I am not a big brand guy; with the exception of electronics and motor cars. I love vintage Pioneer electronics. I don't know if it sounds good or if it is just nostalgia from the sound I grew up with. My dad had a pioneer receiver. He upgraded when I was in high school and handed down the pioneer I grew up with to me just before I went to college. I sold it shortly after marriage... Bought another just like it a few years ago. I am a fan not only the sound; but also the aesthetics of the silver face with blue lighting on the tuner dial.
The other brand I really enjoy is Lexus. I've owned two BMWs and two Lexus. Personally, I think Lexus makes the best car for the price that can be purchased. Toyota reliability combined with Lexus luxury in the form of ride quality, sound insulation and interior material quality. They make a better car. One that is often aspirational in the new car market. On the used market they are very reasonable for the quality of car on gets. Stellar products.
My first Lexus was an LS430. My second Lexus is an ES350. While they are from different eras with the Lexus story, it is obvious they are related. They feel good to drive. The don't handle particularly well; however, they are excellent freeway cruisers. Quiet. Powerful. Solid. Having driven the ES350 for a few weeks, it is amazing how heavy the LS430 is. I often say it's driving a bankvault down the freeway. Or a heavy fountain pen. The ES350 isn't quite as insulated as the LS, but it is way more refined than a Toyota Camry or Avalon.
The only new car I've purchased for my use was a 2003 Mazda 6. I think I fell asleep on the way to the airport one morning and ended up totaling it. Ended up going off the road and driving up a bridge embankment. After that I purchased a Toyota Avalon recommend by a trusted car dealer. It was a high quality car; but it was boring. An old man's car. I don't know if the LS or the ES are young people's cars - but I don't think they're boring. Refined is a better word for it.
Anyhoo... there's just something better about a Lexus. There's something special about an LS. But an ES is still good.
I almost bought a camry when I lived in Florida after making a huge mistake on an Acura MDX. I didn't like that car. I traded in my corvette for it because I couldn't get out of the corvette anymore due to back problems. Kept the MDX for a short time and then bought the LS. I remember liking the camry - but it was too expensive at the time. The LS was 13000 cheaper than a Camry I was looking it. A 20 year old LS drove better than a 5 year old camry. A 13 year old ES drives better than anything we test drove after Z wrecked his car. We drove a few ES, a Camry, an accord, a few Avalons and a civic. All were at least a decade old. The ES reigned supreme.
RIght now I'm driving the ES and Z is driving the LS. Maybe when Z gets a job we will trade. But until then I will drive the newer car.
When we bought the ES, I found a two owner matador (metallic) red with a parchment leather interior. We test drove another one that had some kind of synthetic leather. While it was softer than real leather - it felt really weird when it was hot and it didn't breathe against your skin. Sweat city. It was disgusting. So they mandatory upgrade was genuine leather because it was natural and perforated for heated and cooling seats. The one option we couldn't find that I wanted was the Mark Levinson sound system. I think those with the upgraded sound systems are unicorns in the wild. Maybe we'll find one next time we need a car. Maybe we wont.
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