Proton GEN.2 CM (2004-2013)

7 Years in Feb 22 and its running amazing – 4 Years Ago i wrote review under name “Simr”. Now its 7 Years since i have this car and its running without any issues. Never had to take it mechanic except one time there was hose leak which was easy fix but I didn’t had time to do. I did all services by myself. Brakpads, Rotors, Caliper Pins, Handbreak wire, Fuel Filter, AirFilter, Oil Filter,… Read more

Thermostat, Engine/Break/Steering, Transmission Oil change, Coolant Flush, Timing Belt, V Belt, Water Pump. All thanks to great people on YouTube. 190K on odometer now. But I won’t recommend this car to anyone who can’t do repairs by himself or have don’t have DIY spirit. But if you enjoy working on car then it’s pretty good car with almost everything easily accessible and easily fix as long as you have right tools.

Well, at least it drives? – Driven 115,000kms. Daily driven. Cons: Despite taking good care of the car, the engine still makes unusual noises (ticking and crackling noises) which I had to spend time and money to diagnose and repair. This suggests that parts of the engine do not have good build quality. (For anyone who has the same issue, the intake runner valve made the… Read more

very loud crackling noise. This part needs to be removed and greased-up. A lot.)

Cheap plastic interior that breaks easily. Interior trims don't clip-in properly. Proton customer service is non-existent. All phone calls are forwarded to dealership mechanics. Despite using a 1.6L engine, it still consumes 7.5L per 100km which, compared to similar cars, is terrible fuel efficiency. You can get that from a 2.0L engine of the same year of manufacture. Despite its fuel use figures, the engine is still sluggish.

On top of this, my mechanic HATES working on Protons. Parts are difficult to find and the car is difficult to work with. Some mechanics flat-out refuse to repair Protons. Very few basic parts are available at auto stores (Repco, Autobarn, Supercheap, etc.) i.e. scheduled maintenance parts. Good luck getting additional parts from wrecking yards because they tend to rip you off, since parts aren't easy to find anywhere else. As if finding parts weren't difficult and painful enough. I've sourced parts from EBay and AliBaba and because they're all overseas, it can take anywhere from 3-30 days to receive the part (so if an urgent repair is required, that would be very difficult).

Also, the front power window regulators are notorious for failing prematurely. Lo and behold, this happened to me. That's a ~$200 repair job including parts and labour.

The ABS, TCS and SCS were only included as EXTRAS rather than standard. my car does not have any of these. make sure you have good tyres.

Pros:

It goes from A to B and drives. Engine never broke-down or stalled.

Amazing little car – I have owned a Gen 2 for 10 years and would rate this as the best vehicle I have ever owned. Reliable, fantastic on fuel and the handling is just superb. The style of the vehicle hasn't aged and still looks great. Proton cars Australia have looked after any issue I ever had manly with my paint as my colour yellow faded and was completely covered… Read more

under warranty. Thank you Proton for bringing out a great vehicle that I am sure will last me another 10 years. Well done

Terrible. Stay right away! – I purchased this car with 37kms (so brand new). It overheated on my 5 weeks later and has continued to do so every 6 - 8 months. It currently just overheated on me for the 5th time. This car has been a nightmare. I wait hours for a tow and keep being told 'my car is fixed'. Stay right away. The cheap price tag is not worth the hassle and… Read more

absolute nightmare that she been a Proton Gen 2! The most upsetting part of My experience is Proton refusing to admit my car is a lemon.

Never Let Me Down – i brought second hand 2007 H-Line Manual in 2015 and all this times it never let me down. Many of my friends said this car is crap but all their cars gone to wrecker but mine is still running and something they took my car to pick their girlfriends coz it looks kinda cute. I service it myself at home and listen to her if she try to say something before its too late.  Show details

Great Car – I have had my Proton gen 2 for 14 years. It's super reliable, never let me down even when I didn't change the oil for 7 years. (It just had a mini nervous breakdown!) Don't know why people don't like these cars. Not much guts but great for a lady driver. She still looks good even tho 14 years old.  Show details

Proton should refund all monies paid in purchasing these cars – I purchased this car in 2012 I have barely driven it, it only has 12000kms on it yet, the electricals are shot, I can't use my radio, or CD player or the key to lock or unlock the car. I only got one key when I purchased the car and have waited for over 5 years for a second key after calling Proton in Sydney. Great customer service???? The cable… Read more

from the bonnet snapped after being opened to add oil. The battery that was supplied when I bought the car was already 8 years old. The seat belt won't wind back in unless you stuff around with it. Front bumper dropped on the drivers side after a week of driving, Really these cars should be put out of their misery they are unsafe and need to be crushed or made properly in the first place.

Gen 2 a good looking Lemon – I bought a 2012 Proton Gen 2, brand new at Landsvale. From day one driving out of the car dealership on the way home it began to rain. I put on the back wipers and it stopped working almost immediately, that was no problem then I tightened it with a spanner. Then I experienced rear stop lights not working kept blowing the fuse but intermittently,… Read more

took it in several times cant find the intermittent problem. gone through about 20 fuses. Left central locking not working, took it in twice to get it repaired properly. Maybe cause of stop light malfunction?, Gear shift came off its mount several times, finally got it tightened , not fixed yet need parts? I have had it for 1 and half years , got a measily trade in. Stay well away from these cheap and nasty cars. I had to sell before the motor and warranty give out on me.

