Saturday Poll: What's Your Favorite IL Long-Term Test Car Ever?

2009 BMW M3...I intend to put one in my own garage soon.

Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308! Ferrari 308!
It was a great car to read about. It is what real car guys have to go through to realize all of our dreams of one day owning a Ferrari. It proved cheaper to keep running than both the long term 2002 M3 and GT-R. The love-hate relationship it had with the writing staff was epic. It was just the car with the most soul and personality out of any of the long termers... though the Challenger and Camaro are not far behind in that department.

GT-40 End of story

Ferrari
Wrangler
G8
Flex
Focus
CTS
Challenger
GT-R

all produced some pretty interesting conversations.

I really enjoyed reading constant complaints on both the Grand Caravan, and the Compass. Also, I loved reading about how the GT-R was constantly in the shop.

When it came down to my favorite car, I would have to say from the a value standpoint, the G8 is by far my favorite. It is hands down the most attractive American Car produced in a while. Plus, it proved to be pretty reliable, and for the shear power, it returned a respectable gas mileage.

If it came down to my favorite if money was not an object, I would have to say the R8. It's damn attractive, and it also drives well too. Only thing I would do is get the diesel.

If it came down to practicality, the Flex seems like a car I love, as well as you guys. Hell, it's managed to more miles on it than any other cars you guy's have ever had.

Value:
Pontiac G8

Fun:
Audi R8

Practicality:
Ford Flex

Ferrari 308. By far it is not my favorite to personally own, but it was the most entertaining to read about.

Ferrari 308. Coolest used car ever.

Tough choice between the R8 and GT-R, but I'm picking the GT-R. I'm a die hard Vette fan, but I know a game changer when I see one.

I second Sherief. The M3. I also intend to put one in my garage as well.

The R8 is a veeerrry close second though. Just not practical enough to actually put in my garage.

Ferrari 308, by far.

STI

Tie:
2002 M3
Ferrari

2007 Saturn Aura XR for obvious reasons.

2002 M3 and 2009 M3, as I hope to put some iteration of the M3 in my garage before too long...

Ferrari 308

I thought the Flex was the most interesting, especially with the way it held up compared to the other cars in the fleet. I like hearing that there is a future for American cars, and that they are improving.
But in my heart I love the 2002 M3

"2007 Saturn Aura XR for obvious reasons." LMAO!

I also agree with adavis2493's point about reading about the ratty Chryslers.

My fav's: '09 M3 (duh, best car ever but should be a coupe!) and the R8. The Commander being put out of its misery was a good one too (though not the part about Kelly & Co. getting injured by that thing).

Ferrari 308. It may not have been the best car, but it was so interesting to read about.

The 308 hands down. Awesome car awesome dream. Followed closely by the Aura blog purely for the comments section. Who knew anyone could get so passionate about a GM mid-size sedan, and a not very good one at that (he he).

The Ferrari 308 is what started me reading this 'blog, but reading about the G8 GT convinced me to buy one.

Ford GT is the easy winner.

I kinda like the Mini-E and Flex being in the fleet, for completely different reasons.

I think the Ferrari 308 is the best, just because it was fun to read.

I think watching the progression of Hyundai products through the stable; the Hyundai Azera, the Kia Sedona, Hyundai Veracruz, and the Hyundai Genesis is the most interesting. It's gone from, "This thing is ok." to "Hey, this is getting pretty good." to "Wow, I can't believe how fantastic this car is!"

It was interesting to hear what a drumming domestic manufacturers got from the Compass and Aura, but also it's slow resurrection with the Ram and tough-to-love-but-hard-to-fault Focus.

The Focus....because it pissed so many people off because it performed so well. I loved the idea of all those expensive foreign cars crapping out and the Focus just rolling along.

Where's the 2002 Ferrari 550M?

308. No question about it.

For me, the 2002 M3, because I am going to buy one. Second, the Ferrari.

