I drive and review a Proton 1.3! (Proton Saga Iswara)

I take this base model 1994 Proton 1.3 GE Mpi out for a drive, showing you all around the exterior and interior. We look at blanking plates, we can visibly see clanging metal, and we enjoy the driving refinement of this rather lovely classic.
Thanks to Simon Willis (@Si200679 on Twitter) for letting me borrow his car.
If you'd like more Proton content, Jon Coupland who I mention a couple of times in this video has a channel filled with them www.youtube.com/@JonCoupland/...
Thank you for watching!

[@JonCoupland]

Fun fact. The previous owner spec'd it from the dealer with the 12v adapter. That was not a standard feature on the GE 😅

[@TheCounty90]

Fun fact 2. The previous owner spec’d it from the dealer with an engine. Normally they were horse / mule drawn on the GE.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oooh. Now that is indeed a fun fact, love that

[@owensteele1645]

@@TheCounty90 🤣

[@JonCoupland]

@@TheCounty90 🤣🤣

[@davidanderson3425]

Now watch the viewing figures for this video soar. Proton still have a big following in Malaysia and they will love this review.

[@adlanzrable]

Absolutely... greeting from KL

[@mattylamb9194]

Having indicators on right hand side of steering wheel is the sensible thing on a right-hand drive car. Means you can indicate pus change gear at the same time

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yeah, I'm sure you are right!

[@luceya1985]

Such a great review! We rented a Proton just like this, but in red, on a family trip to Kuala Lumpur in 1995. The car unfortunately broke down in Penang after wading through a monsoon, but was back on the road again after a simple repair. Thanks for bringing back the memories!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you! I am visiting Penang in September, but not intending to rent a car I don't think...!

[@yeaurossoe]

My uncle drove a Saga Iswara in Malaysia back then. Exterior is almost the same, but the dashboard and switches/controls looked very different. There's 4 big buttons (2 on each side) flanking the meter cluster, for hazard lights, rear windscreen heater and aircon master switch. We also didn't have those big knobs for wipers and headlights.

[@shahiezam1976]

That dashboard design was designated for export model to UK. Here we called it the 'UK spec'.

[@StratmanII]

If I remember correctly, the reason the Proton Saga cars that were sold in the United Kingdom were fitted with a different dashboard and instrument panel was because the Malaysian styled dashboard didn't meet strict UK safety standards. So what Proton did was to retrofit the dashboard and instrument cluster from the original Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore, which the Saga was based upon. There were also other minor differences between the Malaysian variant and the export ones. For example, the bonnet emblem for the local variety is actually illuminated for purely cosmetic purposes. The UK transport ministry has regulations against frontal lights that are not headlamps, fog lights or signal lights therefore in the UK variant the bulb and wiring that sits behind the bonnet emblem was entirely removed.

[@krazykeith6001]

Proton 1.5 MPi was the first car I ever sold when I worked in a garage when I was 20. Coming from a 1983 base Fiesta, this felt like a Rolls Royce! I was jealous of the new owner!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes I bet! The Proton definitely felt well equipped for a budget price

[@shepshepherd]

To quote Cold War Motors: "Turn up the Base!" Proton Sagas were pretty popular in the 1990s in the part of east Kent that I grew up in, due to there being at least four dealers in the vicinity (and a lot of people who saw the appeal of cheap new cars based on tried and tested engineering with generous warranties and standard-fit Blaupunkt stereos!), but I don't ever recall seeing a GE version. The mid-range models seemed to be the most commonplace.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yeah, the GE was particularly miserly given the time. Basic cars became just a touch less austere by the mid 90s

[@shepshepherd]

@@MorselsAndMotorsI reckon that most base model Sagas were either bought by taxi drivers or used by dealers to entice customers into buying better equipped versions, rather like the mark 1 Ford Sierra base was: "It's a nice car, but look what you could get for a few Pounds more!"

[@williamegler8771]

I remember reading an article from an interview with Malcolm Bricklyn where he said it was a toss-up whether to import Proton or Yugo into the United States. He chose Yugo because he could sell them cheaper and Proton would have been almost the same price as a Hyundai I think Proton would have been successful because they were larger and more powerful cars and we're available with automatic transmissions and air conditioning. Two things that American buyers consider essential no matter how inexpensive a vehicle. Plus by using proven Japanese Mechanicals it would have been much more reliable

[@angahsyber68]

And yet Yugo fail in the states 😂

[@roadtripboy]

What he wanted do was replace the Yugo with the Proton. Something Mitsubishi was never going to allow to happen. This car was already being sold as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt, the Mitsubishi Mirage and as the Eagle Summit. They didn't want the cheaper Proton taking sales away from the the three models already on the market it. This model style was replaced in 1990 here in the US.

