If you had to drive one marque for the rest of your life...

[ChrisV]

Both impractical and expensive. Impractical because they're expensive. Yes, hypothetically you could buy one of the SUVs and tow around a trailer if you needed to haul something, but it's preposterously silly. You wouldn't ever dare take one offroad because it would cost an arm and a leg to fix anything. You wouldn't want kids to go near them for fear of wrecking the interior.

I guess it's just a product of my lifestyle: I don't think I'd ever buy a luxury car, let alone own one for the rest of my life. And it's a little hard to fathom a lifestyle which would accommodate that.

Hmm. I guess I shouldn't have bought a used luxury car or luxury SUV. Considering that neither one cost as much as a new economy car, however...

And I use my luxury SUV to tow trailers and go offroad... Hmmm. I guess I'm just "preposterously silly..." 

[Onslaught]

I've only ever owned Mazda's before but this still isn't an easy pick for me. For one I'd like to have a pickup truck for work one of these days and they don't make one. And buying a B2000, 2200 or 2600 would mean I'm buying a truck almost old enough to drink legally. I also know that most Mazda dealerships suck ass. I never had to deal with that before because I had a hook up with my local one. But it's gone under and now I've got to deal with the only one still around and I'll just be a normal customer to treat like crap. Well see how it works out before I make my judgment on them.

I'm also not a fan of the face on their now cars. Hopefully by the next time I need a new car that will be long gone.

[Rupert]

It would have to be a company that made or makes good trucks, SUVs and sports cars. That rules out the Europeans.

Mazda: Miata, RX7, RX8, old B-series trucks, some cool things like the Cosmo.
Toyota: 4Runner, Tacoma/truck, Tundra, Land Cruisers, Celica, Supra, MR2, tons of non-U.S. market cars, etc.
Nissan: decent pick-ups, Pathfinder, X-Terra, Patrol, Z-cars, 240SX, cool old cars like the 510.
Ford: lots of cool old cars and trucks, F-series, Ranger, Explorer ( ), SHO, Mustang, GT40, yadda yadda.
Chevy: lots of cool old cars and trucks, Silverado/C10 and heavy duty versions, Blazer, S10, Corvette, Camaro, yadda yadda.
Dodge: lots of cool old cars and trucks, Viper, Ram, Durango, Dakota.

Those are pretty much the options, I think. Of those, I think I'd go with Mazda.

[Rupert]

I've only ever owned Mazda's before but this still isn't an easy pick for me. For one I'd like to have a pickup truck for work one of these days and they don't make one. And buying a B2000, 2200 or 2600 would mean I'm buying a truck almost old enough to drink legally. I also know that most Mazda dealerships suck ass. I never had to deal with that before because I had a hook up with my local one. But it's gone under and now I've got to deal with the only one still around and I'll just be a normal customer to treat like crap. Well see how
it works out before I make my judgment on them.

I'm also not a fan of the face on their now cars. Hopefully by the next time I need a new car that will be long gone.

I bet the Ranger re-badges count as Mazda B-series.

[Onslaught]

I bet the Ranger re-badges count as Mazda B-series.

Not a fan.  Happy they dumped them.

[The Pirate]

I've only ever owned Mazda's before but this still isn't an easy pick for me. For one I'd like to have a pickup truck for work one of these days and they don't make one. And buying a B2000, 2200 or 2600 would mean I'm buying a truck almost old enough to drink legally. I also know that most Mazda dealerships suck ass. I never had to deal with that before because I had a hook up with my local one. But it's gone under and now I've got to deal with the only one still around and I'll just be a normal customer to treat like crap. Well see how it works out before I make my judgment on them.

I'm also not a fan of the face on their now cars. Hopefully by the next time I need a new car that will be long gone.

Why is this?  I'm seriously unimpressed with both of the Mazda dealerships in this area, for both sales and service.  At this point, I try to avoid them, but some things I just can't get at NAPA (parking brake cable, for example).  It's certainly going to influence what I buy next (which is a shame, 'cause I'd totally rock a last gen Mazda6 or a last gen Mazdaspeed3). 

[The Pirate]

Not a fan.  Happy they dumped them.

Crappy vehicles to do bodywork on?  My dad's B4000 has proven to be a remarkably reliable vehicle.  My Ranger was pretty reliable too, and easy enough to do mechanical work on.

[Rupert]

I liked my Ranger, but it's definitely a crappy American mini truck.

The Mazda dealer I used to go to in Eugene, OR was fine. I wasn't as impressed as I am with Boise's Ford dealer, but I didn't have any problems with them.

[93JC]

Hmm. I guess I shouldn't have bought a used luxury car or luxury SUV. Considering that neither one cost as much as a new economy car, however...

And I use my luxury SUV to tow trailers and go offroad... Hmmm. I guess I'm just "preposterously silly..." 

Go fuck yourself, Chris.

[Vinsanity]

Both impractical and expensive. Impractical because they're expensive. Yes, hypothetically you could buy one of the SUVs and tow around a trailer if you needed to haul something, but it's preposterously silly. You wouldn't ever dare take one offroad because it would cost an arm and a leg to fix anything. You wouldn't want kids to go near them for fear of wrecking the interior.

