Where Do Your Allegiances Lie? American, European, Asian?

Isn't the TSX based off the old DC5 Integra/RSX platform

No...

It's based on the old Accord/(current) TL platform.

The TSX is the European Accord - it's a good car!

the TSX is my favorite 30k car..great choice !!! im jealous

the current TSX is based off the Civic platform.

'how much power do you need...'

I require no less than 300 horses. end of story.

European then Asian.
European due to the styling, performance, and uniqueness that USUALLY comes along with a Euro car.
Asian- specifically japanese, for the tuneability of the performance cars.

BTW- i drive a S-550 and a R-350( the r sucks)

Then sell it.

S4, i'm stuck in a lease because MB Fletcher Jones gave me the wrong car.
Kraut, I'm referring to the variety of brands and designs

USA and Japan

no particular order

I have three cars. They are very different and I like all of them for different reasons . I don't have to feel that I must choose one nor do I feel that repeat brand purchases are necesarily a display of automotive monogamy.

If a car manufactuer of a certain region produces a great car --the soil is irrelovant . In fact many domestic cars use imported parts and visa versa.

My choices are based on a variety of things -- safety, reliability, performance, value, style,finction, and whatever emotional appeal the car delivers to me . Whether others like or dislike the car is irrelovant.

I own these cars and the brief reasoning is as follows:

1) Modified 2007 Porsche 997 Turbo -- I wanted to own what I feel is practical daily driving supercar (personalized to my specific taste) .

2)Honda Civic Si 2007 - I won't take the Porsche to the supermarket or crowded parking areas . I won't valet the Porsche . I wanted a cheap reliable car which offers fun with no worry .

3) Mercedes Benz E class 2007 - makes a great car for passengers and comfort that my girlfriend also likes to drive .

I drive a 2005 subaru WRX STi and i absolutely love it. I have a Stage Zero Vishnu remapped ECU that adds about 50 hp to the stock 300. I'm 19 so the car suites me very well and adds a kind of badass persona to me(i think). I still love German and Italian cars also.

Hopefully after I graduate from school and make some money I can look at m3's and GT-Rs hahaha.

I never thought of it like that, but you got a point there.

Give me the best mix of performance, luxury, price, and reliability. That is where my allegiance lies.

I have a proclivity for English cars. I simply like their aesthetic, you know rather...woody, stitched leather and whatnot. I happen to love the sort of droopy rear-ends of English cars.

The underlying reason for it? Probably based in childhood- I had exposure to many a beautiful english car as a child. In fact, I have rather strange associations with certain english cars as a result- such as the song "Where have all the Cowboys Gone?" by Paula Cole (right?) with a white eighty-something Rolls-Royce. Of course that would have been a little later in my childhood.

You bring up a great point. Allegiances (or at least preferences) tend to be formed in childhood. It's funny to think that something we argue so fervently over may be based on the sight of a certain car at age 6.

Euro of course.

Having owned a number of BMW's, VW's and an Audi. I am a Euro type of guy. I keep wanting to buy an American car but there isn't anything that compares. I want to look at the G8 when the V8 6spd arrives. Should be a good value. I will want a delete option for the phony hood scoops.

I currently own the following:

BMW X5 4.8is (E54)

BMW M3 (E46)

Jaguar S-Type R

and I feel no 'allegiance' to any of them, or their manufacturers.

Admittedly, I have owned some 7 BMW models over the past 25 years, but I wouldn't consider myself a BMW 'fan' by any measure.

I buy what I like from the choices available at the time I'm in the market for something new.

I will say that my next sedan will most likely be the Cadillac CTS-V.

I definitely desire European cars the most--I'm not going to pretend I don't. German, Italian, British, French... those are the cars that just do it for me. They put the most passion into their designs and engineering, and whenever a hot new European car comes out (Jaguar XF, Audi R8, Ferrari Scuderia, BMW 335i, Merc CL, etc...) I always want it. LOL.

But between Asian and American, it's a case-by-case affair. Some Japanese cars, I really love. There are none I truly hate. On the other hand, there are some American cars that I think are even better than their Asian competition; some American cars are garbage. So probably a tie there.

europe.

There was a time in my life when I was really caught up in the whole Japense thing about reliability, durability and quality. Now, I lease cars so it doesn't matter anymore. I took a huge step when I leased my CTS, but time after time the car never dissapoints. It seems like my next car will still be a CTS, hopefully a coupe.

Im going with American, Japanese and European.

I actualy own a BMW 330xi and a MAZDA RX8. For my next car i will probably buy or the new LEXUS ISF or BMW M3 or NISSAN GT-R or the new the AUDI S4. My favorites are Japaneses and Germans without any order.I think actualy these 2 countries make the best cars.

