PROTON HAS ANNOUNCED that it will launch its S16 small sedan here on December 1, at a cost of just $11,990 drive away. This will make it the cheapest car in the Australian market.

A base price of under $13,000 was originally postulated by Proton, however favourable exchange rates, thanks to a high Aussie dollar, have enabled the Malaysian manufacturer to trim the entry price even further.

The S16 will initially be available only in base GX manual form, with the GX auto joining it in February 2010. However, don't expect the $11,990 price-tag to last: the S16 range will be updated in July next year, with GX models gaining more equipment and an upper-spec GXR model being added to the range.

The S16 will be powered by an 82kW 1.6 litre petrol four-cylinder engine which Proton claims consumes just 6.3 litres of fuel per 100km on the combined cycle.

Air conditioning, power steering, remote central locking and a driver's airbag will be offered on the GX, and all S16 models boast a sizable 413 litre boot volume

Dual Airbags and ABS won't be offered as standard equipment on the S16 GX, but will make it onto the GXR's standard spec sheet. The GXR will also get alloy wheels, foglamps and reverse parking sensors.

Full specifications and pricing for the S16 range will be released at the car's launch on December 1.

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• reply ” like !

  

  Andy Wana says,
  4 years ago

  "A base model price of under $13,000 was originally postulated by Proton, however favourable exchange rates mean the Indonesian manufacturer will be able to offer the S16 here at a price well below that of any other production car."
  
  Just clarifying that Proton is Malaysian, not Indonesian. =)
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  Edd says,
  4 years ago

  Indonesian????
  
  Cmon guys PROTON is Malaysian Not Indonesian they both different country????????
  
  This will be 1/2 Star safety rating out of possible 5
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  FrugalOne says,
  4 years ago

  Good car, bad car, NO idea
  
  Simply a AMAZING price for a car, and driveaway at that.
  
  THOUSANDS cheaper than anything else, why by worn 2nd. hand rubbish?
  
  Cheers
  
  F-0
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  D says,
  4 years ago

  What a death trap.
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  daviepops says,
  4 years ago

  No thanks ... not at any price !!!
  
  Seriously why do Proton continue trying to sell third rate vehicles in Australia ... bringing in yet another model at bottom of the market prices will just prolong the painful failures of their other cheap and nasty offerings.
  
  PS ... resale value ZERO
  • reply ” like !

    

    Vincent says,
    3 months ago

    I don't think YOU KNOW what you're talking about. In 1998 I bought a Persona and kept it for 12 years. It gave me a lot of pleasure in driving it and was reliable and secure on the road and it was still in good condition when I replaced it for the S16. Must admit it's not as good but for the price it's good enough. My vote from 1 to 10: 8+ for Proton
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  marto says,
  4 years ago

  At that price I wouldn't care if it was worth nothing when I was done with it. I think this car is awesome and hopefully a shake up for other overpriced rubbish - I'm looking at you Holden/Ford.
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  dank54 says,
  4 years ago

  Talking about overpriced why not throw in Euro trash box's. Atleast Holdens and Fords are cheap to repair. This proton couldn't possibly be more unreliable than say a Golf or an A4.....(Mechanic's point of view)
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  Shifter says,
  4 years ago

  you get what you pay for Marto, test drive and compare to other cars available and you will see why it's cheap. Why compromise on safety, this thing would be worse than a piece of tin foil in a crash and would probably rattle apart on our crap roads.
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  Ouch says,
  4 years ago

  $11,990, about the price of a funeral. Can't wait to see the ANCAP rating on this - I wonder if it's possible to get a minus star-rating?
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  Jimmy says,
  4 years ago

  Piece of rubbish. Even though it is Australia's cheapest car, it's overpriced. This car is a waste of time. Buy a second hand golf for $12,000 before you even consider a Proton.
  
  That typo was an insult to Indonesians.
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  Adam says,
  4 years ago

  Some of these comments make me laugh:
  - resale value.. of course it'll be zero, those who buy this car know this and don't give a rat's about resale value .. it's a no BS A-B car, fullstop.
  - safety .. don't drive like an idiot and you won't need ABS and the passenger airbag .. besides, those who buy a small car are usually driving with no pax anyway. As for the car rattling to bits on our roads .. reality check: go to europe and see the condition of roads over there, expecially outside of the cities, then you won't be mocking Aus's nice, smooth, wide open roads.
  
