I had regretted buying my Proton Saga. Edited below is my email to Proton (i.care@proton.com):

"Dear Sir,

1. I'm writing to express my utmost disappointment with the type of unreasonable service rendered by your dealer in Johor Bahru.

2. On 20 December 2010, I took delivery of my new PROTON SAGA 1.3L (Manual) Special Edition vehicle from Urus Usaha Sdn Bhd in Johor Bahru. The vehicle was registered on 14 December 2010 with registration number: xxxxxxx. Upon taking its delivery, I saw that its odometer had already clocked 60 km and I don't know why is that so high for a new vehicle?

3. Later, upon reaching home, I realized that there was an area on its black rooftop which had been pre-touched up with the black colour paint. Part of this black colour touched up paint had also chipped off again, thus exposing its original white paint. Treating it as a trivial issue and not wanting to create an argument, I then touched up the area again by myself with the NIPPON PYLOX black colour paint.

4. By 31 December 2010, I had driven it for about 85km and then garaged it (under full shade) for about 1 week without starting. On 09 January 2011, I was surprised that it couldn't get started. Upon detailed checking, I measured its RAMCAR battery voltage had dropped to between 6.5 volts and 6.7 volts. Having no choice, I then disconnected its battery's negative terminal and charged it for about 3.5 hours with my CTEK battery charger. Thereafter, I managed to start it again and drove for a short nearby distance. I was curious why has the battery voltage dropped to 6.5 volts after only 1 week of non usage, and prior to that, all lights had been switched OFF.

5. On the night of 09 January 2011, I called up the saleswoman who had sold me the car and she said that it's normal. I WONDER HOW DOES PROTON MAKES A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START AGAIN AFTER 1 WEEK OF NON-USAGE. IT'S INDEED INCREDIBLE OR SHOULD I SAY REMARKABLE? NO OTHER CAR MAKERS CAN REALLY ACHIEVE THIS KIND OF PRODUCTION STANDARD INDEED!

6. Fearing that I may encounter the same unpredictable battery failure situation again in the future, I then drove to their service centre (Urusmobile Sdn Bhd) on 10 January 2011 and their service executive insisted that I leave my car with them for 5 hours so that they can charge up its battery and conduct a test thereafter. I had asked for an alternative to remove its battery so that I can continue to drive with a temporary spare battery fitted, BUT SHAMEFULLY, SUCH AN AUTHORIZED PROTON SERVICE CENTRE DOES NOT HAVE A SPARE BATTERY FOR MY USE. WOULD YOU EVER BELIEVE THAT?

7. So, after about 5 hours, I returned to the service centre again and it was revealed that the battery was indeed slightly weak even after the 4 to 5 hours of charging. I had already asked for a new battery replacement earlier in the morning, but was flatly rejected until the 5 hours of charging and testing was done. Still, despite the unsatisfactory outcome from the 5 hours of charging and testing, they now insisted that it be subjected to a further 15 hours of charging before conducting another test. For GOD's sake, if you pump the bloody battery for 15 hours continuously and then test it immediately, it will definitely reveal good results unless the battery is already short circuited internally. However, will it hold the charge for long thereafter? Is this the correct procedure to test the durability of the battery or is it just a lame excuse employed by PROTON's battery supplier to deny responsibility for the premature failure of their car batteries?

8. Despite much argument with their service manager, Mr K B Chua initially told me that he's willing to replace a new battery for me by the next day, but later changed his mind again and insisted that the 15-hour charging and testing be done first. I was of course very reluctant to accept his "twist-and-turn" behavior. I told him that he will definitely revert to me that the battery is in good condition after the 15-hour charging and testing because it's not internally short-circuited yet. I then insisted him to abide that if he wants it to be done his way, and if I were to take back the old battery with the same failure within 2 weeks of non-usage, I will insist on a new replacement battery with no questions asked. But he will not commit. Eventually, I'm left with no choice but to allow him to do the 15-hour charging and testing at the time of writing this email.

