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Proton Jumbuck – Long Term Conclusion

Matt Brogan — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:27:57 +0000

After four months here at the CarAdvice office it’s time to say goodbye to our long term bargain basement ute, the Proton Jumbuck.

Following a raft of duties, and in excess of 7000kms of driving, the little lugger returned trouble free motoring with a couple of plastic rattles the only issues of any note.

The half-tonner put up a good fight in terms of handling and performance – all things considered – even managing to provide an acceptable ride once a little weight was spread over the leaf sprung rear.

Although to some Jumbuck is a case of “getting what you pay for”, in our opinion the amount of ute on offer is actually pretty good considering just how cheaply you can get one of these on the road – though we should point out Jumbuck did score a one-star ANCAP rating during recent tests.

Proton have a new Jumbuck in the pipeline with a delivery date rumoured to be sometime within the first-quarter of 2010. CarAdvice will be sure to keep you posted.

To follow our long term evaluation of the Proton Jumbuck from start to finish, click here.

Proton Jumbuck, Great Wall SA220 & V240 ANCAP results

Matt Brogan — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:01:33 +0000

Australia’s leading independent vehicle safety advocate, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), has issued crash test results for three imported utes on the Australian market. All three scored poorly.

The highly anticipated Great Wall Motors SA220 and V240 utes from China received only two-stars out of a possible five, while the Malaysian Proton Jumbuck ute only rated a single star.

ANCAP Chair, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh, said the results were of great concern, particularly since commercial vehicles are now more commonly rating four- and even five-stars. Many passenger vehicles of course are five-star rated.

Mr McIntosh also expressed concern about the widening gap between Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and ANCAP’s safety testing.

“Crash statistics show that occupants of one- or two-stars vehicles have twice the risk of receiving life-threatening injuries in a crash, compared with four- or five-star vehicles, at a time when four- and five-star ratings are becoming increasingly available for new car buyers,” Mr McIntosh said.

“New vehicles that achieve only a one- or two-star ANCAP rating, while meeting the ADRs, are a cause for concern.

“The results for the Great Wall vehicles were particularly disappointing as these are new models to the market. The SA220 and the Jumbuck lack airbags and other safety features that are expected as standard equipment by new car buyers.

“The V240 has dual airbags but these failed to protect the driver and passenger from injury in our crash tests.”

The three utilities performed poorly in the ANCAP offset crash test – all experienced loss of cabin structural integrity, with poor head and leg protection at impact. There were high injury measurements for driver and passenger in all three vehicles.

For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, including light commercial vehicles and utilities, and other vehicle safety information, click here.

With ANCAP

Proton Jumbuck – Long Term Update

Matt Brogan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:39:26 +0000

“Three months and all’s well for our long-term Jumbuck”

The Jumbuck has virtually become the CarAdvice mascot since joining us in late May with just about everyone in the Melbourne office having rotated through the car for a few weeks each.

Despite the almost universally preconceived notion that each of us has had before getting behind the wheel of Australia’s cheapest ute that their stint would be an experience akin to dental surgery, after just a few days ever one of us has returned a few remarks about just how surprised we’ve each been by the half-tonner’s capabilities.

Although duties have eased up for the Jumbuck since we last touched base with you, with the tray being given a wee rest, the little lugger has still been put to use in commuting both inner-city errands as well as the occasional Melbourne-Geelong, Melbourne-Mornington and Melbourne-Ballarat runs home for various staff.

Pleasingly the Jumbuck is equally capable in stop-start traffic as it is on the open road with its well weighted clutch and light five-speed gearbox not in the least bit tiresome to use.

In fact the only downside so far has been the length of the cab making it hard to recline the seat for taller passengers on longer trips when it came time to grabbing a bit of shut eye.

The cabin otherwise is holding up very well some 5000 kilometres on and despite Jumbuck’s stiff ride, thanks primarily to the leaf sprung rear, has remained relatively rattle free with the small jiggle from under the dash mentioned in a previous update the only issue of which to speak.

Personally I’m still not a fan of the orange-on-orange instrumentation and find the needle of the speedometer hard to distinguish at a glance when back lit at night, and when it comes to night driving, we also have the slight issue of incorrect headlamp aim.

Come to that the foglamps, as found only on the GLSi model, are also rather pointless as they’re only able to be activated while the headlamps are on, which makes their functionality as fog lights null and void.

Under the bonnet Proton’s 1.5-litre engine has freed up nicely, and now that it’s run in, is producing some tidy revs from which to make the most of the humble figures on offer.

With Proton’s recent announcement that the Jumbuck is to be retired after almost seven years on the Australian market it won’t be long before our long-term car is due to be returned, but rest assured we will have another update before that comes about.

The upside to this situation however is that should you be interested in a half-tonner right now, I could almost put money on the fact you’d get a pretty sweet deal on a Jumbuck were you prepared to haggle.

Proton Jumbuck starts at $14,990 drive-away (vehicle tested $16,990). To find your nearest dealership, click here.

