Crapwagon Outtake: The Malaysian Accord

by Derek Kreindler

November 6th, 2014 10:02 AM

The last time we heard about Proton, our own Jack Baruth was flying nearly 23,000 miles to go drive a diminutive, Mitsubishi-based Proton hatchback in a Malaysian time-trial series. Proton may be best associated with their Mitsubishi partnership, but the two parties went their separate ways long ago.Today’s news bulletins saw Proton and Honda announce a possible partnership. What this means is that Honda vehicles would be assembled in Malaysian by the state-owned auto maker and sold at rock bottom prices, free of the onerous levies that “imported” cars face in the country.But if you’re a Malaysian civil servant, you don’t have to wait. The Proton Perdana is a last-generation Accord that is available only to government bigwigs. The Malaysian Prime Minister is chauffeured around in a long-wheelbase version.Government officials get to enjoy 2.0L and 2.4L engines, which are positively enormous by Malaysia’s taxation standards. When the car is approved for sale to the general public, it will likely have to make due with smaller displacement units designed by Petronas, Malaysia’s state energy company.

#Honda #HondaAccord #Malaysia #Proton #ProtonPerdana

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13 of 32 comments

Volt 230 on Nov 06, 2014

Hate to bring bad news to you fellers, but in most of those countries, regular folk get to ride scooters, only "middle class" get to have more than 2 wheels.

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- TMA1 on Nov 06, 2014
  
  True. I haven't been to Malaysia, but in Thailand, right next door, the most popular cars are B-class cars like the Fiesta and the Mazda2. Not Accord-sized sedans. And Thailand is a wealthier country than Malaysia.
  
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- Marcelo de Vasconcellos on Nov 06, 2014
  
  @TMA1 And Brazil is wealthier than either, but here the Fiesta is a premium offering. Non too worried about that.
  
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TMA1 on Nov 06, 2014

The stupid thing about this is, Thailand also makes American-style Accords, and it's right next door. Thai cars are apparently good enough to be sold in the US by Ford and Mitsubishi, but Malaysians would rather have a product from an industry just getting off the ground.

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- Corey Lewis on Nov 06, 2014
  
  So you must have skipped over reading the bit about the fees/taxes imposed upon imported goods?
  
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- 28-Cars-Later on Nov 06, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis I've only read a bit about Proton but it strikes me as the next Holden in that its existence is heavily supported by import tarrifs.
  
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- TMA1 on Nov 06, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis Sure didn't! Which is precisely my point: they seem happier taxing themselves out of the opportunity to purchase superior goods. Sometimes fair and free trade is the better plan.
  
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- Corey Lewis on Nov 06, 2014
  
  @TMA1 Look at you with your crazy small government ideas!
  
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- TMA1 on Nov 06, 2014
  
  @Corey Lewis I'm as shocked as you are, because I don't like to get political in car forums. Just trying to put myself in their place, I would rather have a Thai Accord than a Malaysian one. Even corrupt officials should be able to get behind that, because they'll get chauffeured around in a nicer car.
  
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Cartunez on Nov 06, 2014

A stretch accord might be interesting.

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- FreedMike on Nov 06, 2014
  
  It's coming with length!
  
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- TMA1 on Nov 06, 2014
  
  @FreedMike I have a feeling Cadillac's never going to live that motto down.
  
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Brunsworks on Nov 09, 2014

Earth's circumference is approximately 24,900 miles depending on where it is measured. If Jack Baruth flew nearly 23,000 miles, he should get a new travel agent.

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