---
title: 'The Best Car To Buy In 2026 Is Also The Dumbest'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gq1yHFKGJEI'
video_id: 'Gq1yHFKGJEI'
date: 2026-08-03
duration_sec: 741
---

# The Best Car To Buy In 2026 Is Also The Dumbest

> Source: [The Best Car To Buy In 2026 Is Also The Dumbest](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gq1yHFKGJEI)

## Summary

In this video, Brad Danger, host of Ideal, discusses his dilemma of choosing a new car after giving away a GT-R, Supra, and Shelby GT350. He ranks seven potential options based on a humorous 'scientific metric' of how badly he wants to say it's better than someone's dream car, covering the C8 Z06, G80 M3, Lexus GX550, Dodge Demon 170, Nissan Z, Audi R8, and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing.

### Key Points

- **The Problem: Empty Garage** [00:02] — Brad has given away a GT-R, Supra, and Shelby GT350, leaving his garage empty. He needs to decide what to buy next, humorously framing the decision as choosing among 'car guy personality disorders.'
- **C8 Z06: The Obvious Answer** [01:37] — The C8 Z06 is the 'correct answer' but irritating because it's a Corvette. It has a naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8 revving to 8,500 RPM, 670 horsepower, mid-engine layout, and sounds expensive. It's cool to everyone, not just car people, but requires becoming a 'Corvette guy.'
- **G80 M3: Controversial but Great** [03:15] — The G80 M3 was roasted at launch but is actually a monster. Twin-turbo inline-six, huge tuning potential, modern chassis, four doors, and big aftermarket. It can be a luxury commuter, track weapon, or tire destroyer. Prices still have 'BMW arrogance,' but it will age into a bargain like previous M3s.
- **Lexus GX550: The Mature Choice** [04:33] — Brad considers the GX550 after owning a Bronco Raptor and Jeep Wrangler. It has a twin-turbo V6, multi-terrain selector, crawl control, disconnecting front sway bars, and KDSS suspension. It's beautiful inside and out, blending overlanding capability with luxury.
- **Demon 170: The Chaos Machine** [05:45] — The Dodge Demon 170 makes 1,025 horsepower with the red key, from the factory with a warranty 'kind of.' It's heavy, loud, drinks fuel, and handles like a haunted sectional sofa. It's content gold because it's chaos, and people click on chaos. Downsides: expensive tires, terrible fuel economy, and intense Dodge fans.
- **Nissan Z: The Scrappy Pick** [07:03] — The Nissan Z has a twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel drive, manual available, retro styling, and a Z badge. It has soul and an old-school front-engine, rear-drive vibe. The NISMO with 420 horsepower is more serious. But value is an issue; once expensive, you cross-shop used Supras, M cars, Corvettes, and older R8s.
- **Audi R8: The Gentleman's Choice** [08:27] — The second-gen R8 has aged into greatness. It has a naturally aspirated V10, which is rare in 2026. It's the car equivalent of a black turtleneck with a murderously expensive watch. It's mature and cool, but might be too mature for someone who just gave away a flame-shooting GT-R.
- **Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: The Practical Sleeper** [10:06] — The CT5-V Blackwing makes 668 horsepower, hauls stuff, fits people, and doesn't explode insurance. It's a practical choice that thrives on mountain weekends. The downside is admitting maturity and the 'grandpa baggage' of Cadillac, but it will gap an M4 without trying.
- **Final Verdict: Best, Coolest, Dumbest** [11:02] — Brad concludes: best car is Z06, coolest is R8, dumbest content monster is Demon, comment war starter is G80 M3, and for dirt roads, the GX550. His heart says R8, brain says Z06, inner 12-year-old says Demon, trail rat says GX, and accountant says stop.

### Conclusion

Brad humorously weighs seven potential next cars, balancing performance, style, content potential, and practicality. Ultimately, he leaves the decision to his audience, inviting them to suggest the next car while acknowledging that any choice will be a 'questionable decision.'