Proton Jumbuck axed after seven years

Matt Brogan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:23:08 +0000

Proton has announced that its Jumbuck utility model, as currently on long-term loan to CarAdvice, will be phased out over the next few months ahead of the launch of an all new model.

The company introduced the current model Jumbuck as a low cost half tonne pick up in early 2003 based on the previous model Persona sedan, a car which utilised superseded Mitsubishi design and technology.

The Jumbuck is the last of the Proton models on sale in Australia that still utilises the outdated Mitsubishi design and technology.

Proton is in the process of developing a new model Jumbuck, targeted at the current market leaders which will take advantage of the latest technology in terms of safety, structural integrity and powertrain and will be a Proton-developed model, sharing a platform with an existing passenger car model.

Proton Australia will also launch additional models within the next 12 months to compliment the range such as the new low cost sedan late in 2009, followed by the new entry level Persona, Satria Neo & Gen.2. These models will be followed by the release of the Satria Neo CPS, Exora MPV seven-seater and Satria Neo R3 in 2010.

In keeping with the current Jumbuck philosophy, it will be a cost effective, economical and simple pick up with the possibility of a number of different configurations for commercial or personal use.

According to Proton Cars Australia managing director, Mr John Startari, the new generation Jumbuck will benefit from the latest technology and will not be constrained by the limitations of what is now an old platform in the existing model.

“The current Jumbuck has been great but it is in the final phase of its life and a new model is well overdue, it has been a great ute but there will be a new generation model to replace it,” said Mr Startari.

“It has been an important model for us here in Australia providing the market with a unique blend of passenger car based design, half tonne capacity and low cost entry and running costs.

“Proton is mindful of safety and that is why we are moving to bring a new safer, more modern Jumbuck to market as soon as possible.

“Like all Proton models the new Jumbuck will retain a value for money purchase price that will ensure it retains its status as the lowest cost commercial vehicle to own and run in this country.

“The important point will be that the new car will not only be the lowest cost commercial but also amongst the safest on the road”.

While details of the new Proton Jumbuck are still yet to be announced the car will still be powered by a small economical four cylinder engine but will have the benefit of both a manual and an automatic transmission option.

Along with this there will be increased levels of safety including multiple SRS airbags, ABS anti lock brakes, Lotus tuned ride and handling and the latest crash protection technology in terms of progressive deformation crumple zones and integrated passenger cell design.

For more information on the current Proton Jumbuck, click here.

Source: Proton

Proton Jumbuck – Long Term Update

Matt Brogan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:42 +0000

2009 Proton Jumbuck GLSi – Long Term Update

“It’s odd, but I’m becoming quite attached to the little Jumbuck”

- by Matt Brogan

If someone had told me eight weeks ago that I’d grow rather attached to our long-term Proton Jumbuck then they may have been met with a rather snide “yeah right”. Funnily enough the little utility’s outright honesty, willingness to work and go-kart like tenacity have strangely come to make it feel like part of the CarAdvice family.

I’ve had cause to test the claim of a 560kg payload this week too, moving some shelving and tools from the farm down to Melbourne.

In recent times it’s also carried my trail bike, a load of top soil, a dozen red gum sleepers, our new office furniture and a good many plants – all in addition to Paul Maric using the little lugger to move house a few weeks back (click here for the full story).

The other surprising aspect to the Jumbuck’s tray is that the removable tailgate can actually hold up to 300kg of weight, which is rather useful when carrying oversized loads, not that the 1640 x 1390mm tray is what I’d call small.

The six tie-down hooks are extremely useful and apparently strong but in some applications would be better fitted to the outside of the tray or to the floor. I’d also have found a soft tonneau cover of use but at $395 am not about to rush out and buy one.

With 4200 kilometres on the clock so far the Jumbuck’s 1.5-litre (4G15) engine is feeling decidedly more run-in and is loosing its reluctance to rev, which has greatly improved what little performance is on hand. In case you’re curious, the number is 14.6 seconds for the 0-100km/h, err… sprint.

It has also become more willing in terms of torque delivery with good pull off the mark even when heavily laden. At the same time the Jumbuck still manages to adhere closely to the claimed fuel return figures of 5.8L/100km on the open road; 8.5L/100km around town and 7.1L/100km combined.

On the open road the Jumbuck cruises along without much fuss, though you will need to gear down to keep pace through the hills. The ride is quite stiff thanks to a leaf sprung rear but thankfully becomes more pliant with even a little bit of weight over the rear wheels.

Inside, as dated as things may appear, the Jumbuck has actually caused little in the way of concern with one faint plastic rattle noticeable from the lower left hand side of the dash and a slight squeak from the throttle spring. Otherwise everything is holding up really well.

On wet days the relay logic wiper dwell arrangement can get a little annoying with its constant “click-on, click-off” noise, but really it’s a small complaint.

