What handles decently well and is under RM50,000? The Proton Iriz these days.

I was at the Giant Mall in Kelana Jaya and the Proton dealership there is offering the Proton Iriz with a discount of up to RM9,268 (T&C applies obviously). This has to be the fully loaded 1.6 CVT Automatic or the 1.6 Manual. I checked the online adverts for the car and yes, you can get a full monty Iriz for under RM50,000. Compare this with the retail price of RM61,691.31 / Solid CVT or RM58,815.04 / Solid Manual. 

Now the 1.6 Iriz is the ONLY Iriz worth to buy simply because of the performance it gives you. It's engine works better with the CVT and the extra power helps make it so much better to drive. The wider tyres also help the car alot. I have driven both the 1.3 and the 1.6, so I can safely say that until the 1.3 turbo version that supposedly will come with an upgraded manual gear shift, this 1.6 is the one to get. Manual or Automatic. The link to the Iriz 1.6 CVT is here and in there is a link to the Iriz 1.3 Manual.

Why am I suggesting this car? Hello...It is RM50,000. What else can you get that is new, drives decently well, is cheap to maintain (no turbocharger to go wrong and being a Proton, it is even cheaper to maintain than a Perodua) with the exception of an aging engine setup that is coarse and rough with a CVT that likes to hold 5,000rpm if you're gunning it. This isn't a nice feeling if there's no power there. So a 1.6 IS the version to get as it has the biggest engine in an Iriz. Less strain means it will work less hard than the 1.3 and therefore make less noise overall. Being the full specced car, it would also be very well equipped. Proton, when they first sold this car gave it all sorts of equipment. More than most wold give at this price range. 

So yes, you can buy this car for its price. It is less common than the Perodua Myvi and sometimes being a little bit less popular is a good thing. Your other option is the Great Wall Haval M4. That is selling from RM53,000 to RM62,000 or thereabouts. This is a mini SUV and the only mini SUV in the category. It handles well and it is refined to drive (the ride is nice and comfy), but it only has a 1.5liter engine that is adequate to lug it around (1,300kg ...whaddya expect from a mini SUV. It's not about speed and performance here but looks, height and added versatility). But if you want to drive really fast round bends, the Iriz is the one to get. 1.6liter engine in the Iriz makes 108hp and it weighs 1165kg. A Myvi 1.5 weighs in at around 1,000kg and makes 102hp but with less torque. 136 over 150nm in the Iriz. But the Iriz handles better than the Myvi 1.5. So there.

Now factor in that RM9,000 discount for the Iriz and you're getting a fully loaded 1.6liter car at RM50,000 the Iriz is a good buy. Go look at it. Heck. At under RM50,000 you still want to be prejudical? Hello, beggars shouldn't be choosers. When you have the budget for a better car, then only you should be a car snob. Till then. Have a look at this massively discounted Proton.