I am one of those who condemns Proton. Here's why:
1. They are overly protected by cronies and government they produce crappy cars.
2. Malaysians are forced to buy Proton because they cannot afford a Honda.
3. Proton is selling their cars at a higher price to Malaysians than in other countries. E.g. Australia Preve.
4. Proton SC personnels are not all well trained or monitored.
5. etc etc i lazy to type. Summary is: In the end, they still build crappy cars.
So...people complain when Proton rebadge some cars. People complain when Proton builds their own. Perodua did the same like too i.e. rebadging cars but it seems not nobody really condemns them. Why?
Proton started off in automotive industry by rebadging Mitsubishi model and came out with Saga, Iswara, Wira, Satria, bla bla bla. Many people complain too at that time. Then there were these few batches of proton cars were quite good. For example, proton wira. Many users were happy and start to believe in Proton which is a good thing. So Proton then started to build their own cars with their own knowledges and experiences. Result? Proton Waja, Gen-2, Savvy, bla bla bla....and they were? CRAP! (Excuse my language and honesty). The first few batches of waja and gen-2 have so many problems. The knowledge and experience - kapult, gone, vanish and so does the faith of many people.
Ok so they know that they have to do something to earn $$. Tadah ~ Saga and Persona. Are they great cars? Well you decide. Then they have a trade with Mitsubishi and rebadge the Lancer. Just change the bumpers design, logo, rims, and tadah ~ great car and value for the money. Or is it? Basically what you get in an Inspira is cheaper materials being used in a lancer shell. Proton is selling the Inspira at 75k? Well lets remove the absurd tax from a Lancer and compare again. Will the price be so much different? Hmm...and you get Japanese quality and localized Mitsubishi service compared to Malaysia plastic with Proton SC.
The Preve and Suprima, well so far there werent many complains on these cars because if you throw a stone towards the highway, chances of you hitting Supra Fanatics is higher than you actually hit a Preve or Suprima. So I have no comment on these models and I hope they do well and do not disappoint again.
And now they rebadge the Accord which is an older model somemore. It is a benefit for Malaysians who cant really afford a Honda Accord because with a lower price, we can get something similar. Well, it is either Proton untung sama you, or the government untung sama you. To me, they are both the same. But why does Proton needs to rebadge some other cars again? Cant they produce their own ALL NEW PERDANA? Ok lets say rebadging an Accord is easier and probably much more profitable. But lets look at KIA and Hyundai. Their cars were not so good in the yesteryears. Now, they have became one of the market leaders in some big countries. I am ashamed. That is why I condemn and complain I guess.
Why not many bash Perodua pulak ? Double standard and just being a hypocrite ka? Nope. Yes perodua does not really produce a car on their own (only second gen kancil, if i were right). But their cars are much more reliable and consistent than Proton. Ya at first we complain that they cannot produce their own cars, but if the product the make is good...nowadays who cares? And they have moved forward too. Now they produce myvi to be sold as Daihatsu Sirion in Indonesia. That means it is some sort of Daihatsu Indonesia is rebadging the myvi. A japanese company has confidence of selling cars manufactured in Malaysia.
Of course, people buy Perodua because they cant afford a Toyota. But at least the car doesnt give you high blood pressure after 5 years.