As a simple example of reliable, tough and economical machinery the Jumbuck is proving a great example of value for money in delivering exactly what it promises – and nothing less. We’ll be back with another update on the Jumbuck in a few week’s time.

To track the history of the Jumbuck long-term test, click here.

2009 Proton Jumbuck – Long Term Update

Paul Maric — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:30:13 +0000

2009 Proton Jumbuck – Long Term Car Update

I wasn’t looking forward to it, I had to drive the Proton Jumbuck, surely I could move house in the BMW 7 Series we had on loan.

I couldn’t convince Road Test Editor Matt Brogan to get out of the front seat though, where he was busy programming the distribution of the heated seats.

I sucked it up and turned the Jumbuck over for a quick drive to my house where all efforts were underway to dismantle my gazillion belongings.

It wasn’t long before it struck me that the Jumbuck isn’t actually that bad.

The smells, the noises and the feel reminded me of a Holden Camira, which in my opinion wasn’t really that much of a bad car!

No ABS, no airbags and a cable controlled throttle meant that the Jumbuck is about as honest as they come. It doesn’t claim to be the next best thing in the utility world, nor does it claim to be the fastest ute on the planet, its claim is that it can carry things and getting the job done.

After Matt putting around 1500 kilometres on the odometer, I went to work filling in the next 750km.

Although the ride is pretty rough without a load in the tray, it seems to hold tightly to the road. The steering is very direct and as such the car feels extremely agile and nimble.

The tray has six hooks in total (three on each side), which meant it was easy to tie things down. The tray is also quite deep, so you can fit quite a bit into the load space.

If you fill the tray and weigh the Jumbuck down, the ride quality increases significantly. It’s a character trait of leaf spring suspension.

Gear shifts from third to second require a bit of a shove due to the configuration of the shift pattern, but aside from that, driving the Jumbuck is right on the money.

The heater and air-conditioning both work very well and the stereo is pretty decent for such an affordable ute.

The Jumbuck has me converted; it’s a pearler for the price and does the job without complaints. You can see why it appeals to the farming community to such a degree, due to its simplicity, I can see this thing trucking along for years to come!

It’s due for its first service soon, so we’ll report back with how it all goes!

2009 Proton Jumbuck – Long Term Test

Matt Brogan — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:58:00 +0000

2009 Proton Jumbuck GLSi – Long Term Test

Once a jolly Jumbuck came to work for CarAdvice…

- by Matt Brogan

The CarAdvice office has this week received its latest long-term loan vehicle, this time one of Australia’s cheapest cars, and indeed our cheapest ute, the Proton Jumbuck.

The top of the range Jumbuck GLSi will serve a dual purpose for the Melbourne crew over the next three months in not only providing us with a newsworthy transport, but in helping CarAdvice in our move to a new premises just south of the city.

Early indications are that the ute, as basic as it is, provides sound, grassroots practicality while at the same time being quite an involved – and dare I say it – fun car to drive.

The strut front / leaf rear suspension set-up is rather firm, but that’s not unexpected, and though it’s certainly not the most powerful commercial vehicle available – with a modest 64kW available – it does have enough motivation to keep things moving along provided the cogs are swapped efficiently.

Fuel economy from the 1.5-litre OHC (12-valve) four cylinder engine is so far on track to be 7.1 litres per 100km, exactly as indicated, though this will undoubtedly change once we start hauling our office furniture from place to place.

Inside it’s a rather basic and quite dated arrangement. Space isn’t quite what I’d call generous, but given the vehicle’s proportions that’s hardly surprising.

The cabin is a simple yet practical one, though I’m beginning to find the orange checked instrument panel with orange numbers a little hard to read in daylight.

Plastics fit and finish too is quite rough but nonetheless everything works rather well, even if I think I will have to adjust the headlight aim in the not too distant future.

The team is very keen to put the 560kg payload theory to task and we’ll make a solid effort to touch base with you each fortnight to keep you abreast of the little lugger’s performance.

The Proton Jumbuck is priced from $14,990 (RRP). Model as tested $16,990 (RRP).

Free ATV with Proton Jumbuck

George Skentzos — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 02:32:27 +0000

The Proton Jumbuck is already the most economical and most affordable utility in Australia, however it seems Proton are struggling to shift the little workhorse even at the $14,990 sticker price.

The solution: Proton is including a free 50cc ATV quad bike with every Jumbuck optioned with $1000 worth of genuine accessories.

According to Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari the Jumbuck quad bike offer is a way of adding extra value and enhancing the attractiveness of Australia’s toughest half tonne ute.

“Jumbuck has found great favour with buyers around the country thanks to its economy and reliability and this special limited offer will make it even more attractive,”

The entire package is valued at $18,290 but is available for just $15,990 with the Jumbuck GLi and a $20,290 package for just $17,990 with the GLSi.

Recently voted the lowest cost commercial vehicle to own and operate by NRMA Business Wise, Proton says the Jumbuck is the perfect solution for hobby farms or as a company vehicle.