Good Little Car – I bought a 2005 Gen 2 after my friend bought a 2002 persona. His car was like a little work horse, it never died. So I bought the Gen 2 and it was a great little car. Fuel mileage was ok and it was very responsive. Only issue with them is the parts are over priced. Cost me $345 for break pads for the front end and the wheels where an odd size so cost more.  Show details

its okay, bit underpowered – We've had this car for about 4 years now, clocked up about 100k in it its my partners car which i drive every other day, being a bigger bloke finding a comfortable driving position was tough seeing the seat didnt go low enough for the steering wheel didnt go high enough to make the drive more comfortable! the rubber seals from the doors kept… Read more

falling off, the interior is a shocking color, so trying to keep it clean was a nightmare, the "Cup holder was sh*t" and you could barely fit any type of drink in it, the replacement cost of a key cost more then i even imagined! not having a button on the key for the boot is really annoying, you have to pull the lever which is by the drivers seat every time!

the clutch pedal feels really short and positioned closer to the break pedal (in my opinion)

when there is 2 people in the car it struggles so much getting up hill (cant imagine what the auto ones are like)

if you like to take off quickly then this probably inst the best car for you! every day i have to pull out on a 100k road in busy traffic and its a nightmare trying to get to 100 quickly!

with all the cons there are some goo points of the car,

it looks stylish, its easy on fuel, the steering is great, its great for learners, hill starts are easy as in this car, it corners pretty well!

my partner seems to love her car, but as the k's are getting higher and higher we're looking to upgrade soon!

Proton faults experienced – Engine light comes on and stays on - even if there is no problem, the light went of once, but after a while it comes back on again. The radio - when you pres skipp it mutes and vice versa., The alarm system don't work on the remotes, if the battery went flat and you change the battery it needs to be coded again... Noices every where in the vehicle.  Show details

Nightmare – I bought Proton Gen2 and all I have to do every time is to repair it and the parts are so expensive. the warning lite are always on even after the service. This is a no no no car to go 4.

Great Value for money – Bought a Gen2 in June this year. Great on fuel. Nice road grip especially on turns. Zippy engine and not a bad music system. The windows were rattling a little bit when we first drove the car, but the noise settled over a period of time. For the price and as a second car and a around, you can't go wrong. Sporty feel. good pick up.

Appauling- lemon of a car – since i purchased my proton gen 2- had nothing but troubles. constantly taking my car in for repairs into Newcastle proton. problems experienced: airbag sensors; engine light on dash board, alarm not working; car not starting due to electrical problems..these are just a few to mention. now that warranty has lapsed..i still have issues with my car. DO NOT BUY A PROTON!!! BUY A WHEEL BARROW INSTEAD! 4 doors; leather seats colour faded

Low maintenance – I own this car for a few years, rarely had to do anything. Great on fuel, sold for a larger family car. We now have more space but almost double the running costs. Reliable, inexpensive

You get what you pay for – I am a driving instructor and for students this car is very easy to learn in, gears are a little tight but students soon learn to feel it into gear instead of forcing. Indicators on left side creates some confussion but within 3 x 1 hours lesson students have a handle on it. Lack of power is the biggest downfore however the great choice of color… Read more ·  2

and style makes up for it. When I look at my car I love it and can't believe the small amount I spent to get it and everyone seems to always look twice as we drive past. Power/overall performance lacks but the warranty is invaluable. My paint faded and I got a new paint job. Anything/everything they will replace/fix. You get want you pay for and I feel I paid a little less but Proton has not let me down on service and warranty and when you look at the car....well that speaks for itself.

Terrible – I brought my gen2 a little over a year ago, at first it seemed perfectly fine apart from the lack of power, but that was understandable. a little over a year later and 30k down the road i've had nothing but problems. The lock dropped on the drivers side door, the front and rear rotors were deemed unroadworthy and required replacing which costed… Read more

around $1,200, minus labor due to the fact that only genuine parts could be found. Then the regulator for one of the electric windows stopped working and cause the read window to drop, unable to wind up, costing a further $250.

Cheap to begin with, but end up costing more money in the long run. Avoid these like the plague. Smooth, comfortable handling, cheap Requires a lot of work, lack of power, noisy, stiff brakes, cheap tacky interior

not the perfect car but good on petrol – bought the car from the dealer,1st week the car stuffed up, the seals of the door came off popping the boot from the driver side is annoying,no glove box, the car revs down hill, very slow going up hills, parts in the car falling off and moving parts as well, the only good part of this car is the fuel efficenty. inexpensive,energy efficient". as i mention in my experience with the car

Bad – I brought my proton november 06 and from day one have had rattles I have had problems with engine light and air bag light being stuck on, I have been waiting for about 5 months for these to be fixed, filling up is a pain but youget use to it, I do love the overall look of the car and it is small but the seats are confortable, It loses power… Read more

going up hills, but it is only a 4 ( i would not buy one again or recommend them, they lose value a lot quicker than other small cars the same size )paint work isnt good quality gos a little patchy. looks good , steering is great rattles, problems with engine light and air bag light, lock sometimes sticks

no cruse control in manuals.

Good – We have had our proton for 2 yrs now, with only a few minot problems, the worst is that it is difficult sometimes to fill it up with petrol depending on the way you put in the pump, but overall the proton is a lovely little car and can easily carry five passengers, the other small but very minor problem is that there is no glove box just a small… Read more

shelf, but the upside it is very cheap to run. the seats can fold down to make room for carry larger items, with also split folding seats. It has central locking, but you have to pop the boot open from inside the car, but I think that a devise can be fitted to the car for outside release, so overall the car is quite reliable andv very economical for a small to medium car. Price style Petrol tank, no glove box, popping boot open from drivers side

OK – I bought a Gen2 a few years ago. I loved the look and paint colours available, the price was cheap and it was a pleasure to drive. I particuarly liked the rear sensors, which made backing and parking much easier. I did however find it hard to see out the rear of the car, so I felt a bit unsure of my safety especially changing lanes. Good fuel consumption poor visibility from rear window