Proton once again manages to disappoint. From the moment I got hold of the keys to my Gen2, there was nothing short of trouble and stress. All hopes of the problems ending are always dashed one way or another, something always springs up at the wrong time. In the first week of owning my Gen2 I already had a list of complaints. It’s like buying a toy car and going back to the manufacturer to fix it. Steering wheel squeaking when I make a turn, hard to open doors, malfunctioning auto lock (still persists). The sad thing is there is no other car except our national manufacturer that fits into budget for size, engine capacity and price. After about 20 years there is still want for improvement, seems like quality is only for the higher end products, Perdana and Waja, why can’t other models have better engineering or quality control? It really makes me think that Proton does not have ANY quality control for Gen2 at all, either that or I’m just so unlucky I have to send my car back to Proton service center to be rectified about 3 times in the first month.
After about 5 months of having my car I thought the problems were going to end, I’ve been referred to Gen2 experts by my friend and my sales person, they have been a help. But just recently something happened to my Gen2 to really piss me off. It goes like this,
Many Gen2 owners get the smell of outside air leaking into the cabin, so to rectify this I had the car sent back to the Proton factory. What they would do was to seal the intake point that allows outside air to come in, easier said than done, right? I sent my car to the Mutiara Damansara Proton service center on the 30th of November 2005, we checked everything before I left my car for them, the service advisor also showed me what they would be doing (seal the intake point). So after a satisfactory explanation, I left the keys wit him, I was to collect my car in 2 days. On the 2nd of December 2005, I called the service center at about 3.30pm to enquire about the status of my car, I was informed my car would be ready in a few hours, and they would call me again when its ready for collection, no problem I would say, everything sounds fine. I called again at about 6pm after getting a wee bit impatient, I was informed my car had arrived, only thing is they wanted to wash it for me, sounds good washing the car for me, I’ve sent my car back so many times and its only been washed about 2 times, guess it was to sooth my nerves from being made to send the car back so often. I went to collect it, arrived about 7pm, slightly dark. The service advisor showed me my car, informed me on what had been done and also told me I can’t get outside air into the cabin anymore, not a problem then. After a moment he looked a little bit guilty, and informed me there was a chip on my windscreen, right in front of the drivers view. The chip is my reason of contempt, the advisor proceeded to tell me there was a chip on the day I delivered my car, I refused to accept his explanation as I knew my car well.
there is it, craaaack
top view
On the day I sent my car in, I had check my windscreen if it needed cleaning (was pumping gas), not standing at the drivers side and looking at my windscreen I did not at all notice anything unusual. I told the service advisor if the car was damaged in the possession of Proton, then Proton must do something to rectify it, the way it was said to me sounded more like: Proton damaged my car, but the owner has to grin and bear with it.
No way, no bloody way. I told the service advisor I was not taking this rubbish explanation from him. I would get it done one way or another. I took the car, regrettably I did not ask for the release bill, something I had to sign to admit the car was in good condition after receiving it. I was so angered by this many sensible things escaped my mind.
The chip could have been caused by a rock, or not. It is right in front of the driver, at my eye level. I would have noticed it when I checked if my windscreen was clean, or when I was driving. If the chip was obtained when I was driving I would know, what rock hitting my windscreen right in front of my face can be ignored? I don’t like the fact that the service advisor is pushing the blame to me. I have called up the Proton I-care line to complain about this, Ms Leena said she would get back to me in 2-3 days, and I got the call 2 weeks later. Talk about caring , just change it to Proton I-don’t-care. She informed me of their investigations, and said some form was typed just before sending my car back to the Proton factory for altering, and in the form dated 30th November, it was stated my car had a chipped wind screen before they sent it over. In 2 weeks, there is sufficient time to type a crap report, dates on documents can be altered, stories can be fabricated.
Well just recently, about 7 months after getting this car, the front passenger window broke down. SEVEN damn months only?? From July 2005 til the 3rd of March, that’s about the lifetime of my window motor. So I sent it back, got it fixed, mighty pissed I was that day for this to happen. I asked was it normal for a Gen2 window motor to break down so soon, answer was yes. After I received my car from the service personnel I checked the car to ensure everything was alright. Intuition sort of paid of, if you could count it that way, because I found a scratch from the middle of the front passenger door to the middle of the back door. It doesn’t end there, there were scratches on the wheel arch too. When I sent it in it was perfectly fine. To cut a long story short, I got the service advisor who attended to me to verify or tell me what happened. He told me before fixing the window there was nary a scratch on my car. I got it settled then, some time when I am free I’ll send my car back to them, again (groans), so they can repaint it.
The scratches...
I mean, just what kind of service is this where a customer can have their car returned to them in such a condition. Is it me and my bad luck? Does my number carry bad Feng Shui or something? Or does it have something to do with me being born in the year of the Dog and now it’s the year of the Dog?
If anyone had bothered to read this long (I think it is) entry…feel free to submit any experience of yours or your friends.
The way I see it, Proton won’t be improving on anything soon, quality wise and customer care.
