Q's about VX model differences

[Cobrajet]

Though there is a widespread condition in the VX community known as "Proton Envy", it is also well known that the black ones are the coolest... and the fastest!

I was lucky enough to get one of the last new Proton's available. I actually went to look at a '99 Ironman, but mentioned to the salesman that I REALLY wanted a Proton. They had one sitting on the showroom floor, and the first time I saw it I knew it had to be mine...regardless of price.

If you want a Proton...get a Proton. A repaint and color change usually decreases the resale value of a vehicle. The small price difference you pay now will recoup itself in the near future. Besides, you would be depriving a future Ebony owner.

[Chopper]

I'd buy the Black one but, yellow is choice two. Forget the respray, buy the one in the best overall condition, all the color choices are fine, you can hardly see the color from behind the wheel.

[VehiGAZ]

Ditto, ditto, ditto! Chopper is in auto body repair - listen to him, please! Buy the color you want - don't try to repaint. It will cost thousands to do it right, or look like junk if you do it on the cheap.

Despite their presumed rarity, VXs are widely available on the used car market, and you will find a Proton in a couple months tops if you have the patience to wait for what you really want. As tough as it may be to shop without results (I've been looking for the right Porsche 928 for over a year), just remember that you will be owning and driving the product of your search much, much longer than you will have spent shopping for it. Better to be annoyed now than annoyed at your decision for the next 5 years.

Yeah, beyond that, all new VX's were pretty much the same except for the differences Triathelete listed above, although there a lot of modifications people do to them, so you might see some additional differences between cars for sale now.

Good luck!!

[johnnyapollo]

I've been thinking that someday I'll need to repaint my Proton - from all the paint chips, small dents, etc - there's a technique of adding crushed glass to the paint that gives it this almost metal super-brilliant look. Probably outrageously expensive and a few years down the road.

The underlying sheet metal is zinc coated, stamped steel. The zinc coating was something Isuzu touted as a rust inhibitor - I haven't heard about any differences in doing paint or body work to it - it's not the same as galvanized (which does release some nasty gasses when welded).

-- John

[thedutchguy]

BUY A 2001 MODEL !
(it's the most developed)