  I think this is a great car and definately better than anything similar, such as the getz or barina - I'd rather walk than drive those again!
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  dank54 says,
  4 years ago

  Baaahhhhaahh, second hand Golf..........Jimmy you are funny. They are bad enough new little lone second hand....
  Everybody bagged the Hyundi Excel when it came out also. My wife has a 99 Excel which she purchased new. It has now done 130000klm and has had one coilpack fail ($70)......thats it....and im not joking (Apart from regular servicing).
  Show me one volkswagen, audi, saab, citroen, renault and for that matter ford or holden with a history like that and Ill eat my computer monitor.
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  Peter says,
  4 years ago

  Hey mate excels just suck... dont bring them into it. Well look if you by german, like a golf aim sure the drive, ride and quality will far out weigh this car.. so to will its resale value. If Golfs are so crappyy why do they have such great resale values?? I hit an excel in my last car, a 98 model corolla and jeez their goes that excel, beaver pannel bent, back seats were bent, cause the enitre floor plate was screwed, the corolla only needed a new radiator support, so ppl buy for what you pay. This is going to be like the excel of 2009, if the getz isnt already
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  Melanie says,
  4 years ago

  We have a 1999 Proton Satria (manual hatch) and while of course it's not 5 star luxury, it has done the job and still going. You can't expect to get as much out of a car this cheap, they are literally disposable cars, but then so often you hear that people who pay $40k+ for a "quality" vehicle, have nothing but trouble, all too often with those extra bells and whistles they paid so much for, and are still paying for no doubt! There is always someone who has a lemon and someone who had the one off that runs for the next 20+ years, no matter what the brand. Don't forget too, in the past decades, Toyota was considered "Jap Crap" and given a wide berth. Now Toyota is the go-to brand for quality, reliable cars. I think as long as you are sensible, weigh up the pros and cons and realise that you aren't buying a BMW, there is no loss of sleep over what you are getting for the dollars spent. I think judgement should be reserved until the ANCAP safety rating and the overall feel of the drive can be evaluated and taken into consideration as well.
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  Fraz006 says,
  3 years ago

  i own one. reliable car. malaysians can only get 1.3. i can say, i pay less, bt i get more. suspension n handling by lotus. low rev sucks but mid to high rpm is amazing, i think not a problem for 1.6. one year of owning, no problem at all. 28L can go 400km. yes, the price is cheap doesnt mean every safety aspect was not considered at all.they can come out with such price bcause parts are manufactured locally. compare it with getz, aveo. S16 surely won.
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  Vincent says,
  3 years ago

  I want to put my two bob in this!...... I've owned a Persona since 1998 and clocked over 265,000 trouble free Kilometers and my mechanic tells me I have a jewel in my hands. Because I'm a happy Proton driver, in March I intend to get the new S16 and have a few more enjoyable years of driving.
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  kevic says,
  3 years ago

  well we bought one 1 week ago tommorow 21/01/2010. Traded in a 2000xc barina 5 door with 76000k on clock with rego due and tyres due .Was a $8,000 changeover for a new car ,12mnt rego, The car will do about 2-300ks a month . It has more room than a barina or getz or most other small hatches . Services are first at 1 month as per usual then 12mnths or 15000km. Warranty is 3yrs or unlimited k.Now i fully expect to get nothing for this car at trade in but for the price and the limited amount of km it will do why is this car so bad for my circumstances. Horses for courses or is it a car built in asia is *** thing before you even try it ?
• reply ” like !

  says,
  3 years ago

  1 like

  Your attached image is pending approval.

  i own a 2010 proton s 16 gx, i payed $15.000 , i like the car it has a lot of grunt and looks unek,i test drived the new barina and getz but the proton sh,t all over them for price and power, people go on about proton safety rating if you have a smash doing 80 in any car you will be f, cked if you drive like a f,ckwit you will be f,cked in any car, from the,STICKMAN