Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution v 1998 - 1999 sedan

On the way to developed automotive industry

Today you just hear: screwdriver assembly, local components, foreign investments ... What threatens all of us with you, we decided to find out on the example of two licensing products. Doninvest Assol recently began to be released in Russia, and Proton Persona is done in solar Malaysia, which, like our homeland, is difficult to call an advanced automobile power.
The basis for protons was the previous generation Mitsubishi Lancer, and mysterious Assol is nothing more than Daewoo Lanos. The Malays worked on the appearance of their person, so the car looks quite modern, and you can find out in the old Lancer model only by the general proportions of the body, and by some details like door handles. Assol, on the contrary, is one in one Daewoo Lanos, and you can distinguish them only by name signs. Yes, and it would be funny to change the design of a completely fresh Lanos model debut only last year.
In technical terms, both machines are quite ordinary, which is not surprising to take on the production of advanced cars in technically backward countries. But for us and this is a noticeable progress in comparison with the products of our native auto industry. The differences between Assol and Persona are generally reduced to privacy. So, for example, Proton boasts the rear multi -link suspension, but at the same time Malays has only three steps in an automatic gearbox, while the assault row is four -speed.
Surprisingly, the quality of manufacture turned out to be better in the Russian assault. Although small flaws can be found in one and another car, Proton is assembled a little more carelessly. First of all, this is noticeable in rather large and not everywhere uniform gaps between body panels. But still the quality category is quite relative. The above is true if you compare the person and Assol with foreign cars (which, in our opinion, is quite logical). But next to any creation of indigenous Russian manufacturers, both cars look a head higher. Moreover, in any nomination, be it design, technical perfection, quality or level of equipment.
With almost the same cost of about $ 13.5 thousand. The cars we tested turned out to be very well equipped. The Proton, although it was not equipped with air conditioning, but had a hydraulic power pillow, a pillow of safety, immobilizer, electric windows in the front doors, a radio (though very simple), not to mention the central castle, it seems to be granted. The equipment of the Doninvestovsky brainchild is more logical and made specially in the calculation for operating conditions in Russia. There is an air conditioner here, without which many no longer think of driving in the summer, heated external mirrors, electrified windows in all doors and an automatic antenna, which is removed when the radio or ignition is turned off, becoming inaccessible to the vandals. They also did not forget about the central castle and hydraulic power, and due to the variable performance, the amplifier weakens its grip with increasing speed.
By the convenience of planting the driver and passengers, both cars are also approximately equal. The slightly smaller supply of space above the head is compensated in the proton by the position of driver's seat that changing in height. In Assoli, two traditional adjustments of the front seats are quite enough, and besides, the right external mirror is tuned with an electric drive.
In both machines, the three of them are already cramped at the back, but two places are enough in width and in the space of the legs. Oddly enough, but to fold the back of the rear seat to increase the volume of trunk in any of the models under consideration. The trunk of the proton itself is noticeably larger. In Assoli, which has a lower overall length, size the trunk sacrificed the comfort of passengers. But this sacrifice is not so great a tiny cargo compartment still cannot be called.
The differences in behavior on the go are fully consistent with the design features of the machines. Proton holds the way perfectly and passes turns. Its simple three -speed automatic gearbox is harsh, but responsive. With intensive acceleration, jerks are felt during switching, but when the kik dowan is triggered, the machine will be eagerly jumping down without delay. But still this unit adds as many as three seconds when accelerating to 100 km/h to the result of the same proton with a manual box. Muchno.
On Assoli, the automatic box is a little more thoughtful when switching, but it behaves more delicately, without noticeable jerks. In general, this machine is perceived as a mocoretable of an opponent, due to a softer suspension. In terms of controllability of serious flaws, the car was not found in the car, and to the best of a tight steering wheel due to good feedback, it is very convenient to move. Naturally, twist during parking it is much easier than on the go.
The overall impression both models left good cars quite at the level of their competitors. So the choice will be most likely determined by price. Assoli, the production of which has just begun and has not yet reached the project level, has significant reserves in reducing the cost. This cannot be said about Proton Persona, and here everything is in the hands of manufacturers and sellers. Moreover, the prices for the new Mitsubishi Lancer are now just not much higher than for Persona.
 
Alexander Kalugin
Photo by Vasily Shaposhnikov
 

A source: Cars