Proton Satria GTi offers a lot of driving enjoyment at a moderate price.
Proton Satria GTi is one of our favourite cars when it comes to having affordable fun behind the steering wheel. Point it at a winding road and its handling is ready, willing and able to offer plenty of grip, good precision and plenty of feedback. All this thanks to the genius of British sportscar maker Lotus which revamped the original Malaysian/Japanese design of the Satria’s suspension.
It should be said that the Satria GTi is a little on the crude side, mainly because it’s an old design, but that actually adds character in the minds of many driving enthusiasts. But if you like comfortable, quiet cruising this probably isn’t the car for you. Because of the age of the design you get the bonus of a low price of just $27,990.
Proton has just imported some special edition Satria GTi cars to Australia. Though they don’t get any more power, they receive uprated brakes with cross-drilled and slotted discs so you will be able to do point-to-point trips in shorter times.
The Satria GTi LE also receives a full-leather interior for that upmarket British sportscar look. Well, if you use a bit of imagination that is!
Those of you that find the standard Satria GTi somewhat over the top in its body kit should look elsewhere. Never a company to be subtle, Proton has excelled itself by adding yet another spoiler, this time just below the rear window. There are also badges to proclaim this is a special model.
The Proton Satria GTi LE package is said to add around $3500 worth of extra equipment, but Proton in Australia is offering it for only $1500 over the normal retail price. Thus you pay $29,490, plus on-road costs, to put one in your garage. A real bargain to our way of thinking. Only 20 of these hot little three-door hatches are coming to Australia so it might be smart to move quickly.