2007 Saturn Aura XR - I enjoyed it because it sparked a range of debate, from honest discussions to ridiculously ignorant comments. Overall, lots of entertainment for the whole spectrum

I've enjoyed lots of them, but my favorite would be the 2002 M3. Runner-up would be the Audi R8.

If I had to have a tie again it would be the GT40 and surprisingly the Focus.

Low grumbling performance and unyielding efficiency and reliability.

Ferrari, hands down! It's the reason I found this blog.

308, most definitely...

The 308, old m3, ford gt, and audi r8 were the best reads. You guys really need something to replace the 308. i still hope for an old porsche, maybe a 911 or 944

Audi S5 or BMW 135i... I love both

I started reading this blog regularly around the time or just before the 308 showed up. It has been the most fun car to read about by far.

my favorites:
Tahoe
G8 GT
Silverado
RAM 1500
both M3s
135i
Cadillac CTS
Challenger
Camaro
the S5 even though I normally don't like Audis

cars that are/were interesting to read about:

Mini E
Nissan GT-R
Ferrari 308
Focus
Hyundai Genesis
Infiniti FX50
Grand Caravan
Aura
Wrangler
Smart car

I was going to put 308... but about halfway through reading the comments I changed my mind to the Ford GT.

The '02 BMW M3 and the '84 Ferrari 308 were fantastic investigations into the joys and consequences of really reaching to the limit of a normal budget.

Ford GT, hands down. Most forgiving supercar chassis I've driven (I actually liked it better than the NSX chassis in that way), awesome thrust (and easily more to come), great value for the dollar and emulates one of the greatest cars ever made (GT40).

I still hope to own as a used car someday, which is more than I can say for any other car on the list (if I'm ever ready for an M3 it'll be a new one).

The R8 is the most amazing car that they've featured in my opinion. The 02 M3 has been the most interesting to read since its actually attainable. (Although I didn't start reading the blog until after the 308 was gone...)

Random observation: When it comes time to get a new LT car, posters here complain that there aren't enough "average" cars in the fleet and IL should get a Chevy This or a Dodge That, yet this poll clearly shows the reader favorites are the exotics/interesting cars. What gives, readers??

I dont know, Jay.....there are a lot of comments on the average cars also.......I dont think the readers want to get rid of all of the "exciting" cars, just a more balanced fleet.

I think that a 75/25 entertaining/appliance ratio is just about right...

I wasn't around for the Ford GT, but I really like the R8.

Favorite is my own car, to read your impressions and because it made such an impact on me when it came time to buy: Pontiac G8 GT

I really dont care about the kind of cars so much....I just want to see more tests of cars that actually are on the best seller list.

The E46 M3 hands down: classic inline-6, traditional manual, rear wheel drive, nearly perfect weight distribution. Need I say more?

Jetta TDI
GTR
M3
STI
Mazdaspeed 3
EVO

GT-R, the EVOs, STi, and the still fresh Mazdaspeed3

2008 Audi R8, hands down.

Ford GT

R8

M3(s)

GT-R

308

S5

My favorite car on here was the BMW.... You know, the Bimmer that they had..

Joking of course.

Favorite would be the Ford GT followed very closely by the Audi R8.

My favorite is the 2007 Jeep Wrangler, because it generated some of the best-written posts I've seen on this blog (ironically, most were by an editor whose employment didn't outlast the Jeep's term in the fleet).

Second place goes to the '84 Ferrari 308 for being as interesting to read about as it (presumably) was to own.

The Aura posts marked the nadir of this site. The editors turned the blog into Perez Hilton for that one -- and the commenters simply followed their example.

2009 BMW M3 and the 2006 330i

I'll throw in with the GT and 308 crowd as my favorite cars. I'll also mention the Rav4 because as soon as the used prices on V6 AWD's go down a little more i'll be buying one.

For some reason I liked reading about the DGC, probably because you guys were constantly complaining about it.

My favorites, though, are the R8 and Flex. Both are excellent vehicles.

I'll add the Mazdaspeed3 to that list once you guys start posting more about it.