[@mattw8332]

I always had a soft spot for these Protons. Wouldn't have minded one of these myself as I always liked 'underdog' cars. Shame that they don't sell 'em in the UK anymore. I think Proton priced themselves out of the UK car market.

[@nigelbryanmee]

Blanking plate by the handbrake is for the electric mirrors on the higer spec model.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you

[@racoonfederation289]

I still use my father's proton 1.3 from 1998 up till now

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Awesome!

[@jeromec1253]

Grettings from France, where my father used to drive a Citroën BX, then a Mitsubishi lancer, in the early 80’s… Those clunky doors…😊 Thank you very mutch for that, i really enjoy your tone. Waiting for the next one .. Jérôme

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you! I would love to drive a BX sometime...

[@ddanny3108]

Love the delivery. Keep them coming

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you! Will do!

[@fauzanriez9472]

Greetings from Malaysia. Car enthusiasts like me always envy with UK spec proton cars. Firstly we never had EFi as standard except for some UK reject cars that were sold by Proton to its staff. Secondly UK Sagas had 5 trim levels for sedan. Another 5 for the hatchback. If i remember correctly it was GE, GL, GLS and SE and another somewhere in the middle. Malaysia only gets either the mid range known as S (Sederhana or Medium) and the high spec I (Istimewa or Special). I believe the equivalent of GL and SE in UK. Third. For some internal reasons UK specs received the dashboard from Mitsubishi donor. It could be either A. Safety reasons. As per regulated by the local authority. B. Fuel injection system. Malaysian spec cars dont have check engine light and the ECU wiring looms. 4th. Saga in Malaysia also make do without sunroof, but yes with a warm weather the whole year round anyone would prefer to have AC than scorching heat sunshine from the roof. The blank plate at the handbrake is actually for electric mirror control for high spec SE models. The power window switches are located on the door card with full length arm rest. For lower trim variant with power windows the switch is there instead. Iswara is the 1st major revamp but actually the 4th revision to the original Saga. The 5th one is called LMSS, only the hatchback, only 1.3 and only silver. This was in 2002 until 2003. The 6th and last was another major revamp known as LMST and lasted from 2003 until 2007. In 2008 an all new Saga was launched known as Saga BLM. And in 2016 another new Saga replaced this which is known as Saga VVT

[@MMusa-gy7qb]

I saw this car today in a hot wheel toy and I thought it's the Mitsubishi Galante. So I had to search it. Nice review.

[@williamdyke758]

I bought one of these in 2000 for a few hundred pounds and it ran faultlessly for 4 years. It was basic transport but with very heavy steering.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Love that kind of survivor 😊

[@soar_higher]

Hi there! Glad I came across this vid of yours today. And glad that you're coming here this September. Hope you'll have a great stay in M'sia. As a local, I don't see many old Proton Sagas (old model) on Malaysian roads now but the new ones (new model).

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thank you! I’m really looking forward to my trip, and hope I’ll see some Sagas!

[@cosmo10973ify]

I used to own a K reg 1.5GL triple valve in silver with Alloys and full body kit. Really liked it.

[@thomash2806]

Hello! Nice video. Love these time capsule cars. Isn’t the triangle warning light in the cluster for the hazard warning lights?

[@owensteele1645]

@11:16 Cigar lighters is an interesting topic that's rarely discussed. When I worked as a valeter for Ford back in 1999 to 2000, we had many long line-ups of ex-motability 1996/7 Fiesta Encore and Escort Encore/CL base models and they all had big round blank buttons where the cigar lighter would be. Also, my sister's first car was a 1995 106 XND Graduate - one up from base - and still no lighter. Some ten years later, she was ordering a new Smart ForTwo where an ashtray and lighter was a £280 option. She did not tick that box.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

It's funny, they were absolutely necessary for the smokin' 70s and 80s. Slightly started to fall out of favour in the 90s and 00s, but essential again for sat-navs and mobile phones from the 10s onwards!

[@owensteele1645]

This is immaculate. I love cars like this. This GE may be quite a late-production 1994 model but you still had only one door mirror. The steel wheels bring back memories for me, because they are the same as the ones my dad had on his 1990 Mitsubishi Space Wagon.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yeah, it's such a late car with only one door mirror. Glad the wheels trigger happy memories!

[@BungleBare]

Steel wheels weren’t a “cheap car” thing in the ‘90s - you had to go fairly well up the Polo and Golf ranges to even get wheel trims out of VW, until around the time the Mk 4 Golf came out, and many a lowlier spec Mk 4 Astra was delivered with steel wheels and centre caps, well into the new millennium.