I guess it's just a product of my lifestyle: I don't think I'd ever buy a luxury car, let alone own one for the rest of my life. And it's a little hard to fathom a lifestyle which would accommodate that.

If money is no object, then expensive repairs ain't no big deal, yo. My first thought was Mercedes. Everything from the classic 600's and pagoda SL's to the G-wagen would suit me just fine

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Porsche. Easiest question ever.

Ding Ding, my first thought exactly.

Supercar performance with everyday appeal.


The 911, the 911 turbo, trackday toys like the GT3 even with a new king of super sedans and a SUV for the wife.

[SVT_Power]

Porsche. Easiest question ever.

I dunno about easiest, but definitely porsche for me as well.

[hotrodalex]

I think I would go with Ford. See ChrisV's post for my reason.

[Onslaught]

Why is this?  I'm seriously unimpressed with both of the Mazda dealerships in this area, for both sales and service.  At this point, I try to avoid them, but some things I just can't get at NAPA (parking brake cable, for example).  It's certainly going to influence what I buy next (which is a shame, 'cause I'd totally rock a last gen Mazda6 or a last gen Mazdaspeed3). 

I don't know. But you hear it from so many people that it just must be true. I hear the one I'm going to go to now is nice and I hope that it's true. The one that my last employer owned was a joke. But I knew one really good guy in the parts department and the main tech who was really good. So I never had to deal with anyone at that place other than them if I needed something. So having a Mazda was no problem for me. You would think that
being a small manufacture that having great customer services would be something Mazda would want all their dealerships to have. I just don't get it.

Crappy vehicles to do bodywork on?  My dad's B4000 has proven to be a remarkably reliable vehicle.  My Ranger was pretty reliable too, and easy enough to do mechanical work on.

Yes. It's one of my top 5 things I hate working on. I want them to die and go away already!  And my family had 2 BULLETPROOF B2000 trucks for over 20 years and I always liked them more. I could never grow to accept a Ford truck with a Mazda sticker on it.

[Raza]

Easier now that they make the Cayenne and Panamera, less easy before that.

911s have surprisingly big boots.

But yes, I'll take Porsche as well.  911, 911, 911, Boxster, Cayenne GTS, Panamera, 911, and 911.  Sounds like quite a garage to me.

[Onslaught]

I was going to pick Porsche but wanted to be realistic. I can't afford anything other than a Boxster or base Cayman right now. And then the upkeep and insurance on these cars cost more than normal cars.
I'll also need something that can hold more than two people sometimes and Porsche makes nothing that I could buy or would want to buy that can do that.

So while Porsche is one of my favorite all time manufactures, and the  911 and Cayman S are some of my favorite cars out today I can't pick them for this post.

[Raza]

I was going to pick Porsche but wanted to be realistic. I can't afford anything other than a Boxster or base Cayman right now. And then the upkeep and insurance on these cars cost more than normal cars.
I'll also need something that can hold more than two people sometimes and Porsche makes nothing that I could buy or would want to buy that can do that.

So while Porsche is one of my favorite all time manufactures, and the  911 and Cayman S are some of my favorite cars out today I can't pick them for this post.

I'd put money on a Boxster or 911 being cheaper to insure than your RX-8. 

[sportyaccordy]

Bimmer,

BMW has enough engines and chassis' for me to make a supercar, like that incredible V10 E30 M3. Something like a turbo + rollcaged E30 with an E36 M3 engine would be more than enough for me.

[Atomic]

Good choice.  I never would have thought of Ford because I'm not used to Mustangs and I always forget that the GT is a Ford, as stupid as that will sound.

hmm... i completely forgot about the gt, as well. btw, how long will production last? i recall fmc stating that only a very few will be made.

[SVT666]

Ford.

[MrH]

Porsche.  BMW in a close second.

[ChrisV]

Go fuck yourself, Chris.

You first, sweetie.

[CALL_911]

Go fuck yourself, Chris.

You first, sweetie.

You guys are so cute.

[Rupert]

Yes. It's one of my top 5 things I hate working on. I want them to die and go away already!  And my family had 2 BULLETPROOF B2000 trucks for over 20 years and I always liked them more. I could never grow to accept a Ford truck with a Mazda sticker on it.

What are the other four?

[Xer0]

Mercedes.  They have a car for just about every occasion and their current product mix is pretty damn good, imo.

[r0tor]

1 - Porsche .... Panamera, Cayman, Cayenne GTS, 911 GT3
2 - Audi ..... A8, TT-RS, Q7 V12 diesel, R8

porsche only gets it because of the option of having rwd...

[SVT666]

I saw a Panamera yesterday.  Looks really bloated.

[Laconian]

I saw a Panamera yesterday.  Looks really bloated.

I saw one take a corner at an intersection and I thought it looked good... from the front. Once it went into profile it was nasty. And then from the rear...

[SVT_Power]

Saw one for the second time when I was in manhattan over the weekend. Still looked awkward and terrible

[MrH]

I think it looks great.  Much better in darker colors.  It's definitely really wide and low in person.