## Transcript

I have a serious problem. And no, it's not financial responsibility. I mean, that ship hit an iceberg a while ago, caught fire, and got gap insurance years ago. [music] Now, I just gave away a GT-R, then I gave away a Supra and a
Shelby GT350, which means I've officially given away the three main car guy personality disorders. I mean, the GT-R was for the guy who says, "Bro, it's basically a supercar while wearing New Balances and refreshing Bring a
Trailer." The Supra was for the guys who actually said, "It's better because it's a built by BMW." And then cries alone when someone calls it a Z4. And well, the Shelby was for the guy who wants a Mustang, but with just enough race car
trauma to make parking lots feel like qualifying at Daytona. So now, the garage is empty. And the question is, what do I buy next? Because once you've favorite arguments on wheels, where do you even start over? Do I buy a Corvette
and become everyone's divorced uncle? An R8 and just pretend I'm not just buying an Urus on with better credit? A Hellcat Demon and voluntarily becoming a Cars and Coffee police report? A Nissan Z and start defending Nissan in public like a
man has no shame? Or maybe a Civic Type R and pay supercar money for something 14-year-old with a vape and a Gundam addiction? Today, I have searched the I'm going to go through the actual picks
for the next car, ranked on one very scientific metric: How badly do I want if I say it's better than their dream car? So let's start the fight. Like, the year. Go click the pinned first comment and get free entries into the
next giveaway. Because number one, we are starting with the C8 Z06, the obvious answer that annoys pretty much everybody. Okay. Let's get this all out of the way. The C8 Z06 might be the correct answer, and
that [music] is deeply irritating. I mean, nobody wants the correct answer to be a Corvette. That feels like admitting your dad was right about something. I mean, the Z06 has a naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8 that screams [music]
to 8,500 RPM, makes 670 horsepower, looks exotic from some angles, sounds expensive, and has the engine in the middle like God and Ferrari intended. But, because it wears a Chevy badge, half the internet treats it like it
comes with a free Home Depot apron. That phrase is disrespectful now. I mean, the Z06 is just good, period. It's America walking into the European supercar room, and saying, "Cool Lamborghini, [music] bro. How about the Audi infotainment?" A
unbelievably attractive who also requires three emotional support lawyers. A Z06 is like dating someone hot who can also change their own tire Everybody has one now, or at least
everybody on YouTube does. It's the new I finally made it influencer car. Buy one, and I'm just completing the most predictable car guy evolution path ever. I mean, Miata, Mustang, Supra, GT-R, Corvette, podcast.
American maintenance, and naturally aspirated noises, plus enough presence that people who don't know cars still go, "Whoa, what is that?" A GT-R is cool to car people. A Z06 is cool to everybody. The only downside is that I'd
have to become a Corvette guy, and uh I'm not sure my knees are ready for the I'm not sure my knees are ready for the jean shorts, jorts, brother. Okay, this is like the GT-R, but better in pretty much every single way. You know, the
beaver, the nostrils, the architectural crime, the front end that looks like BMW lost a bet with a radiator company. And here is the annoying part. It is really, really good. I know. I hate it, too, but it's really good. The G80 M3 is one of
those cars everyone roasted at launch, then quietly realized that it was a monster. Twin-turbo inline-six, huge tuning potential, modern chassis, four usable doors, real speed, big aftermarket. Depending on spec, it can
be a luxury commuter, a track weapon, or a car that ruins your rear tires while the heated seats massage your moral compass. Right now, prices still have the BMW arrogance baked in. You're paying for performance, sure, but also
the privilege to explain the front bumper to strangers. But this is exactly the kind of car that ages from controversial when new to bro, it's actually kind of a bargain. I mean, the F80 did it, the E90 did it, which I've
owned both and I love. BMW fans do this every single generation. Hate the new M3, call it too heavy and too ugly, then 5 years later call it underrated and pay too much for a clean one. We are predictable little idiots, guys, and the
G80 will be no different. Okay, hear me out because here is where I lose the sports car crowd entirely. After the GT-R, the Supra, and the Shelby, I'm [music] Not because I've given up, because I've been in enough sports cars
somewhere the road stops existing. I've had a Bronco Raptor. I've had a Jeep Wrangler named Tina, and honestly, I kind of miss them. Kind of. I miss having something that can handle a trail without me worrying about the front lip.
Something where the answer is we can go up there is always yes instead of let me check the ground clearance calculator, like on my Safari. The new GX550 is not your grandfather's Land Cruiser base grocery getter. It's got the full
overhaul, twin-turbo V6, a real multi-terrain selector, a crawl control, disconnecting front sway bars, and a KDSS suspension system that makes [music] It's also genuinely beautiful on the
inside and the out, just like your boy. Like, is this a Lexus or a boutique hotel beautiful? Lexus came in and said [music] we are going overlanding, but seats because we're not animals. Okay, so now is for the least responsible
so now is for the least responsible option, a Demon 170 that makes 1,025 horsepower with the red key from the factory and with a warranty, kind of. That's not engineering. That's Dodge discovering liability waivers and
asking, "What if the engine was the lawsuit?" And boy, oh boy, I love it. While everyone else chases EVs, emissions, and software subscriptions, Dodge will respond with a supercharged V8 that wants to punch the