[@owensteele1645]

@@BungleBare You are actually spot on here. You'll be thinking of the circa-2000 Astra Envoy and LS, Golf CL and GL and Polo 6N up to GL. I do remember now indeed. It was also rare to see even Passats with alloys pre-2000. Many of those up to B4 GL had full trims that did not quite cover the rim edges.

[@danielrussell446]

Well done Sion a great video have always liked the original protons we had a dealership around here Gra Mar Motors and they sold loads in the back yard of Rover at longbridge they once were really common it was a great package which appealed to many for different reasons sad to see proton have now left the UK isn’t it

[@fhwolthuis]

Great video 😀 Car reminds me of the 1985 Sunny my parents had back then.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes, there's quite a bit of Sunny in the side profile in particular

[@irfandin6513]

Brilliant video. I remember these proton cars being taxi cars, very popular with taxi drivers. I owned a 52 plate proton Impian very good reliable car. It's a shame proton cars have left the UK Market.

[@pragasamsupiahs8419]

Yes sir,the company doesn't export the cars to UK anymore,as the company was mismanaged, Quality of the later rebadged models very bad ,sales went down then, Malaysians switched to another another Brand Perodua a new joint venture company between Daihatsu of Japan.😊

[@michaelkeen5010]

Reminds me of my 1976 Polo N I bought new, where the passenger sun visor was an option. Otherwise the car was fabulous with the 895cc engine. I went on to have a further 3 of these over 4 years as the base spec improved to include passenger sun visor, reversing lights and rear wash/wipe.

[@adelaideautowashes]

These were called the Proton MPi in the UK.

[@vergildante0196]

man i really love the interior design

[@hitechinc.7875]

My father bought the Proton Saga Iswara 2004 edition. Its like the old model. Just some minor changes like adding a digital clock and lights at the driver's displays. The air-conditioning got more settings to it like temperature and speed. Driver and the left passenger windows(just the front though)are now have switches.

[@roadtripboy]

I had a 1987 Dodge Colt that plug in the console is where the controls for the electric side mirrors lived. I always thought it was an odd place to put it.

[@astrarepairs7783]

when i was younger i always wanted the lotus proton it was a stunning looking car

[@ADFaried]

I'm a young generation, but reading your cooment sends up chills in me, could really feels the dreams built up everytime looking at the "gorgeous" car. The feel is real, and it's gold for sure

[@joaofarinha7953]

Apart from maybe power steering, you have got everything you need! Great video 👍

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Thanks 👍

[@scrappedcars]

amazing cars

[@jzt81]

At 11min55sec, the blanking plate beside the handbrake is where the electric mirror controls would go.

[@elvetwilliams9013]

Loved to see a proton again … I went to test drive one when they had just launched wanted something a bit bigger than my early mk2 fiesta 1.3 Ghia - however much as I liked it , hatchback I drove GL aerodeck not base spec ) they wouldn’t give me enough as trade jn .. ended up buying a used cavalier 1.8i CD in Helios blue 5 door A friend of mine bought a GE saloon new from a Somerset dealer I had few trips in it with her, forgot just how basic the GE spec was.. hers was not even metallic a solid “flame” red

[@shahiezam1976]

This car is a really a work horse. Robust and reliable in my opinion. I own 2 of them. A manual 1.3 and a auto 1.5.

[@BretFrohwein]

Those Switches for the lights and the wipers remind me of the early 1980's Subaru's

[@wafiydanish8052]

Malaysian people proton love especially man n women car uk spec n mlaysian/Japanese spec

[@hydeejoeses]

My dad owned a Saga Iswara 1.3 S(base model) back then...but he already sold it in 2019...so sad😢😢😢

[@darrenwilson8042]

when Chris Goffey reviewed the Proton on TG those wells at the side of the boot were full of water where the boot rubbers were leaking

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Eek! Didn't know that

[@fulwell1]

Fairly sure that the 1.5 version was a relative of the engine used in the first Hyundai Lantra..

[@garywinterbottom6073]

Back in late 90s when i was out and about on the nightclubs scene a taxi driver had one of these and he said they had a Mitsubishi motor in them and he said it never missed a beat and had 180+k on it.😊

[@darrenwilson8042]

when I lived in Southbourne I remember a dealership there moving from Lada to Proton and I think they became the top selling Proton dealer in the UK in short order ( elderly retired clientele more interested in price of course ) and I met a mini-cabbie in Weymouth who had one that had done 330k and he sold it to a mate to use as a mini-cab whilst he upgraded to a newer one with about 150k on the odometer ......... not classy but bloody reliable if looked after

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Wow, that a huge amount of miles. Definitely shows the reliability

[@CarromMalaysia]

Ayah saya ada satu Proton Saga Iswara Aeroback

[@DJHayes100]

I remember the garage that sold that car. Sadly no longer there. Do you have a new Volvo daily? I’m sure I’ve seen a xc60 in the background of your videos. Also love your channel your 2 fiestas are my favourite cars you have

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes, very well spotted! I bought an XC60 a couple of months ago. I should probably do a video on it!

