1997 Proton Putra from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

This car is a joke. It is weaker than the Perdana, but more expensive than the Waja. The Waja will take its place in the market.

It is meant to be a sport car, but it looks like two different Mitsubishi models sandwiched into one.

The 2 door design is meant to give it a sporty look, but its engine is lack of power.

No airbag too.

This car was designed to be a sport coupe, but it looks just like the Wira except the rear looks like a Lancer.

A complete waste of time.

For your info, the proton putra is actually known as the Mitsubishi Mirage Asti. Only the front portion of the car had been changed i. e Front fenders, bonnet, bumper, head light and signal lamp.

Little do you critics know the Proton Putra/M21 coupe has got the same engine as seen in the Proton Satria GTI. The coupe has the lancer rear end and lancer front quarter panels. Proton only came up with the design of the grille and bonnet, let that be food for thought. Its not a complete waste of time for the extras of rear 4 wheel discs equiped with ABS. drivers airbag, recaros, and electric mirrors and windows not to mention central locking makes it worth while to own. Its better than its previous form of the cc lancer stock! Really the GTI is a waste of time your paying double the amount and your getting the same car, but hatch, big deal! The GTI lotus handling is bull for if measured the suspension is just lowered with hardened springs part numbers on shocks are the same as the Putra.

Waste of time... Now the MGTF is a waste of time. I've just bought a Proton Coupe Evolution (Putra) (I think the Evo is only available in the UK) to replace my TF which was rubbish. I've had all sorts Porsche, Mercedes, Jaguar (I've kept that), MGs, Rovers and I've now got 2 Proton Coupes, one is a 1999 standard coupe and the other is a 2001 EVO. OK they are rough and ready, but they are dependable, just as quick as the MG, more reliable, better built, hard wearing and the dealers care. Only problem... handling in the wet (this is the UK after all)

John R.

I can tell all of you out there, I m a malaysian, and I can also tell you that.. proton is he worst car company in the world... you come to malaysia, you will see a lot proton on the road.. y?.. because there are so cheap,...not to say cheap actually, the government raise the tax to 300% on some import car and 200% on all import cars, a normal corolla here cost RM120 000 bout, us$31,583.10. what car can you buy in usa of that price?.. still a toyota corolla?.

In usa, corolla 's price is only us$14 195.. so do we have any choices?... all malaysian critic on proton, they can survive till now becoz of the government 's help. if the price of the corolla is juz same as the putra, I ll surely bang toward the toyota showroom.

You can't compare the toyota with any proton.

The toyota has been well developed and is highly refined were as the proton is a very primative back to basics car.

I own 2, both 1.8 coupes, I can have any car I want (within reason) I've owned porsches, jaguars, mercs, toyotas, but I love the back to basics the coupes give me and their reliability is without question. as for value for money both mine were ex demo and as such only cost me a third of the otr new price. I would not recomend buying new (they are just to expensive) as prices of mainstream manufacturers have come down in the uk, but talk to the dealer show him the money and you can get a bargin... try it.

I think i'll clarify all of your doubts here. And bear in mind that no one car is perfect. Every automobile has its good points and its shortcomings, be it a Diablo VT or a 206cc.

Which brings us back to our putra. Proton ceased its production recently, sources claiming that the car was involved in too many road accidents. However, bear in mind that the car did go through some major deterioration since its maiden release. The 1997 Putra DOHC EXi is the best model of all.

The car is a value buy that combines a pleasant design and good, but OVERPOWERED engine. I feel that it hasn't got a very safe power to weight ratio as other sport 1.8's do, namely the Trueno (Toyota) Elise (Lotus) or the Integra (Honda). The body is very frail and will give way if you get urself in a jam above 160kph. Alarmingly enough, the car reaches 200 easy and I've taken it to 260, its top speed, once. No need for those additional turbos and stuff. Just modify the stock 4G93 to adapt to that of a cold air intake and repipe the exhaust. Larger bore. That should work it enough.

However, the car is not safe to travel under its stock conditions at such high speeds. Typical modifications include aftermarket brembo discs, and to have a firm grip on the road, you should be running a minimum of 195/45R18 up to 215/45R18 rollers. Add coilovers and medium or street spec sway bars for better control.

As a freelance auto journalist. I honestly give this car a 6.5 out of 10. And it is Malaysia's best. I've also got a more detailed review of the car. I did this review as I'm looking to land myself an auto journalists job for any english peformance mag. My e-mail is vannillaiced@yahoo.com. Request the full review and it shall be yours free.

Well as I myself is a putra user I got this perception that the car is in a great range and thus I believe that it a an great opportunity for a car lover and racer like me and the future young teens to like and own them. besides who cares whether it's a two door based or it looks exactly like mitsubishi sort like... all it need is the fuel that save the bugs and the satisfactions of the owner by using them and I'm proud to own the putra as I'm a malaysian and feels great to use em... as as for the comments that have been showed above WHO CARES THE CAR IS ALREADY ON SALE*DUH*

I am a malaysian and I find that the putra is one really hot car cos when you just bring it to the workshop and modify it, i think it'll be competitive to those hot rods like the skyline, and mitsubishi evo, just change the front of the body to those of lancers and put a bonnet of those ralliart and give it a hot paint like red and do up the interior a bit like recaro seats then JBL speakers in your boot and two sport mufflers then just fix in big rollers and hot rims inculding the side skirting and back skirting I WILL say ur putra will look HOT REal HOt. i Will soon buy A putra cos it has GOOD braking system and overpowered engine.