earth backwards. It's heavy, it's loud, it drinks fuel like it's punishing dinosaurs personally, and it handles like a haunted sectional sofa. None of that actually matters. Floor it and your brain stops asking questions. You don't
drive a Hellcat because it's smart. You drive it because sometimes you just want a cartoon by a raccoon with access to ethanol. Content-wise, this thing is absolute gold. A Z06? Yeah, it's impressive. An R8? Oh, it's classy. A
impressive. An R8? Oh, it's classy. A Demon is chaos, and people click on chaos. Nobody sees a Demon thumbnail and thinks, "I bet this is nuanced." The downside? Well, it's obvious. Tires are expensive, fuel economy is a joke,
and every Scat Pack kid's going to follow you around like you're the final boss of takeover culture. Also, Dodge people, they're intense. Say one negative thing and your comments turn into a Waffle House fight at 2:00 a.m.
But, if your goal is views and noise, this is the strongest contender car on this list. Okay, we've all been there, we've all been through it. I mean, basically volunteering to get jumped in the comments. I mean, on paper, it
should be perfect, a Supra killer in a way. Twin turbo V6, rear-wheel drive, manual available, retro styling, Z badge. Yet, the internet talks about it like if Nissan personally insulted their mother. "It's old underneath. It's too
expensive. The Supra is just better." Fine. Some of that, oh, most of it is people. We scream, "Build affordable enthusiast cars," then a the actually does it, and we complain the steering rack is from 2009. The Z,
it has soul. It has that old-school front-engine, rear-drive coupe vibe that's basically extinct now. The NISMO with 420 horsepower is genuinely leaning into making [music] it more serious. It's the scrappy pick, not the
fastest, not the most polished, but you root for it anyway. Like the guy at the gym with terrible form, but unstoppable confidence. Mhm. The issue, it's value. Once it gets expensive, you're cross-shopping used
Supras, M cars, Corvettes, maybe even older R8s. Would you buy a one over a Z06? No. Would I buy one because it makes the internet mad and I secretly like it? Oh, absolutely. Okay, and now I kind of have to go back to my roots
because I've owned a Gen 1 R8, and this is kind of the gentleman's choice. By Lamborghini V10, but doesn't want to look like he owns three vape shops and a tax problem. The second-gen R8 has aged into greatness. Not as good as the first
gen, fight me in the comments on that, but it is a really good-looking car. And when new, people said it was too clinical, too safe. Now it looks pretty timeless. The car equivalent of a black turtleneck with a murderously expensive
watch. And it has a naturally aspirated V10. In 2026, that sounds like finding a dinosaur in your garage. No hybrid nonsense, no fake spaceship sound, just 10 cylinders of German Lamborghini violence behind your spine. An Huracan
pulls up and screams, "Look at me, brother." An R8 pulls up and says, "I could have bought the Lambo, but I also know how to read a wine list." You can trip, hand someone the keys without
praying to the insurance gods. The downside though, it might be a little too mature. I mean, the R8 is the car that you buy when you're done doing stupid stuff, and I clearly just gave away a GT-R that shot flames, then a
inspired, and a Shelby GT350 that was straight-piped. That's not a very clean slate, Brad, [music] is it? That's evidence of a of a problem. So, where's the drama? Where's the will this ruin my life factor? Still, if I wanted
every gas station into a TikTok meet, I mean, the R8 is the move. Not the loudest pick, even with a good exhaust, but it's definitely the coolest pick, and there is totally a difference. Add it to the pile options, and the garage
gets even more chaotic. So, in the real world, this thing makes more sense than mean, it hauls stuff, it fits people, it doesn't explode your insurance, and when to disappear into the mountains for a weekend with a cooler and zero cell
service, it doesn't just arrive, it thrives. The downside is I'd have to admit I've matured, which is terrifying. A man who once gave away a Supra and a GT-R is now considering a Lexus SUV, and somewhere on the internet my younger
self is filing a restraining order. I mean, and here's the thing, I keep coming back to it. The Z06 is faster, the R8 is cooler, the Demon is louder, none of them can ford a creek, and normal people control the algorithm.
Also, Cadillac still has grandpa baggage, except the grandpa has 668 horsepower and will gap your influencer spec M4 without trying. So, what should I buy next and give away? If I want the best car, it's Z06 hands
down. If I want the coolest car, second gen R8. If I want the dumbest content monster, it's going to be the Demon. If I want to start a comment war, well, controversy now and flip it for profit later, G80 M3. And if I want to go find
a dirt road and actually use it, well, it's not a car, it's a truck, a GX550, which yes, is on the Tundra platform. My heart personally says R8, but my brain says Z06. My inner 12-year-old says Demon. My inner trail rat, who misses
the Bronco Raptor says GX. My accountant says, "Please stop." And now there are seven bad decisions instead of six. So, now I want to hear from you. What should be the next car? And before you type Miata, no. This is not a therapy
comments down below. Tell me why you'd want to win or tell me why I'm wrong and explain why your favorite depreciating financial weapon deserves [music] a spot in this garage. Now, I just gave away a GT-R, Supra, and Shelby. Now it's time
to make the next questionable decision. And if [music] the comments get toxic, good. That means we picked the right cars. Like, subscribe so we hit 2 mil by entries for the next giveaway. Check out some of these Ideal vids. I'm Brad
Danger. This is Ideal. And promise me one thing. Keep living the ideal one thing. Keep living the ideal lifestyle.