[@HWChow-ze8vj]

Hi, how much was that car you purchased in 1994 ?

[@ashraff_khan]

Great beater car

[@user-xs3lb8zz7f]

The owner surely wouldn't mind you borrowing the car a little bit longer in this heatwave.

[@owensteele1645]

Did this example have the loud high-pitched warning buzzer that would sound when you put the key in the ignition with the door open? Or did you have to buy the GL to get that? Gavin from the Petrolblog channel owned a same-age posh 1.5 SE Aeroback with the buzzer, and it really annoyed him in a quite recent video when he was trying to sell it.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

No I’m sure I left the key in a few times and definitely never heard a buzzer. Must be a posh model thing !

[@owensteele1645]

@@MorselsAndMotors Fair enough. You would know about it, if you heard it. :)

[@JonCoupland]

@@MorselsAndMotors I disconnected it!

[@riconumerik3962]

Satellite pods 😍

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Soooooo amazing!

[@wafiydanish8052]

Tq sir

[@CreRay]

14:25 Were you joking about the warning thingy? Ofcourse it's the hazard flashers warning light. Otherwise it seems very much like the 1983 model Mitsubishi Lancer (the 4-door Colt), upgraded in some areas, such as the fuel injection on the engine, and downgraded in some other areas (insulation!) to keep the price down. Except for the 5-speed gearbox, the standard equipment seems identical to the 1985 Colt base model, the "EL". I'd take it any day over a Lada!

[@alsharifbinedi9560]

Proton Iswara Car is made in malaysia 🚘🚗🇲🇾⛽💰💲🌜👍👍

[@ladam2356]

Lagend car long lasting

[@gerardnieborg]

Really reminds me of a Peugeot 309 (not a bad thing at all)

[@abubakarmohdhemily4599]

In malaysia crome lining...

[@Worstenboer]

Is this the golf ball car from the Mr. Bean episode?

[@pizzalover3]

Fun fact, Lincolnshire Police used the later Proton Wiras with LPG conversions.

[@JonCoupland]

Humberside :) - not Lincs :)

[@ladam2356]

Lagend car

[@Dick-Dastardly]

Interesting and enjoyable viewing. I think this Proton model has a look of a similar age Rover R8 200.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes I can see where you see that. I also see some Renault 21

[@Dick-Dastardly]

Yes, now you mention it Renault 21

[@stuartsaunders4518]

I do like your shirt where did you get it ?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Hehe thank you! It's a Ted Baker one, which I actually got from a charity shop in Ely

[@shafiewawok2182]

T.q sir

[@NielsPaul]

No passenger wing mirror in 1994? Interesting how legislation still allowed for it at that point of time.

[@BungleBare]

You basically need two rear view mirrors, one of which has to be the driver’s door/wing mirror. The rule basically allows for vans with no rear windows (but two door/wing mirrors) but was used by some manufacturers to pare the spec of their base model cars to the absolute minimum - see also Popular spec Fords, and City-spec Austin-Rover products from the ‘80s, amongst others.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Absolutely right

[@hhgttg69]

i'm shocked you didn't borrow one from Jon Coupland,.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Haha, this car used to belong to him!

[@JonCoupland]

This was one I rescued last year. I spent a long time getting it back to fine fettle. All the decals and stickers on the car are replicas I installed along with the RAC tax disc holder and disc. The new owner is a fantastic owner for it and really really appreciated being able to buy it. It's one I'd have kept if I could. But ... Can't keep them all Saying that ... Come and drive the 94 SE I daily and compare the two! It's a different world

[@apathynoir]

What happens when you roll up the windows and turn on the ac? Not so cheap and cheerful I guess. :)

[@aslandama]

Odd and quirky, but a cool car I think.

[@terryatkinson3182]

These were laughed at back in the day, .more fool us, me included. Don't think we got them in Ireland 🤔

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yup, I agree. I totally dismissed them, but they were an important part of the motoring landscape

[@markosejic7383]

Mitsubishi Inside

[@wahyuhalique7641]

🇲🇾

[@akurien3443]

Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore.

[@bebeboo8108]

Rare car..limited edition car..

[@ahmadmazlan5797]

kereta lasak ni😮

[@bobbravo6206]

Made in malaysia

[@raufsahin334]

🤣🤣😘😎

[@josephbidon4333]

This is a sarcastic video...isn't it?

[@johnalchabell2675]

if u drive the power steering version trust me u will like it even more for how easy it is to be driven..

[@mtm81official98]

sorry because the car is not comparable to western models.we market products for people who can't afford it. and those who want to save money. can use our product cars.🙏