Indeed, little did some of you know about PROTON PUTRA, isn’t it? May it one of the familiar copycats from selected model of Mitsubishi cars. I rather don’t border about what makes PROTON come out with such a design and model, but it surely meets its purpose… to learn, to make and to sell. Compared to Korea and Japan… Malaysia is a developing country and may not good in creating and producing cars because as we all should know, each country do have it’s own internal problems like, people’s attitude. Whatever tax or law imposed by the government is with certain purposes. Look, it is not easy to run a country and each country comes with different ethnics and customs and so do the people’s characteristics.

What is it wrong about PUTRA? It’s just a car cost about RM74, 000 OTR… it sounds expensive, but I read that some of you said, “Why in Malaysia there is tons of proton car? Because it’s cheap!” Well, you eat your own words, did you? If you want to get optimum performance, get a mechanics to do the works for you!

I first got myself a remarkable Mini cooper 1.6, which my dad spends 15K on it to be resurrected. Then after college, got myself Toyota SEG 1.6 1998 model… cool though. I met with a major accident and then switch to PUTRA 1.8 standard and brand new. Friends bring in ideas and such, I did some standard modification such as replacing it’s standard parts with super touring double plate clutch, lightened the fly wheel, installed the custom injection kit, custom converter, racing crank shaft, port & polish, Rally Art chassis stabilizer set, Hot bits Adjustable, exhaust & breathing system and Apexi airflow control kit… the rest remain standard includes the rims… tires, I bought Yokohama Neova. It took me 3 years to complete all these changes and it works well. Malaysian road indeed disappointing and the attitude of Malaysian drivers are also like small kids who just got their 1st go-kart. There is just limited room to speed and if you do, you’ll crash yourself, on others or others on you. Me, in the other hand, I would check the situation then I will smoke anyone who tailed too close or simply looking for trouble. Toyota, Honda V-tech, Mitsubishi Evolution or even Imprezza doesn’t matter. It is the guts that count. Year 2003, I sold my beloved PUTRA to a friend and it still shines till today, only with much bigger 17 inch REZO rims! Now, I got myself a new Savvy… Going to work, I drove my VOLVO S40…. Better than Mercedes, but would watch out for Beamers… they do still smoke anyone sometimes especially the 328 and 535!

What I mean here is, there is nothing wrong with PROTON cars and if you happen to own one or just always laughing at it, it is yourself that’s pathetic because you never learn to respecting other’s efforts and struggles. If you are in their shoes, you will know how it feels to be humiliated.

Yes mate, brag2 about how great was your modded Putra. The thing is we are talking about stock cars... not modded cars.. your're in the wrong crowd mate!!

I'm sick of people biased on proton. i don't care if its jeremy clarkon's word, but when its from malaysians who owns one, its just stupid. whoever just hear critics from others and join them, please get the feel driving it and know the value.

I own a proton saga aeroback and I love it very much. never thinking about selling it.. bought it for RM11,000.when I finish studying and starts working, satria gti would be nice.I'm looking foward into satria neo :)

Yes it breaks it failed, but I doesn't have much trouble into it. the power steering fluid leaks, after I installed the power steering (stock one doesn't have).the rear rattles to much, after using sport spring. the audio system (cassete player and speaker) fail, they just s*cks (I'm dying to get a better one).at last whoever cares, its worth to own.

Turbo k-car that spends >rm10,000 on their rides never get a chance on my ride :).it speeds over 180km/h (that's the maximum on the speedometer),its just 1500cc.tell me other 1.5L new car that can challanges that.

First, it worth to buy.second, its my national company and I owns one.last, only compared it at your location. if you feel

import cars in malaysia are unreasonably priced, go overseas, buy one and live there. there no reason to critics proton when you own one. sell it before you hurl you words. and please critics based on facts and experience.don't claim on national policy.

Well well... if the M21 is lousy, professional drivers won't race it or be featured in 'car&car conversions' mag!!!

You critics... are you pro drivers who can drive or in-the-know???

Anyway...since its actually a Mitsubishi Mirage Coupe&a proven 4G93 powerhouse... you guys are saying the Japanese are no good???

I've never heard from track drivers or privateer track-day petrol-heads that it's a bad car!!! And of course I trust their judgement!!!

I send this NOT to 'talk' to you people... but to just give justice to a car that is well-received by real drivers. GoodBye... Good Mornin, the track is very far from your place, it's a long walk...

Proton putra is a good cars, nice and fast.

The Proton Putra/Satria GTi/Wira 1.8 (M) DOHC shares the SAME engine: Mitsubishi 4G93. Depending on your budget& expectation, I think its reasonably powerful for normal use. Reaching 200km/h without difficulty and 0-100km in 9 sec. flat is OK for the price. You get what you paid for man! We are not talking about B16B, Silvia or Celica. BUT I still feel Proton should and could have improved on quality eg: the seat, body anti-rust, windows, absorbers, airbags & other cosmetics. It won't cost Proton much given the facilities & support from the Govt. The Wira 1.8 (M) DOHC is still my choice, but its hard to see one in tip-top condition due to abuse and also Proton produced only 2,500 units.