[Straight6r]

What are some of the automakers out there that you have respect for or admire their products, but couldn't picture yourself actually buying one?

I'll start: Volvo.

I think they make great cars. Very high quality and they are extremely low key with their advertising. They just seem to blend in to the marketplace never really drawing attention to themselves. ( Not like Hyundai with their agressive ads that just bash every other car maker out there )
^^^^^^ As you can tell, Hyundai is my least like automaker. lol

[immiketoo]

Volkswagen. I love Audi, but I don't like anything from VW.

[ZJP]

VW/Audi

[blue2fire]

I wouldn't say never, as we once had nothing but them, but Honda. I think they have a unique culture and what it takes to be the best carmaker in the world (not necessarily the biggest).

I like nearly everything about them except the cars they now make. The history is excellent. The really hot Hondas gave the common man a taste of the feel of a racing car for pennies. Oh, the engines, i guess there is a reason why they make the most internal combustion engines on the planet.

[MediaArtist]

For me it's always been the Evo (Mitsubishi). I love the idea of the car, and every reviewer loves the "driving feel" of the Evo. It's very tempting sometimes.

[mousitch]

MB. Love the styling and power, but if I drive a Sports type car I need a manual shift. Don't understand not having an option for an old fashioned clutch....

[vexx786]

Hyundai, especially in the last year. They have been stepping their game quite a bit with the Genesis sedan/coupe and Equus.

[donsgolf2012]

Porsche. for me. Sick cars but not for me.

[Year's_End]

I seriously respect the following companies, but I doubt I'd ever want to actually own any of their current products no matter how great they are.
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar (barring the XJ)
Lotus
Ford (exception being the Mustang)

[b0bab0i]

Saab! Although they might be using BMW engines soon.

[Epik]

Mazda for the incredible Mx5. But it's small and a girly car.

Just kidding, I'll probably give in and get one soon.

[Inspired]

A BMW.......................

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

For me it's always been the Evo (Mitsubishi)

Same here.

I would add probably all Japanese brands, except for the Nissan (370Z & GTR).

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by Epik

Mazda for the incredible Mx5. But it's small and a girly car.

Just kidding, I'll probably give in and get one soon.

Can't ever rule out buying a Spec Miata to go SCCA racing.

[Elie335]

Infinity, hyundai, nissan

[TheRox]

Subaru - from what I hear

I don't really respect Audi

Lexus - never say never, great luxury and reliability or used to be; but not enough involvement

Volvo - Used to have one (parents), amazing rear drive car -- if you have kids, Volvo is KING! No car has usability/rear space/trunk space and practicality like Volvo, they don't drive to bad either -- Volvo is a pure family car, or used to be (we had the made in Sweden Volvos, when they were still swedish)

Infiniti - Drives almost the same as BMW, just not as refined. Why bother?

Toyota

[ragingclue]

Ferrari.

I think if I had that much money, I'd rather go for an Aston.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by TheRox

Volvo - Used to have one (parents), amazing rear drive car -- if you have kids, Volvo is KING! No car has usability/rear space/trunk space and practicality like Volvo, they don't drive to bad either -- Volvo is a pure family car, or used to be (we had the made in Sweden Volvos, when they were still swedish)

My parents had one of those made during Ford ownership. If you are going to have a crash, an S60 is a very comfy place to do it in.

[ZJP]

Originally Posted by TheRox

Volvo - Used to have one (parents), amazing rear drive car -- if you have kids, Volvo is KING! No car has usability/rear space/trunk space and practicality like Volvo, they don't drive to bad either -- Volvo is a pure family car, or used to be (we had the made in Sweden Volvos, when they were still swedish)

This is so true.

I was a passenger in my buddies S60 and we got t-boned one night by a drunk driver and I walked away without a scratch.

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by Straight6r

What are some of the automakers out there that you have respect for or admire their products, but couldn't picture yourself actually buying one?

I'll start: Volvo.

I think they make great cars. Very high quality and they are extremely low key with their advertising. They just seem to blend in to the marketplace never really drawing attention to themselves. ( Not like Hyundai with their agressive ads that just bash every other car maker out there )
^^^^^^ As you can tell, Hyundai is my least like automaker. lol

Yeah, well.... we'll see what happens to Volvo now that the Chinese manufacturer Geeley owns them. The first thing Geely announced was to build ostentatious big luxury Volvos for the Chinese market. Second thing was to build a Shanghai factory.

RIP Swedish and iconoclastic Volvo.......

"We want to make more high-level cars that compete with the S-Class of Mercedes-Benz and the 7-Series of BMW. We need products to compete in that segment," Shufu told reporters from Automotive News.

What Shufu hasn’t revealed yet is how Volvo, which lost more than $653 million last year, will be able to build new models to take on the flagship sedans from its German rivals. Volvo first needs to focus on selling more cars; it will need to sell at least 380,000 cars if it hopes to break even. Last year Volvo’s sales totaled 335,000 units.

p.s., Mercedes is the king of safety (and safety innovations; look at their history of inventions in car safety.) It's just that they never really advertised it like Volvo did....

[MediaArtist]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Same here.

I would add probably all Japanese brands, except for the Nissan (370Z & GTR).

I'd buy the Honda HSV-010 if they made a consumer version in a heat beat.

[lawwailok]

Originally Posted by MediaArtist

For me it's always been the Evo (Mitsubishi). I love the idea of the car, and every reviewer loves the "driving feel" of the Evo. It's very tempting sometimes.

+1, along with STi. they are fabulous machine, as they are rated highly in Japan/Asia countries, very tuning friendly and fun cars.
if i am 6+ years old younger, i may picture myself in one of those.