Preve-sieve Thoughts

If Proton is made private by its new owner, is it still categorically a national car?

Will the nation still be needed to “help out” a privately-owned Proton?

Proton’s going private is the latest in a string of going-private-moves in Malaysia Inc.  and I supposed this shouldn’t be of any concerned to us lay-non corporate-movers-man on the street.

Unless Proton is still very much a national category brand with all the national car benefits and what not, that is.

Really: what does going private mean anyway?

All I know is that you don’t need to answer to anyone as the company / corporation is bloody yours to do as you will and pleases. Correct?

Some corporate-world savvy bloggers must surely be able to enlighten us on this one.

The relationship between Proton and the lay person goes a long way ever since the car-maker and sometimes assembler made its debut a long time ago in 1983 with its Proton Saga.

Alas, what was initially set up as a Malaysia automotive tour-de force is today much maligned by its detractors who blamed Proton for its part in skyrocketing the price of automobiles in this country.

Comparatively, that is: cherries and pisang nangka comparison at best.

One thing that does stand out is its inability to force its way into the International arena unlike, for example, its Korean counterpart Hyundai.

Arguably though, Hyundai did come into the scene much earlier in 1967 and made international market headway in the 1980’s. It is going great guns these days, together with its stable-mate Kia.

Back to Proton: What will it take for the brand to make its global breakthrough?

It is pushing the mass-market envelope with latest offering in the Proton Prevé  which is priced just borderline-competitive in the C-Segment for us locals.

As for me, it’s always a case of once twice shy when it comes to Proton as I’ve had the worst of experience with a lemony of an acquisition of the Proton Gen2.

Suffice to say, my better half swears off the maker for life. Me: I still give some kudos to Proton designers although the Prevé’s rear lights mirror (heh) that of the previous City a fair bit.

Is the Prevé it for Proton?  Or is making Proton private it?

Or don’t we care anymore?

 

Zooming Dreams

Once upon a time, I almost bought a car solely on its looks – a fastback Mazda Lantis.

The price was just about right at around RM50k, there was no major blemish to car’s exterior, the interior was clean and the Lantis simply looked fast even when stationary.

I was even ready to forgive its rather tight cockpit, but the laughable boot was a concern. An equally tight financial standing then put paid to any dreams of zoom zooming (sorry, just couldn’t resist this pun) in a poor man Alfa Romeo or something likewise.

Anyway, we ended up buying another car based on its looks alone, and THAT ended a huge disaster which has since put me of the brand forever.

Now, the car bug is back and I’m eyeing again the offerings in the second hand car market.

The wonderful world of the Internet means that I don’t actually need to hop from one dealer to another; not when sites like CarSifu makes the initial window shopping so easy.

Unlike those days of old when all you could rely on were words – one owner, no accident, showroom looks(!) – online window shopping allows you to actually view the cars in all their glory.

Of course, nothing beats seeing it in the metal once you’ve zeroed in on the possible. Running your hands on the flanks, tap tapping the bodyshell and the interior plastics to make sure nothing falls off without even the car being driven in anger; those kinds of pleasure.

Again it’s the Mazda that entices – this time around the Mazda5 midi MPV. Midi, I suppose, because they are just able to fit 7 in relative comfort and still allow some meagre space for shopping bags and other nit nats as oppose to the real MPV.

Sleek lines, looks smaller than it actually is and, just like the Lantis a few years ago, the 5 seems fast even when static and parked.

Again, realities of buying second hand intrude – maintenance, worn out parts and components replacement etc – do mean that this would still be a window shopping spree.

With the cost of living escalating like nobody’s business, it would remain so for the time being.

Zoom zoom dreams revisited, in other words.