I received my Proton Waja in August 2001 after a six months' wait. I was looking forward to an enjoyable drive to and from work for the next few years before I retire. But was I dead wrong!

In the first week, I found the wheels wobble whenever the speedometer exceeded 80kph. At the first 1,000km service, I complained to the EON service centre in Glenmarie. After leaving the car overnight, the service executive told me ' semua sudah check encik , everything OK!"

The next day, on my way to work, I discovered the wobbling was still there. As I needed the car for work, I have to wait for my next 5,000km service to lodge another complaint, even though it meant that I had to be careful not to exceed the 80kph limit. After the second service, another service executive told me, "OK, encik, sudah check dan test drive semua OK, nothing wrong with the wheel, maybe it's the tyres, please check with Sime tyres."

The next day I went to Sime Tyres in Jalan Tandang and lodged a complaint. After forwarding the suggestion made by the EON service executive, the people at Sime Tyres were kind enough to attend to my complaint and without much question directed me to his agent in Section 20, Subang Jaya to get two new replacement tyres for free!

Unfortunately, I discovered the wobbling persisted. I thought to myself: "If it's not the tyres then it must be the wheels!". (I pity Sime Tyres for taking the blame for Proton's lack of quality control and disposing two new tyres for free). Two days later, I took my car to a tyre service centre in Subang Jaya.

The 'trained by experience' mechanic took a look at both the front wheels and check for any deformation. Sure enough, at first glance he told me the wheels were deformed. Immediately the mechanic dismantled my two front wheels for repair and put two temporary wheels so that I don't have to leave my car behind. The next day, the mechanic took me for a test drive and walla! the wobbling was gone.

For EON/Proton, to supply a new car with a deformed wheel is bad enough but being unable to detect the problem when I sent the car twice for servicing is something that is unacceptable.

After driving the same car for two years I found it has never given me a peace of mind. The 'search' and 'volume' button on the steering wheel is easily broken and so far I have to replace them twice.

The digital clock was never accurate. In one week, the clock differed by 10 minutes. Didn't Proton check or calibrate the equipment before installation? As the clock comes together with the odometer, once it was replaced, the speedometer will begin from '0' again. Now my odometer reads 36,000km when the car has actually done 50,000km.

On the third service, I requested EON to change the reading light bulb. For that simple job, the mechanic broke the whole plastic bracket and did not bother to inform me. I only realised that the bracket was broken when I was cleaning the car at home.

The Waja also comes with a flimsy door handle. So far I have changed three door handles. Of course, these parts replacement are done under warranty but what about the time wasted to get the replacement done, the waiting time for parts, and the time I was deprive of using my car?

Now I have a new problem. The alarm triggers itself at very odd times. Again when I visited the EON service centre, the same answer was given " Sudah check , encik ... tak de apa-apa masaalah '. Even after taking the car to an EON agent in Bandar Baru Bangi, the problem persisted. To avoid further hassle and after considering the likelihood that EON will not be able to rectify the problem, I have decided to use a steering lock instead.

EON and Proton cannot be global players when even small problems like those I am facing cannot be fixed. And please, don't blame your parts vendors.

By the way, I drive a Proton not by choice... It is a company car. I have another imported 'reconditioned' car manufactured in 1997 and thank God, after driving it for the last three years, the only problem I have faced so far (other than normal wear and tear) is when the radiator stopper broke and that costed RM2 to replace!