, while others find there is fame and fortune being a car reviewer so of course polish the apple until they get noticed by a magazine publisher or directly get offers from the brand owners.
TLDR if you're FaMa supported then just get Vios or City.
Vios would be the cheapest especially now with the discounts and J-spec.
City top-spec is good enough as a C-segment except for it's size.
Anytime you get a funny feeling, just walk away.
It is your money.
If you wannabe sarcastic you can say "you want money or a depreciating product"
2013 Honda Civic - if you want a big upgrade from your current car this would be it, this generation of Civic suffers from relatively bad looks (compared to the generation before it) and without a TypeR model in the stable it is generally viewed as the boring version. Market perception aside this car still sold in good numbers so parts and support is there, so maintenance and upkeep is relatively cheap for a C-segment also adding to the fact that the 1800cc version uses the same R18 engine as the generation before it while the 2000cc variant uses an R20 engine. The R-series engine is newer than the K-series, although not as powerful as the K-series it has better fuel economy and the way it is designed it is meant to be cheaper to maintain and more reliable. For me it is a good combination as maintenance wise it isn't going to hurt and the price is down due to FaMa and most people thinking it is not as good as the previous generation of FD's, and with the latest generation already out the prices of cars in this generation will further drop.
2013 VW Beetle - if you're not worried about maintenance and want something fun and not so practical yet cool then you can consider to buy a car like this. The Beetle with this 1.2TSI and DSG combo doesn't have as many complaints as Golf/Polo but you can never tell. Nevertheless, for an iconic car it can be worth the money if you want the street cred.
it is a buyers market now.
this seller either smoking too much weed or dunno about cars.
maybe he thinks the value appreciates like property.
tell him 80k or else f-off
