The Proton Preve with Four Years and 48,000km under its belt - How does it perform?

Photo: Wikipedia...in order to protect the innocent from pain and suffering.

A few weeks ago I managed to get my hands on a first batch Proton Preve 1.6CFE. You know, the turbocharged version of Proton's latest C segment competitor that is sold over in Australia, Chile and a few other places. Of course, this is the Malaysia specced one. It is about four years old and had already covered about 48,000 kilometers. This means that this car had covered about 12,000kilometers per year and you could say that it is a report on how the car lasts after a good four years.

Those problems that suddenly disappear when you visit the mechanic and the non-turbo Proton Preve

The Proton Preve -  No Actual Photographs - Apologies, as I was too busy trying to help solve a problem with it

Earlier today I drove the Proton Preve 1.6 Executive CVT IAFM+(Automatic) - i.e the non-turbo version. The reason I did this wasn't because Proton loaned me a car to do so. I wish Proton did but they didn't. Anyway, the reason I drove this non-turbocharged or non CFE Preve was because my friend wanted me to diagnose a fault in his Preve. It supposedly would stutter and jerk after the car stops, enters into reverse, reverses then moves forward again. 

Now the thing was that after a good half and hour of trying to achieve the symptom mentioned by the Preve's owner I failed in doing so. I suppose this is something that some of us have experienced, where the car would suddenly suffer some failings but when it reaches the mechanic, nothing seems to be wrong. This has happened to me a few times personally and it is quite frustrating.

The Proton Preve 1.6 CFE Premium Driven - And what I'd like Proton to make

Now that Proton has launched its latest 4 door sedan the question that begs to be asked is whether the Malaysian public can accept the fact that the darn thing (in its top-of-the-line 1.6 CFE spec) costs seventy two thousand of their Malaysian Ringgit. I think that this fact even outweighs all other factors including the fact that Proton has stuffed all the goodies into it and whether or not the car drives fantastically well or otherwise.

First (Non Driving) Impressions of the Proton Prevé 1.6 CFE

So, what do I think about the Proton Prevé ? Preve is another word that means 'proof'. But 'Preve' is not spelt with a 'é' and actually sounds 'preef' instead of 'pree-vay'. Is it a way to spice things up? Make a plastic crystal into a diamond? Make a loaf of bread into black forrest cake? It could actually be Proton trying a little too hard as the Prevé, let's just call it the Preve as it means the same thing and I don't have to type that 'é' over and over again, is actually a car that they have put their hopes and dreams into.