Hi,

I think you are comparing an orange to an apple.
A comparable Mazda product to the Ralliart is the 03.5 Mazdaspeed Protege. This car has some inherent problems, but has a nice chassis tuning, adequate power, and eye candies. In addition, you can get a big rebate right now.

I test drove both. Performancewise, I think it is a toss. I also test drove the Mazda3. Nice car, but too soft for my taste.

BTW, I am more biased to performance than comfort.

03.5 Mazdaspeed Protege? Whats that? Which car are you talking about with the problems? I heard that Mitsubishi have many minor tweak problems. Not sure of that. But Mazda3 does make the bang for the buck.

For your reference:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/hand...modelYear=2003

and

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...es/print.phtml

3rd place behind the Evo and the STi, not bad eih?

You can get one now for around $16.5-17k with all the rebates.

There are inherent ECU and suspension bushing problems. Check out http://www.msprotege.com/vbb230/show...threadid=38935

You decide it yourself if the problems are prominent or not

The Mazda 3 has the same platform as the '05 Foci. The 2.3L engine is in the current Focus PZEV.

I can't wait to see the blown version for both cars ... I hope

I dont really like Fords, they tend to break down easily. Plus all domestic cars are drag racer type. they are not as good in handling as the japanese cars do.

My slocus has embarrased quite a many cars on road courses, european, japanese, domestic, etc. Then again my mr2 has done so with even more authority, as well. I'd avoid ignorant generalizations. Z06s outhandle most every car out there.

Jeez, too bad that you don't like Ford products. I guess you won't miss Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Aston Martin, too (Hint: go to www.ford.com and see the 8 brands).

As far as quality, go to www.jdpower.com and play with their tool; you'd be surprised.

It's an extreme stereotype to think that all domestic cars can't handle and are trashy in quality. It's as extreme view as saying that all Japanese cars are "rice", econobox, bad in style, and have a body of soda can.

Okay, here is what i think. Not much domestic cars have turbochargers and intercoolers until now they are starting to use them. People rely on Nos to get more pounding power, which i think is not as efficient as the turbo would be. Some domestic cars are nice but they are highly unefficent. A normal family car runs gas like a sports car (low displacement, high hp). Another fact that domestic cars tend to have more problems on the mechanical side than the japanese cars do.

time slip for a mazda 3

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=68536

I think it's on the 10th page of this thread

I've got a 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege.....great car! Build quality is sensational.....not a single rattle or squeak in the year we've had it.

I've gotta go for the Mazda 3. Similar performance and much better looks....and the interior quality can't be touched by anything but VW in that price range.