Most of the people in these forums are, understandably, Lexus fans, and with good reason. But, as car enthusiasts, what are your runner-up favorite vehicles or brands? This can either be price-conscious or price-is-no-object, at your discretion. I think we are going to see a lot of different second-places here.

 

SUBARU!!

all their products are just awesome

great AWD systems (as you have stated in many posts), reliable, they got some fast cars too

And they are incredibly practical cars too... lots of cargo space in the wagons.

 

I'm with you there.....I'm looking myself at maybe a new 2005 Outback as an all-season second car. But this is not just my show...I'd like to see some other opinions here, too.

 

I love subaru too. However, I've grown up with Chevys all around, and I still love GM. We went and looked at a CTS-V yesterday and are gonna test drive it tomorrow. My dad's seriously considering selling his Vette for it. I love the GTO and GM SUVs as well as all the classics. Everyday driver besides Lexus however would have to be Soob, with GM providing the special vehicles.

James

 

My runner up favorite cars are (in this order) . My choices are price-conscious.
1. Porsche Carrerra 4S
2. BMW M3
3. Nissan 350Z

 

I like the direction that Nissan/Infiniti is moving. The 350Z, Maxima, Armada, Altima, and the full line of Infiniti cars and SUV's come real close to Lexus in my book.

At a cost-conscious view, I think Mazda is really doing a great job of building fun to drive, affordable vehicles that look great. The RX-8, new 3 and 6, and the Miata are all selling well, and Mazda still uses turbocharging on the Mazdaspeed versions.

Now if they both would just stop making so many FWD vehicles....

I like the new Chrysler/Dodge RWD platform as well. The hemi is greatness, but the styling of the 300 and the Magnum is bold, and I really like them both. I drove the Hemi Magnum, and it runs like a scalded dog! The 3.5 V6 300 was respectable, and very well appointed for the price.

good thread!

 

Eventho i drive a honda/acura, its not at the top of my list of manufacturers...

1. Nissan/Infiniti(always loved those silvias and skylines)
2. Subaru(rally!)
3. Toyota(rwd! supras, mr2s, ae86s)

 

Thanks. As for Mazda, it is not particularly FWD heavy. The Miata and RX-8 are RWD alone, the B2600 / B4000 trucks are RWD or part-time 4WD, and the Tribute is FWD or AWD. FWD alone is limited to the Mazda 3, 6, and MPV.
Mazda trucks and SUV's, as you probably know, are essentially rebadged Fords.

 

excluding exotic brands...

-Chrysler/Dodge as an affordable manufacturer

-BMW; although I'm quickly losing interest with the latest designs.
M3 is easily my favorite but I'm sure they'll ruin that too.

-I love Infiniti for there G35 coupe

-I'm also loving Mercedes latest designs - definately a design leader.
I was never a fan of MB until the current generation of models.

Well, I'll stop there.

 

Comparing Brand for Brand, Lexus vs.. (Damn good question MMarshall).

I would have to say BMW. I still feel like I have to be 50 years old to be in a Benz. BMW M3 and M5 own me. And 540, 3 series. The old M roadster
And even wiht their ugly new design, they just have an Image to go with the substance I love. I can see myself in one. But I can rock an OLD BMW. I can't say that for most all brands.

After BMW, Benz. THe AMG cars are simply amazing. The new CLS is perfect to me. Prestige only a Bentley can match. Shoddy dealers but when I buy a Benz, it'll be my 10th car, so who cares.

Audi would be a distant fourth. They do make pretty timeless looking cars. The A8 is incredible to me. They made the whole automotive world look at interiors with details. The S and RS cars are ****.

After those 4, every other luxury brand makes good individual cars, but their product lines as a whole blows monkey *****. I.e. Lincoln, Caddy, Acura, Infiniti, Jaguar, Volvo, Saab etc.

Sports and Exotics.
1. Ferrari, they recently replaced Lamborghini. After reading the heritage and their product onslaught of consistency, as Jeremy Clarkson would say "I consider Ferrari slightly under GOD".
2. Porsche. Race cars for the road at a great price. The only thing is they have milked the 911 like a skinny cow. There are like 400 varients of the 911, instead of different cars like Ferrari.
3. Lamborghini, still breathtaking. But only 2 cars.
4. Aston Martin, they have TOTALLY turned it around. I personally love the DB5 as well. The DB7 is perfect in looks. The new cars are great as well, perfect Grand Tourers.
5. Maserati. WHAT?????: Don't sleep on them. With Ferrari backing, they will only get better. The coupe and quarttoporte are wonderful, the sedan simply the best looking out there.

Regular Cars.
1. Toyota. They can make cars from the SUpra to Scion. They just do their homework and execute with fewer mistakes than everyone. I want a regular brand to be reliable and troublfree, not no damn BMW wannabe.
2. Honda. Creators of tuners cars with the Civic. The ACcord is the perfect family car. The S2000 shows their edge. Looking at how small and conservative they are, it's incredible how they do. I think the last Honda flop was the Del SOl, over 10 years ago. Great brand.
3. Suburu, their product onslaught is incredible. Whooping much *** on the circuit and in the streets while providing affordable AWD. They are just improving all over.
4. Chrysler, again turning things up a notch. Some say not reliable, last I looked not all Japanese brands are so great. Wonderful designs, the SRT-4 is AMAZING at the price, the 300c is the best American car since the damn Hudson. I think somehoe the Germans made them see their AMERICAN identity.
5. Nissan, great eye catching products. They turned it around as well. Their half-*** approach to things is what keeps them here.

And the greatest car ever made was the McLaren F-1. Cost 1 million in 1995. Costs 1 million in 2004. NO DEPRECIATION. The Enzo, GT, Murchialago, Zonda can't touch it. That car is PERFECT. 240mph, 2200lbs. 3 seats, driver in the middle. TImeless Styling. If the stock boom was around when that car was, McLaren would still be making cars.

 

Yeah, 1SICK, I knew the M's and the AMG's would inevitably pop up. It will be interesting to see how the Caddy V's do against them. All three brands have been rather shoddily built lately, but Cadillacs seem to be improving...especially in the area of fit-and-finish.

 

Yes, Caddy is on the rise. The V-series cars are sweet!

 

Really not much reason for me to post, since Mike and I apparently share a brain.

 

my second car thati want always changes, so i will post a few

i really looked into the sc430, then also consider the sl500/sl55. now we are thinking that the gt3/911 turbo would be nice

brands wise, you guys are going to hate me, but mb in general is getting my votes. their cars are sick (well maybe coz' i haven't tasted the maintenance part yet

 

mike broke the list down to the very nice, but for a luxary car, it would be a bmw 5 series, 01-03
sports car definately a toyota supra (and i shall have one), hard to compare to a porsche or ferrari, but they did outperform in some aspects.
regular car prob a hyundai santa fe!!!!