2001ProtegeLX

That is one reason why I have changed from being a Honda guy to a MAZDA GUY !!!!!!

While Hondas are getting ulgier (new Accord and Civic anyone??), the Mazdas are getting nicer and nicer and actually lead the market with its sophisticated and aggressive styling.

Man, I have just changed the front bumper of my Pro LX to the MP3 one. It looks so nice right now. But, after looking at the pics of this 5 door sport wagon, I am having a second thought. May be keep my current LX sedan and buy another 2.3 wagon.

I love the styling!!!! I love the grill, even though it could be different with 2 horizontal silver bar in stead of the black grill.

I love the wide fender!!!! Looks muscular to me.

I love the lowering and the rims. Hope the sport wagon will come just like that.

I love the headlight and taillight treatment, very dynamic.

I love the front and rear bumper, very sporty and have a customized look to it.

I love the dual exhaust tips. Sweet!!!

Just have comment on the interior, the dash of the passenger side feels like BMW style while the center A/C switches area looks like from a IS300. Coincidence?

But, 160hp and more torgue than my current Protege LX is a good thing too! Hope the price will be right. It looks better than the Matrix.

tonkabui

i remember when the matrix first came out. in all its pictures and all its television spots, the car looked soooo good. then when my dealer called me (i was actually considering the matrix) to tell me it was in, i was probably the most disappointed people on earth that day.

moral of the story here is... wait till the final production model comes out. don't all get your hopes up only to be disappointed when you get to the dealer when they call.

by the way, did anyone notice how seemingly tall the car is now? look again at the photo of the man standing behind the car. unless the photog used a pretty wide angle lens, which doesn't appear to be the case because of the lack of distortion in the corners, the mxsportif looks to be a little on the bloated side, just like the vibe/matrix twins. gosh darnit... another good thing screwed up by trendchasing...

Emerald99ES

tonkabui wrote:
"did anyone notice how seemingly tall the car is now?... The mxsportif looks to be a little on the bloated side, just like the vibe/matrix twins."

This is why I am so concerned about the styling of the upcoming sedan... the near-vertical rear door cutoff and rectangular shape of the rear door window almost ensures that the sedan will have a small Focus and Audi A4-like side window aft of the rear doors... not very Protege-like at all! If handled well, it could be attractive.. but with the taller body, my fear is that the effect could be closer to the tippy and bloated Focus and Suzuki Aerio sedans (yecch). I am liking the MX sportif's aggressive fender lines and bold front end though, which will certainly carry over to the sedan.

2001ProtegeLX

Well I have just read somewhere that there "may" be a later model for Mazda3 with 5 doors (4 doors and a hatchback) after introduction of the MX sport, just like a later 5 doors model for the Mazda6 in yr 2004.

I just hope that Mazda will made the 3 look similar to the 6's overall dyanmic lines. Of course a wider fender will be nice.

I'm waiting to see all these styles. Sedan, MX, 5door (hatch), coupe (maybe).

boricua

yea i actually noticed that too. I'm going to the NYC auto show and hopefully it will be there so i can see myself.
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turbonium959

Day one of New York autoshow, and no Mazda news what so ever, not even in previews. Hopefully, they will have it as a suprise or something.

boricua

I know for a fact that they are going to have the MX-Sportif, which was at a previous autoshow this year. I think it looks alright.
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