Opinions on Mazdas, Protege5/Mazda3 Options

[elvasoshexai]

I've owned toyotas basically all my life (i currently have 3)

i'm looking to get a new car... my 93 camry is getting old and parents don't want to spend more money fixing it (in the last 3 years we've had to replace brakes, fix exhaust leak 3 times, almost time for timing belt change, it needs a new steering U-joint, had to get new tires last year)

i was looking @ protege5's and mazda3's... i was wondering if anybody here has owned these cars and what they think about them... like.. reliability... etc..

i do know/notice the interior quality of both cars is pretty poor comapred to toyota (cheap seats on mazda3, cheap dash/trim parts on protege5)

also, it will be an automatic (family car, my bro and mom has to be able to drive as well)

i test drove both already... but i still can't decide... both seem kinda lacking in low end lower... similar handling...

i'm leaning towards the protege5 while the rest of my family likes the mazda3...

[hitcachi]

My friend used to have this old MX-6. 1st gen. Man we beat the sh*t outta that car. I mean beat the sh*t outta it. Its that car that i learned alot about engines from. It wasnt bad when it came to quickness. But my point is, we beat the hell outta it and it still runs fine.

This post has been edited by hitcachi: Apr 8, 2006 - 12:07 AM