The Proton Perdana V6 - Old school gets you six cylinders

At a time when the latest cars are being launched over at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, I'd like to devote some of my time talking about something closer to home and something which most of you still see on our roads - the Proton Perdana V6.

I recently found myself in one of these cars and noted that I have never written anything about this car ever since I started writing stuff about cars. Anyway, the Proton Perdana was first launched in 1995 to some fanfare. It is basically a mid-sized/D segment sedan and when first launched could be had with a 2.0liter 4 cylinder engine that made about 135hp/176nm. The front wheels were driven through a 4 speed automatic transmission with something called fuzzy logic that actually learnt your driving style and adjusted throttle response to suit. There was also a 5 speed manual. But not many bought this option.



The Proton Perdana was basically a badge engineered 1992 - 1996 Mitsubishi Eterna and only differed from the Mitsu by having minor external and internal changes. It sold like hot cakes as when all other D segment cars were priced at RM110,000 or more, the Perdana 2.0 sold at RM85,000 or thereabouts. It was a decent drive as it had ample performance, a good aerodynamic body, lots of kit and could actually handle abit due to its multi-link front and rear suspension setup. Heck, you were really getting a lot of kit even though the car looked a little plain and slightly tall in terms of its looks.

So, in 1998, Proton being Proton and the need to keep it fresh since the Perdana was in fact something designed in the early 1990s the people at Proton decided to make things quite interesting. They redesigned the exterior, threw in a 2.0liter v6 engine and got Lotus to sort out the handling as well as the NVH of the car. The exterior for a very nice bodykit with a more aggressive front and rear bumper larger 16inch wheels that rode on 205/55/16 tyres. The 2.0liter V6 engine supplied 148hp/179Nm via a four speed automatic tranny. The Lotus input together with the v6 engine made the Perdana V6 more refined than the normal Perdana and with the slightly lowered and retuned suspension allowed the Perdana V6 to be hustled around corners even better than ever. And then Proton sold it for around RM100,000. It actually was a steal at this price, coming in at what Honda charged for its Civic instead of its larger Accord here in Malaysia. So a lot of people bought this car.

The late 1980s and the early 1990s was a good time for car manufacturers and it was a time when they started experimenting with different sorts of engine configurations and capacity. The use of variable valve timing as well as various cylinder configurations were used. Some came up with V12s which were not seen in their line-up for a while. Some invented their own V8s. Some came up with small tiny V6s that were smaller than seen before. Of course, Mitsubishi was at the forefront of all of this and had their variable valve timing engines (MIVEC) and small V6s (from 1.6liters to the 2.0liter used in the Perdana V6). It was s good time for people who loved automotive technology and it was a time where experimentation ruled and whilst fuel efficiency was also on the minds of the engineerings, horsepower and refinement was more on their minds. Which is why we got engines like the high revving Honda VTEC or the small V6 engines used by Mitsubishi. Of course, Proton benefited. Perdana V6 is actually a nice place to be wafting from one meeting to another. Even to this day.

So we come to the car pictured here. A Proton Perdana V6 from 2001. This belongs to a family whom I am close to and this car is one of many in their stable. Nonetheless, it is in use as the family workhorse and the years have taken its toll on it. It has had a full suspension bush change a couple of years ago - from the normal bushes to full P.U bushing which have tightened up the handling a tad bit more. And now, it has gone through a top overhaul or a cylinder head job as well as a new radiator and all its water plumbing too. The car is basically new mechanically. So it actually drives quite well.

The question is how is such a car that was first designed in the early 1990s and with extra engineering input in 1998 drives today. The first thing  you notice is that the six cylinders make it an experience that is rare these days. Nowadays we have down sizing. Everyone is using 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0liter four cylinders for even its bigger cars. Even the last bastion of 6 cylinder smoothness, Nissan with its Teana have stopped offering 6 cylinders here in Malaysia. BMW do not sell their 2.0liter cars with 6 cylinders like in the 1990s. Volkswagen sells nearly everything with a 1.4liter engine. Mitsubishi, the guys that first engineered the Perdana V6 has stooped super low with the 1.2liter 3 cylinder Mirage/Attrage. We have basically no choice these days. Want a V6? Mercedes Benz or BMW would sell one to you for at least RM500,000. Lexus may sell you one at around RM270,000. No RM100,000 V6 people. Remember that.

That burble is quite soothing to hear. It is what we call mechanical refinement. A six is always smoother than a four. So the Perdana V6 gains in that aspect. The gearshifts in this car are actually pretty good for something designed in the 1990s. It isn't as clunky as the one fitted in the Proton Wira 1.6. You still feel the gear change but it isn't so obvious as the smaller Proton. Quite smooth once the fuzzy logic transmission learns how you drive. You do wish that there was more torque from the engine as the four speeder does have some gaps in its ratio. Again, not as bad as a Wira 1.6, but it could be better. As for why the gear changes are smooth it may be because this car isn't on its original transmission unit. Early, second batch onwards Perdana V6s are notorious for destroying gearboxes. Some say Proton sourced from Mitsubishi the one used for the 1.6 V6 engine instead of the one used in the 2.0 V6 so save some money. In the end lots of warranty claims later I doubt Proton actually saved any. Which is why a lot of people shunned it.

However, it shouldn't be the case as just before the final revision of 2005, or sometime at the end of 2004, Proton fitted an oil cooler for the transmission unit that made the Perdana V6's gearbox more durable until its production end in 2010. One could also retrofit a cooler like the one this car too.

This car also has its cylinder head and most oil seals and gaskets done up. It is 2015 and the engine has never had such surgery until now. Not too bad for something more than a decade old. You'd think that top overhauling a  V6 would be pretty expensive, but this car got new plugs, plug cables, a full gasket change, newly cut valve seats, new seals for both the gearbox and engine, a whole new radiator, water pipes and hoses as well as some other stuff for about RM3,600. What all of these gets you a very smooth old car. Even second hand or reconditioned transmissions could be had for around RM1,500-2,000or thereabouts. Hey, this is small money compared to what some of the DSG parts VW/Audi owners have to part with to get their rides repaired.

The engine is refined and burbles. the NVH levels may not be a good as today's D segment cars due to the car riding on larger 225section tyres on 17 inch wheels and that you do feel some of its age in the rigidity of the structure - cars these days have more rigid shells. But it can still be hustled around corners and bump absorption is better than today's mostly stiffly sprung cars. Add the fact that this Perdana V6 can still cruise effortlessly at around 150kmh makes it a driving experience that it worth mentioning to this day. 0-100kmh times aren't its forte (it should be around 13seconds) as the four speed auto does not have ratios to do everything from go-green accleration to high speed cruising. Being smaller than most D segment cars of today means that you could throw it into corners or tight spaces more than you're used to. The large tyres, multi link suspension together with the P.U bushes help control body movement well enough. Oh. It does look pretty good (if a tad small by today's D segment standards - large enough inside though) too with smooth flowing lines and a hunkered down look too.

The current, only for the government at the time of writing, Honda Accord based Perdana is a whole different car. And it only has four cylinders. It's the extra cylinders folks. Something that we don't have the pleasure of getting cheaply these days. Unless its used of course. And there are plenty of used Perdana V6s to go around. Affordable maintenance too.

This has the newer 2003 onwards rear light clusters and a custom paintjob