Judge again..

[PeaB0dy]

The pic is a little on the large side..

But here are front views for you to see...

 

[gib]

That Pontiac Vibe is nice, but the Mazda3 looks way better. The front grill, and the headlight have a more agressive look. And most of all, it is not tall like a SUV. And finally, You should drive both these cars, only then will you see the real DNA difference.

 

[Tronny]

Mazda 3 looks WAY better then that vibe. Its that very agressive stance the car has. Gives the feeling that car hugs the road and loves it at the same time.. Just my 2c worth.

 

[clownphish]

...and not to mention it doesn't have that cheap crap plastic moulding that seems to be so popular these days... yechh

 

[Newf]

two competely different cars imho

Mazda 3 still looks like a car, whereas the vibe looks like a small suv.

 

[Maz94Protege]

thats almost to impossible to compare an american POS Suv/Wagon to an IMPORT Sport Wagon. Its like bi-racial to us other Import Owners. LOL. BTW Imports Last longer!(stoned)

 

[MZ6ZoomZoom]

They look completely different to me, as well.

Although I don't have this random hatred that seems to be prevalent here against american cars.

Not to mention "import" infers that it was... imported. The 3/Protege is not.

 

[PeaB0dy]

The P5 is imported from Japan..

Made in Japan...

 

[MZ6ZoomZoom]

Really? I stand corrected, then. The regular protege is not, however, correct?

I know the 3 will not be.

 

[wongpres]

All Proteges/Pro5 and Mazda3's are made in Japan:

Protege: Hiroshima plant I
Protege5: Hofu plant I

Mazda3 hatch: Hofu plant I
Mazda3 sedan: Hiroshima (probably going to the re-opened plant II but I'm not 100% sure yet)

 

[MZ6ZoomZoom]

I'm going to quit while I'm behind on that subject

Doesn't mean I understand the hatred of American cars, however.

 

[garretts77]

The sticker on the window of my P5 said Hiroshima...

 

[charles]

thats almost to impossible to compare an american POS Suv/Wagon to an IMPORT Sport Wagon. Its like bi-racial to us other Import Owners. LOL. BTW Imports Last longer!(stoned)

The Vibe is a toyota

 

[MZ6ZoomZoom]

I guess I assumed that because the 6 was made in Michigan, the 3 would be as well. I could have sworn I read that somewhere as well, but now I can't back that up, so I nod before those of you who knew that better than me

The fact that the Vibe is a US Matrix (in a way) brings up an interesting point, though: why should a car be considered inferior because it is made in the US, even if it is the same car? Many "import" cars are made in the US.


Edit:
OK, the post above this one proves my point... you guys aren't saying that... just that one guy is, then?

 

[charles]

I guess I assumed that because the 6 was made in Michigan, the 3 would be as well. I could have sworn I read that somewhere as well, but now I can't back that up, so I nod before those of you who knew that better than me

The fact that the Vibe is a US Matrix (in a way) brings up an interesting point, though: why should a car be considered inferior because it is made in the US, even if it is the same car? Many "import" cars are made in the US.

My 1990 Camry was made in the U.S. It's lasted forever (and was traded in December). The Matrix is also made in the U.S., in the same plant as the Vibe.

Toyota has been making cars in the U.S. since the 80s, and they arguably make some of the most reliable cars out there. When people whine that their car is made in the U.S., and not like the old Japanese cars, it's the biggest crock of s*** evAr.

 

[MZ6ZoomZoom]

Thankyou Exactly what I was trying to say. Just got off track because I errantly claimed that NA production of the 3 would be done in the US.

 

[charles]

Sorry about the language.... guess I'm cranky

 

[wongpres]

The sticker on the window of my P5 said Hiroshima...

If you're referring to the paper on your windshield before PDI, I believe it's a distribution sticker (and it could very well have been distributed via Hiroshima).

Also, the engines are assembled in Hiroshima.

But I know of no Pro5's who's final assembly was in Hiroshima (they already assemble enough cars from that plant).

 

[wongpres]

My 1990 Camry was made in the U.S. It's lasted forever (and was traded in December). The Matrix is also made in the U.S., in the same plant as the Vibe.

Toyota has been making cars in the U.S. since the 80s, and they arguably make some of the most reliable cars out there. When people whine that their car is made in the U.S., and not like the old Japanese cars, it's the biggest crock of s*** evAr.

All Toyota Matrix's are assembled in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, not in the CA NUMMI plant that assembles the Vibe.