European, for a long time European cars have led the way, though i admit the competition has caught up in recent years alot. They have history, racing pedigree. But still somehow, when looking at their designs, their vehicles stand out, they have better design cues and more passion put into them.

However, for cheap, bland, solid family cars. Asia does indeed do them best. And being from the U.K, i've no interest in American cars at all.

European then Japanese
Just works out that most of the vehicles that really impress me happened to be of European Origin.

First BMW then Jaguar now Audi
Recently Lexus has been producing some interesting alternatives to the German Vehicles, I was impressed with the new IS & LS models

And I am 90% sure Nissan will be taking money from me for their GT-R

I currently own a 2007 RS4 Cab in the UK {5 months now}
Will probably keep it till the S5 Cab is available { Might wait till RS5 Cab, not sure yet }

RS4 Cabriolet! Excellent choice! Colors/options?

I'm thinking about making an appointment to drive the sedan...

Daytona Grey // Black Hood // Black Interior // Piano Black inlays // RS Bucket Seats // F&R Seat Heating // Adaptive Headlights // TV Reception // GSM Cell Prep in Armrest.

Funny thing is that one of my Client's Girlfriend ordered the car and when it arrived she noticed that the rear seats were useless because of the front RS Seats {Curve of the bucket makes riding in the rear impossible unless you place your legs accross on the other rear seat} so she asked me if i knew of anyone who would take it off her hands : )

The rest is history
Saved 10k on the list price {Approx 17%}

Who needs rear seats anyway : )

Her boyfriend has the Sedan, same Daytona Grey.
I think it is a Bloody nice vehicle

Looking foward to some snow over here so i can have some fun...i mean, check out it's snow handling abilities.

Over the last 20 years, I've driven only BMW (2), Audi(2), and Infiniti (3). Each had its own balance of "sport vs. tourning" character. And as I've enjoyed driving them all, each new lease was primarily motivated by a current "deal" on financing. I prefer Infiniti for reliability.... current ride is '07, M35x.

I own a Lexus and a BMW and I like them equally the same from different aspects.

I don't believe in the history/passion/tradition/soul garbage that companies constantly brag about. What matters to me is current innovation and a clear future direction and a good business strategy.

I own a 1981 280ZX Turbo, a 2004 Armada, and a 2006 G35. I will by not just from one country, but from one company. I my Grandfather was a Buick man all the way. Times have changed, I am a Nissan man all the way.

I prefer to buy the American owned car companys products so more of the money stays here in order to better pay for our schools rather than have to rely on , tear offs , powerball and lottery sweepstakes .

I'm guessing a tear off is related to a tariff

a tear-off is a scratch-off lotter game. The individual game cards are torn from a huge roll of them.

my first 3 cars were rx7s and i never thought i would go with a piston engine until i wanted something more reliable..lol..then..i had an 91 integra (great car) and an 89 civic, which was great until i crashed it. now i own an 02 civic ex which has never given me any problems and an 07 IS350 which i love. i recently put a down payment on a blk/blk isf so... i would say that id prefer japanese..german cars are great performers but i usually wouldnt buy a car unless i really like the exterior, and there are only a few german rides that i like. id love to have a porsche but it would have to be the turbo and i really cant afford it unless i got rid of my IS and the ISF (thats on its way) so...japanese japanese japanese, then MAYBE german, and i wouldnt buy american unless it was a truck

Buying a car means very different things to very different people. Some people have to own a car becuse of the climate they live in or location, the mountain or farm buyer is very different then the desert or coastal buyer.A Euro sports sedan would be nice for many but if they live and work in rural areas of the world the car is not practical.
MFG's today have many lines of cars available to the public, the perception is important also, a cowboy on a ranch wants that big pick-up with all the power to them this is their ultimate machine, the city dweller may want that high end Euoro or Asian car so when a valet parks it they want to show we have made it in the world.
Most people like what they buy and tend to stay loyal to that MFG. Where multi cars in a family arise then you often see a Asian car and Euro car in the garage. American MFG still must rely on trucks for their support, they still have not gained back the trust of the consumer and world wide the American car still has a long ways to go altough they are trying to close the gap, the Euro's and Asians always seem to have a answer.
I still say though if a person had the money they would most likely have at least a 4 car garage and in it would be a American pick up, a Asian crossover, a Euro luxury car and a Euro sports conv.

Japanese and European, for specific reasons:

Nissan/Infiniti
(power, reliability, affordability)

Mazda
(always the soul of a sports car :)

Land Rover
(design, design, DESIGN! and off-road capability)

BMW
(iconic design, performance)

Mercedes
(because you have to love a car that feels that good when you shut the door)

Audi
(best interiors in the biz)

Maserati
(beautiful)

Great choices!

I would add Porsche to that list, though... just a suggestion. LOL.

