Owner Review: Worth it, with lots of modification options - My 2013 Proton Inspira 2.0P

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Basic information

2013 Proton Inspira  2.0P.

Reasons why I bought this car

I need a new car.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM100,000.00

• Models that I have considered include: Mazda3 1.6, Toyota Caldina (recond), Toyota Corolla 1.8

The reason why I choose this car

• I went to a Mazda dealership after work waering my factory outfit (baju kilang) and the sales agent did not layan me at all. Maybe he thought that I have no money so I left. Don't want a Mazda car anymore.
• It is within my budget.
• It is the cheapest brand new 2.0L car at that time.

My dad bought the same model 6 month earlier so I already know how good it is.

• It comes with an automatic headlight and automatic wiper.
• Even though the badge says it is a Proton, Inside it is all Mitsubishi.
• Handling is very good.
• It is a handsome car.
• Maybe I can modified it to look like an Evo X later.

User experience

• I have already done 133000 km. 

I have a lot of thoughts because I've been using this car for 8 years. Let me separate it in few sections.

Engine:
It is a very good engine and paired with the CVT gearbox, it is much batter. I did not drive fast unless it is necessary so I did not feel any deterioration on the power over the years because the engine and all the mechanical parts are still okay. I change the engine oil on time and I used the recommended engine oil. Lucky for me, I did not encounter any major issues until now but some of my friends who also used an Inspira told me that they have encountered a lot of issues related to the engine for example the belt tensioner, alternator, compressor and water pump. Lets put it this way, I know how fast they drive and for them, driving fast is normal. That is why the mechanical parts fail. They did not realize that mechanical parts have limitations. If you drive like mad all the time, of course the mechanical parts did not last very long. And these parts are not cheap so drive slowly to save your money.

Gearbox:
The CVT gearbox is an amazing gearbox. It is very advance, it has no jerking during gear change and it also have a good fuel consumption. Yes, the whining sound is still there but very little and not as bad as the one in the other Proton car because this gearbox is supplied by Jatco and not by Punch. The CVT gearbox is also prone to heat. If the car is driven fast for too long, the gearbox can overheat and the 'Slowdown' symbol will appear on the dashboard. Once you see this, it is time to slow down or stop for a while to let it cool down. If this happens for few times, the gearbox could be damage. To repair and to get a new set of gearbox is not cheap. So drive slowly is still the best way to do it. Lucky for me, I never encounter the 'Slowdown' symbol appeared. 

Exterior:
It is already as handsome as it is but temptations to modify it is very high. When I went to a car meet and seen all my friend's car, I got jealous. I admit that once I've thought of changing the appearance to an Evo X body kit but luckily I've come to my senses at that time so I keep it original until now. I even almost bought a very expensive Evo X original BBS rims but luckily it did not happen as well because when I check my bank account, I only have budget to buy a Taiwan rims. So, Taiwan rims je lah. I also add an original spoiler taken from a Mitsubishi Lancer GT.

Interior:
I bought the 2.0P so it comes with a leather trim and also a touchscreen infotainment system. The leather is very nice but my car is parked mostly under direct sunlight so it has shown its age. The original infotainment system comes with a GPS function which is very helpful but unfortunately the infotainment system did not last long and I've changed to a new one. Lucky for me, the interior did not have any rattling sound at all except from the new infotainment system because it wasn't mounted properly by the accessories shop.  It is quite annoying though but when I turn on the radio, it blends with the music so it is okay. I regret going to that accessories shop and will never go there again. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Good handling. It is much better after I change the coil to the R3 coil.  
• Low fuel consumption because of the CVT.  
• Peppy engine and CVT.
• Auto headlight and auto wiper function.
• Spacious cabin and boot.
• A lot of spare parts.
• A lot of modification options.
• Originally, no rattling noise but one rattling noise appear after I change the infotainment system unit. Sighhh!!

Cons

• NVH is on par. Not so good and not so bad.
• Sometimes whining sound from the CVT can be heard.
• The original speaker is rubbish so I change it to the Rockford & Fosgate speaker taken from an Evo X halfcut.
• The side mirror did not have an auto flip function.
• I don't like the design of the muffler.
•  No automatic door lock.
• No start/stop button
• No keyless entry

Ratings

• Performance : 4
• Quality and Features : 4
• Space : 4
• Ride Comfort : 4
• Fuel Economy : 3
• Price and Cost : 5
• Total Score : 5

Summary

I really like my car and I did not plan to sell it anytime soon. Even though it is not a perfect car, it is good enough for me. For a car with the price below RM100,000 brand new, it is worth it. I've been using it for 8 years now and I still think that it is a handsome car compared to some of the latest car on the market. If anybody would like to buy a second hand Inspira, I'd say just go for it but please try to buy from a single owner. If buy from a second hand dealer, make sure to do an inspection first before buying or you might regret it. Also, please avoid buying an Inspira that is previously owned by Spanco. 

Interesting events

After owning the car for a few month, me and my buddies went for a road trip to Krabi, Thailand and I drove my car all the way through and flow. The other car that join the road trip was also an Inspira but it is the 1.8L. In total, we drove about 1,800km. It is a really great moment because I get to know more about my car during the trip. My buddies also like the car especially the spacious cabin and the spacious boot. One thing that I noticed during the trip is the seat is so comfortable even though during a long trip. The seat is a bit hard but it becomes more comfortable the longer I sit on it. The semi bucket design helps a lot too. 

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