9. In view of the above unpleasant encounter, I have totally lost faith in PROTON's after sales-service. Now, it's only a battery failure and I had to go through all these hassle without a feasible solution. I could not imagine how it will be if there's an engine or mechanical failure with the car in the future. KINDLY TELL ME THAT DO I REALLY HAVE TO PUT UP A FIGHT WITH YOUR DEALER JUST TO REPLACE A NEW BATTERY, WHICH HAD FAILED IN A NEW CAR DELIVERED JUST BARELY 1 MONTH AGO?

10. Anyway, after this bad incident, I doubt I can ever trust your company's motto: "Customer Service, Only The Best For Your PROTON". With regrets, neither will I consider PROTON for my next vehicle purchase in future nor will I recommend to my friends and kin. It's utterly a big disappointment for your customer over a battery failure and the subsequent request for its replacement for a new car delivered barely 1 month ago. No reasonable customer could have tolerated such unprofessional behavior to be coming from a supposedly "reputable" public listed company.

11. Anyway, I do hope you will be responsible enough to conduct a full investigation into this incident and give me a favorable reply via email or contact me at xxx-xxxxxxx. I had chosen PROTON over PERODUA over this vehicle purchase because I had thought that PROTON's quality and service had been much improved. The engine and its mechanicals may have met my satisfaction presently, but definitely not the attitude nor the unprofessional and irresponsible responses from your dealer's after-sales services.

With regrets,

(10 January 2011)"

Just received a call from Urusmobile this afternoon and as I had anticipated, they claimed that there is nothing wrong with my battery after their 15-hour charging and testing process. I'm asked to retrieve it back.

Sadly, I think the top management may strive to upkeep the reputation of Proton, but not their outsourced vendors, suppliers and servicing team, which are the real setbacks. If not for their price advantage in the domestic market, the name Proton would have been history now.

LOL, Proton totally has no confidence in their vehicles at all. My Saga SE had done its 1st (1,000km) service on April 2011. Since the car was very little used, it only clocked its 4,850km mileage this week (June 2012). So, I went to the service centre intending to do the next 5,000km service. Instead, I was told to pay the RM75 labor charge since I've exceeded 1 year from the last service. I don't mind paying that RM75, but was also told that my warranty will be void since I had missed my 6-monthly servicing schedule.

I don't understand the logic because why should I send for engine oil change when the mileage is still less than 4,000km from the last service, despite being over 1 year period. I'm sure Proton and/or its dealers would also not change the engine oil for all their unsold vehicles in their warehouses every 3 months.

Since my warranty is now void, I'll just forgo with doing my servicing at the Proton Service Centre, but will instead do it at outside shop where I can also have my choice of engine oil instead of just the PETRONAS engine oil only.

I was contemplating to trade-in for a Preve because I was attracted by the CFE engine and also since my current Saga SE is problem free, thus assuring me some confidence in Proton vehicles. But now since their warranty policy is so inflexible, I'll just drop this idea altogether and they will stand to lose 1 loyal customer. Sigh......

Yes, most if not all car manufacturers practice this. It is their unscrupulous means of sucking you dry. Imagine you have to pay for 4 servicing every year just to comply to their warranty terms, despite not even reaching the due mileage. It just doesn't make sense to me. What if the car owner suddenly gets posted overseas for job assignment for 1 year? How is he going to return to do the 3-monthly servicing? Besides, with modern advance technology in engine oil research, how bad can the engine oil deteriorate within 1 year, especially if it is not being used?

Previously, my RENAULT was also under utilized at only 2,000km mileage for the 1st year. Even when I brought it to their authorized workshop for the 2nd service after 1 year, the mechanic even commented: "Is this a showroom vehicle? Why so low mileage?" Yet, they still did not void my warranty but even replaced my alternator for free in the 2nd year. Anyway, so much for PROTON. I doubt I'll ever buy a second PROTON again.