I'm all for German brands. My first car was a 84 Rabbit with a 91 16-valve GTI engine dropped in. Headers and a loud muffler - oh to be 17 again! Then I had a string of Japanese cars - a 93 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 96 Nissan Maxima and a 96 Nissan Pathfinder. I bought all of those used (sublet the Pathfinder from a co-worker over her head in debt) but then my I bought my first new car in 2000 - a 2001 X5 3.0. I've only driven BMW's since then (745Li and then an M3).

Hey I like variety so I switch up every few years. Never had any problems with the BMW's but I must say that the options available today for what I want in a car are infinite. Compared to 2000 when my only options were MB and BMW. I will likely stick with a German brand but I like the new CTS (looks good on the outside) and the GT-R (throw back to when I like tuner cars and best bang for your $$$ - watch out Corvette).

Sir as much as America is a melting pot especially for Europeans if it wasn't for the good old USA you could have all the advancement in the world, the USA saved the world from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, right now you would be on a BMW skate board rather then a car so stop the propoganda, the US is still the engine that makes the world go around!

That's the most dumbest comment I've seen. USA is probably more practical when it comes to new technology than any European country.

And to shed some more light, the foundations of Math/Science/Engineering were laid in the east while Europeans were still fighting each other for more land. All that knowledge was transfered to Europe via Arabic scholars and then further developed there to the stuff we use today (Renaissance period). So, most of the modern technology came from USA and the foundations came from the east. Everyone had their ups-and-downs so, don't make it seem like it was only one part of the world that invented everything we know today!

Your view of history is quite narrow.

http://www.economist.com/markets/indicators/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9193893

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_science

There you can see the contributions of many other cultures well before Europeans. They were the pioneers of bringing the ideas. If you believe that all we know today came from Europe then you must not know about world history or refuse to know. But, the truth is there and you can't deny it by posting sources over and over again that support only your points.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IQ_and_the_Wealth_of_Nations

"Scientific Revolution, the period roughly between 1500 and 1700 during which the foundations of modern science were laid down in Western Europe. Before this period, nothing like science in the modern sense existed."

Yea, nothing existed WITHIN Europe! That doesn't mean it didn't elsewhere. Just because we're brought up learning only about the European history from an earlier age doesn't mean they were the ones who discovered everything. Give credit where its due! There were many other cultures who were there way before the Europeans. People thought the world was flat during Columbus times and people in other cultures already knew it was round by observing other planets and movements of stars but, nobody in Europe knew until one of the European astronomer thought of it.

While people in UK were building simple archaic Stonehenge, the Egyptians around the same time were building jaw-dropping monuments (i.e. Pyramids, Obelisks, etc). So, clearly, this is an example of where the power of knowledge was thousands of years before the 1500s of Europe. Need to think outside the box and learn about other cultures before making foolish claims.

Their is still no doubt with the ability to produce a truly great car in total terms of sevice,mpg,safety and creature comforts America could do it hands down. The problem is the purest form of capitailism, dirty hands getting involved,lobyist, and the general marketing of such car as the evolution of such a machine is taking place the project would be derailed for the reasons already spelled out.
If the pure soul of the USA was at stake and we had to produce such a car without interfernce then you could be assured we would have the Asians and Euro in a total industrial revolution because nobody would be able to turn out the number and distribute the car world wide like America.
But don't worry Earthlings, America isn't going to send our friends back to the drawing board and cause massive upheavel in the auto business, giants like Ford and GM are just as happy to keep snowing the public with marginal cars and ideas because it is safe for them to keep crying the blues and getting lots of tax loss and the CEO's and board of directors with tons of money in their pocket.
Retooling a truly great car really isn't in there interest anymore, let Asia and the Euro's keep fighting each other for supreme maker of cars, the US Auto industry is still very happy with its Caddy and Lincoln customers and very satisfied with farmers and soceer Mom's buying the luxury Suv's and pick up trucks.
You people across the ocean's of the world it is a American thing, shiny chrome wheels, loud 50's and 60's music and thirsty V8 egines,America is just wanting for another oil downturn and watch these monsters cars sell hot off the lot again it is inheirant in us bigger is better, show off what you made of yourself in life, not saying this is a good thing just saying that is America. We are still the young pup in the world, our elder allies are like our parents, they say we know what is best for you we have history and industrial revolution on our side, but this country is what childern say to themselves they listen but then use their own brain that God gave and decide what is best for them.
At this time in the early 21st century, Toyota can be #1 in sales and is, the Euro's have their nice machines, but they better not slip up because only one nation has ever shown resolved in adversity time and time again and that is the good old USA, don't ever sell this country short?

I own 2 showrooms, that's my business. We r doing car business for more than 4 to 5 decades now. My grand father started it.

In business as u all may know, we don't see cars from this angle. Be it a S Class or the new Hyundai. We only look for profits.

