<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius Noir @ May 28 2006, 06:14 AM) [snapback]261995[/snapback]</div>

Call me cynical but:

1) Cost to Mazda - perhaps $100,000
2) Impact on overall vehicle usage by LAFD - negligible (5 vehicles donated, and I'm guessing the LAFD has at least 500 vehicles total)
3) Value of positive media exposure for Mazda - way greater than $100,000

Pure bull. I hate it when I see these 'news' stories. Like the 10 ford Escapes given to the NY Taxi Service. Drop in the ocean...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pearsonrj @ May 31 2006, 10:18 PM) [snapback]263783[/snapback]</div>

Of course they did it for publicity. At least this gets a city department (first responders no less) with a tight budget, a few free rides. Not to mention ones that burn less fuel and less pollution. Besides, what business person wouldn't do the same for the publicity. Also, this was about the 35th or 36th Tribute hybrid they've given to a Californian FD not to mention that this is a prototype and they're looking for real world driving conditions and feedback on the vehicle. Mazda also said that all maintenance and repairs will be performed for free by Mazda. With all the corruption in this world, being cynical towards this just seems ignorant.

If they're fire vehicles, why aren't they red?