For years I was firmly in the Japanese car camp. Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans—they were dependable, affordable, and never left me stranded. They started every morning, sipped fuel modestly, and made ownership easy. But the more I drove, the more I realized that reliability wasn’t the only thing that mattered. There was a whole world of foreign cars that offered something Japanese models rarely did: character, soul, and experiences that felt unforgettable behind the wheel. These ten cars taught me that sometimes the best drive comes with a little risk, a little drama, and a lot of reward.
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series has long been the benchmark for the sport sedan, and it’s easy to see why. Japanese sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord excel at dependability, but they lack the feel and finesse that the 3 Series brings. From the E30 of the 1980s to the E46 of the early 2000s, the 3 Series has always had a perfect blend of steering precision, rear wheel drive balance, and chassis response. Even today, a clean E46 in North America will fetch between five to ten thousand dollars, often double what a comparable Accord of the same era might cost. But the reason enthusiasts pay that premium is simple: driving a 3 Series makes you feel connected to the road in a way Japanese sedans rarely manage.
Mercedes Benz S Class
The S Class has always been more than just a luxury car. It’s a technological showcase, introducing features that would later trickle down to everyday cars. While Lexus models like the LS earned reputations for smoothness and bulletproof reliability, the Mercedes S Class delivered a sense of prestige and innovation that the Japanese could not match in the same era. Owning an S Class, especially in the United States or Canada, still carries weight in a way that few cars do. Collector grade models from the 70s and 80s now sell in the thirty to fifty thousand dollar range, not because they are flawless to maintain but because they remain symbols of rolling progress. For all the luxury Toyota or Honda ever offered, they never built a car that redefined motoring like the S Class did.
Porsche 911
Japan produced some brilliant sports cars—the Nissan Z and Toyota Supra being prime examples—but none of them quite captured the magic of the Porsche 911. Its rear engine layout, distinct driving feel, and racing heritage gave it a soul that stood apart. Even base Carreras offered an experience of balance and control that was intoxicating. Japanese rivals often looked the part and were dependable weekend warriors, but the 911 became the car that drivers truly bonded with. In today’s collector market, air cooled models can fetch anywhere from seventy to one hundred fifty thousand dollars in the United States, with Canadian prices typically ten to fifteen percent higher due to limited availability. The Porsche showed me that driving joy wasn’t just about reliability but about connection and tradition.
Audi Quattro
When it comes to all wheel drive, Subaru was the Japanese benchmark, but the original Audi Quattro set the global standard. Launched in the 1980s, it combined turbocharged performance with rally bred handling. The box flared coupe looked tough and went harder than anything Japan had on offer at the time. Subaru and Mitsubishi eventually caught up with the WRX and Evo, but Audi had already changed the game. Classic Quattros now command prices north of seventy thousand dollars in North America, and while they require care to maintain, the driving experience remains unmatched. Japan made dependable rally cars, but Audi made them glamorous.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Golf GTI was the hot hatch that everyone else copied. Honda’s Civic Si came close, but the GTI perfected the recipe. It combined practicality with punchy performance and a level of refinement that Japanese compacts often lacked. A GTI was fun when you wanted it and comfortable when you didn’t, which made it the ultimate all rounder. In Canada, early GTIs remain relatively affordable at five to twenty thousand dollars, but they are steadily appreciating. Japanese hatchbacks offered smiles, but the GTI made fun feel mature.
Ferrari 458 Italia
The Acura NSX of the 1990s was brilliant, but it still played second fiddle to Italy’s greatest creations. The Ferrari 458 Italia, with its naturally aspirated V8 and razor sharp handling, was proof that passion and performance can live in the same body. It sang to redline in a way that no Japanese supercar ever quite matched. Today, 458s command prices in the two hundred to three hundred thousand dollar range in the United States, with Canadian values creeping higher due to rarity. The NSX was smart and precise; the Ferrari was art and adrenaline rolled into one.
Lamborghini Countach
The Countach was the bedroom poster car of an entire generation. So much so they bought a new out! Japanese cars of the era were practical and reliable, but none had the outrageous wedge styling and scissor doors that defined the Countach. Driving one was more theatrical than comfortable, with poor visibility and awkward ergonomics, but that didn’t matter. It was a car about presence, not practicality. Prices today are well into the four to five hundred thousand dollar range in the United States, with Canadian auctions seeing similar results. No Japanese car of the 70s or 80s ever came close to this level of spectacle.
Jaguar E Type
Few cars can rival the Jaguar E Type for pure beauty. Even Enzo Ferrari admitted it was the most beautiful car ever made. Japanese cars in the 1960s were sensible and dependable, but the E Type was rolling sculpture. Its long bonnet, curvy lines, and impressive performance for the time made it the dream car of enthusiasts everywhere. Well kept E Types now command one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty thousand dollars in North America, proof that desirability never faded. Japan built reliable coupes in the same era, but none of them stirred the soul like a Jaguar E Type.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Japanese sedans like the Infiniti G35 or Lexus IS built reputations for being dependable and occasionally sporty, but the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio injected passion into the formula. With a Ferrari derived twin turbo V6, it made over 500 horsepower and felt alive every time you touched the throttle. While Japanese rivals played safe, the Alfa went all in on emotion. In the United States, lightly used Quadrifoglios can be found for around sixty thousand dollars, with Canadian values slightly higher, and they remain one of the most charismatic modern sedans ever built.
Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 was more than a car—it was a cultural icon. Immortalized by James Bond, its styling and presence made it instantly desirable. Japanese cars of the same era were reliable but lacked this kind of glamour and sophistication. Driving a DB5 was less about outright performance and more about feeling like the most interesting person in the room. Today, DB5s fetch over one million dollars at auctions in the United States and Canada. Japanese classics of the same period are cherished for their durability and charm, but none carry the same aura of style and legend as the DB5.
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Car loans are one of the most common ways people fund car purchases. Like any other kind of loan, car loans can have certain features that can be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage to the borrower. Understanding all essential facts about car loans and how they work to ensure that you get the best deal for your financial situation is essential. Here are 25 shocking facts about car loans that most drivers don’t realize:
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
