2004 Proton Waja from Malaysia - Comments

Paintwork defect on both side mirrors (metal cover) after 7 months from dealer. Managed to get proton edar to repaint it back for free.

External door knob broken at front passenger and rear left after 1 year. Request for replacement from proton edar, but gave reason out of stock. Still pending.

"Hissing" sound from the rear tyre when moderate cornering. Don't mind as it not so loud.

Squeaking sound from the rear. Don't know the problem. Even louder when reverse. Will send to proton edar. Still pending.

Knocking sound also from rear. When switch gear from 1 to 2, it's more obvious. Proton edar to check. Still pending.

Seat too stiff. Inconvenient for long drive.

Pick up slow. Sometime it jerk when switch gear.

Have to press acceleration pedal little harder as engine tense to dead, especially at traffic light. Timing meter low and keep dropping when wrongly adjusting crutch pedal and acceleration pedal.

All works fine accept for the one that I've listed down.

I'm the previous writer. Just to add some more. I've send my car to a local mechanic (don't trust proton edar anymore) on the problem with my rear. And they found out that both my rear absorber have worned out and that causes the knocking sound. Because of the unbalance of the position of absorbers, the tyre will get uneven and causes the knocking sound. Problem solved after they changed it. Cost me rm240.00 for both side.

As for the door handle, I bought myself both the handle at proton spare part dealer and sent it to local mechanic to be fix and spray. Cost me lousy rm150.00.

Can't do much on the acceleration problem. Waja engine was built that way.

I bought my first brand new Waja in Mar 2005. I'd got the enhanced version manufactured around end 2004. I had been driving it till May 2008, unfortunately, cos it got stolen (sigh!). As a sporean, driving a Malaysian car was a big risk for me, due to my discernment about car driveability. Before I go on blasting negative comments on Waja as a whole. Let me give you some of the things I liked about the car:

1. It was a considerably quiet car. Door shuts as quiet as a continental car.

2. Very spacious for the affordable price of a sedan.

3. It took high speed corners well (Simpang Pulai, Cameron H'lands) with negligible roll (100-100kmh). Without a sweat and without roll bars.

4. Brakes were reliable and responsive.

5. Top speed around 165kmh with full load. Stable, sturdy and superb handling. (Feel it could had gone much faster since it max at 240km/h)

6. Fuel consumption 9-10km/ltr (city). 11-12km/ltr (highway)

7. Very comfortable on long drive. I drive to Spore and back PJ very often.

8. Like my wife commented, "It's a handsome car."

Here are my negative comments about the car:

1. The plastic upholstery was very low in quality and spec. On my first day of driving the car, I was shocked to find the plastic button on my gear stick came off due to ill fitting. Phew..!

2. I had the beige colour fabric seats. With kids, it's one hell of a job to upkeep the stains.

3. My brake pads were the kind that emitted dust a lot. So, it left a nasty rusted colour stain on my 16 inch sports rim. Solved it after changing them with the low dust ones after a year. My rims stayed shiny from then on.

Overall, it wasn't too bad for me, maybe I was lucky. My family and I love the car so much (now we're missing it... boo hoo!). I adorned my car with good Dunlop tyres, fully-synthetic engine oil, high quality air filter, good brake pads and fuel-saver gizmo that emits clean exhaust–for good driving experience sake. And that, we had!

The only regret I had was, I did not invest on better security, which costed me dearly.

So, for those who feel badly about Waja, I'm sorry. Now, you are having it from someone who is not a Malaysian.

Yours Truly

Singaporean Driver.