Which current company has consistently created the most driver centered cars?

"George Costanza" (Georgeoncars) 04/25/2014 at 17:46 • Filed to: enthusiasts

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What car do Jalopnik readers like. Doesn't matter how quirky or obscure they are, just what company has at least consistency through out its rein made a couple of driver centric cars or better has a line up that enthusiasts respect and love.

Flat Six > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 17:49

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...there is no substitute :)

Bluecold > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 17:51

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Lotus.

McLaren

Ferrari

Donkervoort

Caterham

Matra

Alpine

Trevor Mohr > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 17:52

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Well, clearly Mazda, because Miata is the only answer.

Just kidding, of course this award goes to Acura. :)

Merkin Muffley > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 17:54

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they've only ever made one or two cars that WEREN'T driver's cars.

MonkeePuzzle > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 17:54

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intentionally misinterpretting

SP23 > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 17:56

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Mazda. (probably going to get a lot of flak for this choice)

Morgan.

Aston Martin.

George Costanza > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:03

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Just to give my two cents, mine are more mainstream I guess:

BMW (I am incredibly biased)

Audi

Subaru

Volvo

McLaren

Porsche

Alfa Romeo

Jaggggg!!!

Mazda

George Costanza > SP23 04/25/2014 at 18:04

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This is opposite lock, saying Mazda is like saying god bless america at the end of every political speech.

catkam623 misses his 944 > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:07

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In order Id say Shelby American (I include the gt40 as this) Porsche, Pagani, Mazda, Mclaren, Ford.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:29

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I'd also say Morgan, Aston Martin, McLaren and Jaguar.

Hermann > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:31

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I'd love to say BMW, but they have quite a few failures in their day.

I think Porsche, probably.

Morgan, Koenigsegg or McLaren are certain choices, but their market is too specific. They'd need a broader line up.

George Costanza > Hermann 04/25/2014 at 18:34

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Definitely Porsche. BMW's biggest failure is still the X6 in my opinion.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:36

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George Costanza, you took the words out of my mouth.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:44

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Alfa, Jag, Triumph, Maserati, Lancia (if you think the real Lancia died in '95), MG. All good candidates :)

Hermann > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 18:45

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I don't consider the X6 so bad.

Sure, the looks are very questionable and so are the prices. But overall it's a pretty good driver. I see it as a luxury car that's capable of mild off roading and towing. A good DD even.

But yeah... not really an enthusiast's car (unless one uses an X6M to tow a race car, which I've seen), nor is the X1 and probably that new "Active Tourer" FWD 2-series (but that's just my FWD prejudice speaking. Let's wait for the reviews).

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Bluecold 04/25/2014 at 18:48

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Lotus. I think you might have won this right there.

George Costanza > Hermann 04/25/2014 at 18:50

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To be honest its not just FWD prejudice that makes active tourer sound bad its because its proportions aren't bmw proportions. Its a block of cheese.

Hermann > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 19:00

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Yeah...

A sort of premium MPV. Like the B-class.
A vehicle to get groceries and look like you care about what you're driving. Like the B-Class.
It sits between a great hatchback and a great little sedan. Like the B-class.
I wonder what Audi is up to.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Trevor Mohr 04/25/2014 at 19:07

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I can't tell if sarcastic, or... maybe ignoring the last five to ten years? That would be perfectly reasonable though. That's what I've been doing.

(If you're not being sarcastic, my bad. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion though)

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 19:16

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Nissan, because duh.

But actually I think my top two are BMW and Datsun. Yes, BMW has had some mistakes (I'm looking at you, X1) but I think, in my incredibly bias opinion, they have done one of the best jobs of consistently offering a decent range of driver oriented cars. For such a mainstream company, that's an awesome accomplishment.

And Datsun because if you disagree, you've probably never driven a Datsun in which case, go drive an old Datsun. It's wonderful. Even the little pickups (blanking on name) were relatively fun to cruse around in.