But aside from it, if u ask my personal choice i can't exactly say German or Japan. It better be whoever makes the best car (to my liking) or i can tell u my current favorites.

My current favorites are Lexus, BMW and Infiniti.

Lexus, I just love nearly everything new Lexus (except the old SC and GX470), especially post L-Finesse and their new world class engines. Fine luxury and never had problem with any of their car nor the dealership.

BMW, Really love their sporty nature and unique (though new models being a bit ugly and unusual) exteriors and interiors. They r very appealing and catchy.

Infiniti, to me there current products are one of the most desirable, look at G35/37, M45 and FX and new EX.
Simply stunning and equally good to drive with beautiful interiors.

Many maybe doesn't know that MB was my favorite company nearly all my life. I remember i never used to look anywhere other than MB. I even kept the first A Class for sometime which was seriously no better than the car half it's price that time.

but then there similar interiors and quality problems (Serious change came when i started earning seriously and i felt MB is really very overpriced especially at that time. 1992-2000)...etc

and thus i started looking elsewhere and they lost one of their die-hard fan.

Btw for the last few days i am driving the 2008 G35, a car from my store. And i am really impressed with the car, especially interior and it's enjoyable driving.

JUGNU

"but then there similar interiors and quality problems (Serious change came when i started earning seriously and i felt MB is really very overpriced especially at that time. 1992-2000)...etc

and thus i started looking elsewhere and they lost one of their die-hard fan."

You must accept, though, that their new products are out of this world. The S and CL are incredible. They're beautiful, they handle well, their interiors are the best of the best, they have excellent engines across the range...

I think you can like Lexus AND Mercedes-Benz, and nobody will be offended.

I've only really gained respect for Merc recently with the introductions of these new products. They know how to do it again!

Im a big fan of japanese cars, but I like euros makes, BMW, ferrari and porsche my favorite. I like certain domestics, but I'm in favor of w/e warms up to me.

"Over 100 years ago, Japan made great efforts to adopt modern science and technology at the time of the Meiji Restoration. The U.K. sent engineers and teachers to train Japanese who were so eager to learn."

You misled again here, while, your quote may be true. It doesn't mean that ALL the credit goes to one part of the world. Thousands of years ago people were flocking to the East for knowledge via the trade route. These is how the ideas and knowledge were being transfered. By that statement, all the credit should go to the countries of East for providing the basis for current knowledge to the early europeans. The basis for current technology were laid in the east then transfered to europe for further development and we haven't seen the next shift, yet. So, it's always shifting and everybody has contributed in critical areas. Not just one!

You site some good sources but, you seem to be omitting a lot of valuable information that could paint the entire picture much better.

That being said, if you think...

"One of the most significant contributions that non-Europeans made to math was the positional number system. In the Hindu-Arabic numeral system that we use, each position starting from the right is a higher power of 10 with the first position 10^0 = 1."

...than you must be joking. Since you brought up the subject on numerals, it is evident from a little research on their numeral system that what you claim is not entirely true. Read the history part. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_theory.

I've studied Differential Equations/Laplace/Euler's/etc and Number Theory in engineering school and, even though, they are very complex; Number Theory is one of the most challenging branch of Mathematics to comprehend by many! The source above is just one example of the contributions of other cultures along with the Europeans. I can go on-and-on but, it should be obvious that the advancements in math/science does not go to only one part of the world. They ALL made great contributions and they ALL deserve credit for their contributions.

"Look at all of the Nobel Prize science winners for the last five years to see which people merit leading."

Well, after a quick counting job- there have been approximately 60 Noble prizes awarded in the past five years- 37 have gone to to the United States (61%). Now, I am an American, but I don't think that organizations such as the U.N. should necessarily be meritocracies. The reason is that every state within the organization is a sovereign entity and has the inherent right to act outside of it. I believe that a meritocracy is just inappropriate in that situation. I will admit that the Security Council is a meritocracy in a way.

I do believe that all societies must be meritocracies, however.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IQ_and_the_Wealth_of_Nations

should have gone under midengine's post

USA then Japanese. If I had money when back in college I would not have even thought of buying US cars, but due to financial situation I did. But now and for the rest of my life will be Japanese. Due to their styling, performance, and peace of mind.

LOL! I think you should think about who you're calling a moron. lol.

Majority of the cars that Toyota makes for the US/N. American market are made in the USA, that includes Camry/Avalon/Solara.

If it wasn't for the American students, you wouldn't be here typing on your computer.

Im a hardcore BMW fan but I wouldnt mind anything that has luxury, is sporty, and has style :).

I prefer Japanese, then German, and the occasional American (Caddy CTS for example).

But really, no manufacturer deserves 100% loyalty. You'd be missing out on some very cool cars doing so.