favorite european car maker

whos ur vavorite euro. car maker? mine probably ferrari.

This is a tough one, and I really dont think I can pick one maker that I love completely above the others, but of all the European makers, I think BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari stand out above the rest for me.

BMW- between $30,000 and $90,000, I don't think you can do that much better then BMW. Year after year, generation after generation, the 3-series has been the benchmark for all of its competition to meet. In recent years, companies have been getting closer and closer (G35, IS350) but still no sedan is quite as good for under $45,000. The M3 is amazing and always has been. No company has ever made a car that combines luxury and sport so well in this class. The E60 5-series is still a great driver's sedan, especially the 545i/550i. The 645Ci/650Ci is a very handsome car. I would argue with anyone that the E60 M5 is the best sedan ever made in terms of enjoyment. 500hp and 7sp SMG is something to be feared. Finally, the redesigned 750Li is great looking, and more fun to drive then a S-Class or A8. BMW invented the sports sedan as we know it, brought us revolutionary cars like the 2002, 320i, Z3, M3, and M5, developed technologies like the best F1 style transmission on the road (SMG is better then Ferrari), and taught us that you can have fun in a four seater.

Porsche- What a legendary company. More and more I consider buying a 996 or a 997 for my next car (need to test drive a E90 M3 first). They make absolutely stunning cars. The Boxster is a blast, and handles like a dream. The new Cayman S should be an awesome car. The Cayenne is one of the few SUVs I would ever buy. The 911 is an icon like few can compare with. A 911 Carrera S might be my next car. I will be rooting for their new LMP1 car in LeMans next year.

Ferrari- even the name is sexy. I would say that the most attention drawing cars out there are Ferraris. The 360 Modena is one of the most beautiful cars out there. The F430 is really really fast, and fun (so I've heard), and sounds amazing when taking off (I have seen and heard one). The 550/575M is in my opinion the best looking car on the road. The 612 is odd, but still an awesome car. The F40, F50, 288GTO, and Enzo were the difinitive supercars of their times. Then theres the fact that Ferrari is a company based around a racing team. Not many successful companies are like that. I am a huge fan of Ferrari F1 and Schumacher (even if that makes me a tool).

BMW for a real-life car. Ferrari for an exotic. I remember I turned down a 1967 275 GTB V12 with no engine because I didn't have the $16000 asking price. I should have traded my left kidney for it. Cripes, I could have put a Volvo V6 in it for a few years until I could find a correct V12 for it. Think of the sex I could have had....

Think of the sex I could have had....


Looking at your Sig I would say your getting plenty as it is.
:naughty:

BMW is probably the best affordable brand name

Ferrari for sheer pleasure in all senses

But the Porsche Carerra GT and GT3 are phenomenal so I'd take a GT3 over anything

whos ur vavorite euro. car maker?


Honda. :evillol:


Actualy Im rather partial to Lotus, but if you don't want to include the UK in Europe then Alfa Romeo makes cars that get me interested, although Iv yet to own one.

Tough one, but I'd probably go with Alfa Romeo. The kind of handling feats they achieve with front-wheel-drive is unbelievable. The styling is fresh and unique, the build quality is excellent for a European automaker, and the controls are fluid and communicative. It's BMW without the assholes.

BMW for an affordable brand (relatively speaking).
Aston Martin for high end cars.

Either Aston Martin or Mclaren (depending on what car...) entry level then Aston Martin AMV8, and SLR for supercar

Affordable, Saab, 9-3 aero

Actually, the new Porsche RS Spyder is in the LMP2 class.

http://www.americanlemans.com/Gallery/25/2572120059551140.JPG

Actually, the new Porsche RS Spyder is in the LMP2 class.



Ah, right you are. Still, its awesome that Porsche is back in the mix. Next year would have been horrible had it just been Lola and Judd racing the upper classes (the R8 is getting retired isn't it?).

Lotus

Audi will have a new prototype in LMP1.

Riley will have a new LMP1 car available for next year.

http://www.rileyscott.com/

New Riley LMP1 (http://theracesite.com/index.cfm?pagetype=2&form_article=9580)

http://www.theracesite.com/images/news/9580_1_lg.jpg

I'd have to say Porsche is my favorite. ;)

What about the Noble M12? :grinyes: I think it's a cool company just because it isn't overly popular with rappers(Ferrari and Lamborghini), I remember a thread about how those cars used to be something special, now you see one and are like bleh, some dick with too much money to spend.

No votes for Audi or Merc? haha not suprised really, though I love the S4

I would have to go with BMW, because even with that fact the 90% of purchasers are posers who really don't understand the performance and driving technology that make it a true drivers car, they won't sell out and make a Mercedes (heavy, poorer handling, more soft luxurious, Auto only)...

As much as the public would want them to make a softer, more casual drivers car, thats cushiony, they refuse to sell out to these fake drivers

The only exception to that is how they were only going to release the M3 in auto, but they eventually learned their lesson and a 6-speed is coming to North America

The only exception to that is how they were only going to release the M3 in auto, but they eventually learned their lesson and a 6-speed is coming to North America

I think you are refering to the new M5, not the M3. You also refer to SMG as an automatic transmission, which it isn't. There is no torque converter with SMG, its hydrolic/electronic gear shifting.

http://www.m3smg.com/files/smgmanual.pdf

Thats the dealer manual, it has pretty much all the basic info on the transmission. People confuse SMG with a Tiptronic style transmission because there is no clutch pedal and there is a automated shift mode. Companies have also attatched paddle shifters to automatic transmissions (I think Pontiac did it). SMG and Ferrari's F1 style transmissions (360, F430, 575m, Enzo) are all less expensive, more user friendly versions of their respective Formula One transmissions. Trust me, Schumacher isn't running around with an automatic.

We can no longer classify all transmissions as being either manual or automatic, because SMG is neither.

but isn't the smg a version of a sequential box anyway, something that is also quite different to a coventional 2 (or 3) shaft 'box by way of how a gear is selected?

in my mind, there are three types of gearboxes;
manual, automatic and sequential.

I'm gonna go ahead and give a vote for Mercedes. I mean, where else can you get an economy car, world class off-road vehicle, $400,000 supercar, and a Maybach in one dealership?? :sunglasse

for pure sex appeal, my vote would go to aston martin. i think that they're the best looking cars on the market today, but overall, i'm going to have to go with the majority favorite and say bmw. their slogan is "The Ultimate Driving Machine" and that's not false advertising. i've been a loyal follower all my life.

wouldn't the ultimate driving machine be mid-engined, rev to 19,000rpm and do 200mph?
first thing you learn about advertising is that if you get the slogan right, people will believe you. that has no bearing on how true it is.
bmw are good but marketing is just that; something to make the product more attractive.

my favourite?
i have a fondness for how renault works.
for the most part, they make cheap cars for the regular family guy.
then every now and then, they make something by taking a little dinky front drive, shopping-trip, hatchback car, stuff an engine where the kids usually sit give it 240BHP and rear drive.

Lotus also rank highly on my list mainly becasue they really don't compromise on their product and to them, performance through fine handling really is key.

TVR anyone?

TVR? err....at bit too raw for my taste...but i have to say the new sagaris is just so sexy!!