George Costanza > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 04/25/2014 at 19:29

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Do you mean the Nissan Nivara. I used to drive a beater Toyota Hilux on family farm in the summer. I have driven the Nivara, its pretty good.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 19:39

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Nope. I hadn't even heard of the Nivara. Ahaha. I was thinking of the 620

shpuker > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 19:39

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I'll rank them.

1) Miata

2) Miata

3) E30

4) Miata

5) BRZ/FRS

6) WRX/STI

7) Mazdaspeed Miata

8) E-Type Jaaaaaaag

Flat Six > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 04/25/2014 at 19:52

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The X1 is not bad actually. I spent a few days in one as a loaner and didn't mind it at all.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Flat Six 04/25/2014 at 20:04

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*shudders*

I hate it an illogical amount. I don't even really know why. I've driven one, and they're not terrible on the road but I really, really hate them. I feel like BMW said "well, we have the 1-series hatchback, which is amazing, but Americans don't really deserve it so lets give them something bigger and dumber."

Fistacufs > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 20:39

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Lotus.

E92M3 > George Costanza 04/25/2014 at 21:31

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I have to say Porsche because even their SUV's handle good (even though they get a lot of hate). Of course you have Ferrari, and other exotic car companies that specialize in supercars.

George Costanza > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 04/25/2014 at 21:55

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I think this is the predecessor to the Navara, I think the Navara name was just the name outside NA, not sure. But that looks like a badass pick up.

George Costanza > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 04/25/2014 at 21:56

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I feel like McLaren wants to replace them nowadays

Trevor Mohr > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 04/25/2014 at 21:57

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I'm talking about modern Acura, and even Honda for that matter. The days of the Prelude and S2000 are sadly over, and I truly hope they make a comeback, or at least Honda begins to make truly fun cars again. The TSX from about 10 years ago was amazing; it was a great sport sedan, so was the TL. They had the NSX, obviously an amazing car, and even the RSX was a relatively low-cost, fun small car. Now, Acura makes nothing but bird-beaked, rebadged, and overpriced Hondas. My parents own an MDX and an RLX, let's just say I'm not supporting their decisions..

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > Trevor Mohr 04/25/2014 at 22:56

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I actually had a really good conversation about Acura vs Lexus with someone here the other day that was basically summed up by what you said. Acura used to be awesome, but unfortunately they've been seriously lacking for a while. Sure, the new NSX might eventually come out, but I'm worried that it won't be able to live up to the NSX name. I'm sure it'll be a great car regardless, but I doubt as legendary as the original. It also isn't accessible to normal people. What they really need is a new Integra. Lexus, on the other hand, has been spicing things up. My girlfriend's brother has a Lexus IS F, and I borrowed it for a week while my car was in the shop and he was in Florida. It was actually a blast to drive (in sport mode) and, in my opinion, looks pretty damn good. They've also been making Luxury cars that look like more than rebadged Corollas with more leather and wood. Acura needs to take note. A few years ago I would have chosen Acura out of the two, just as a brand. Not today, though.

Depressoiscool > George Costanza 04/26/2014 at 00:23

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Im biased towards cars i can afford, but it goes as follows

mazda

save the manuals!, most of their cars are fun to drive

caterham

duh

lotus

hopefully some new models come out...

porsche

911, panamera, carrrera, really popular one im forgetting

subaru

wrx, outbacks(can be fun), subaru would not be here if not for the wrx/sti

Many of the super car makers make all drivers cars, but since ill never be able to afford a ferrari or mclaren i pulled them off this first list. Money no option though...

Ferrari

Mclaren

Jaguar

Aston Martin

Porsche

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > George Costanza 04/26/2014 at 02:17

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Quite possibly, but they haven't got the affordability down at all. The Elise did so well in part because it was pretty reasonable to buy. McLaren don't seem set to produce anything that I could see a 'normal' enthusiast affording.