Autos with stock awsome sound systems; Recomend?

Buy the car you like and then improve the sound system if needed. Typically head units are pretty good these days. The weakness is amplification and speakers/sub. Find a good Car Stereo shop and buy some good components and have them put in. Even a little over $1K for amps speakers and sub (plus installation parts and labor $) will crush 99/100 factory offerings.

ET

I would prefer the sound of a Ferrari engine on song rather than any car stereo. All those valves bouncing up and down making a noise akin to a group of skeletons having an orgy in a biscuit tin. Music to my ears.

Gawdbless,

That's good because Ferrari uses Bose for their sound systems!

I read that the problem with aftermarket car stereo systems is that they are not calibrated to the specific car's interior and interior acoustics but that stock systems are calibrated to the car's interior by the manufacturer. Therein lies the problem with the performance of many aftermaket systems (supposedly). I'm not sure what goes into "calibration." I assume this means the system is tailored to the interior the way we try to get the right speakers and system for a particular room. Is this calibration true or a fallacy? If this is true, are the good aftermarket shops addressing the issue of calibration?

Well, few OEM's are "calibrated". Bose had a little speaker/enclosure with an amp inside and EQ circuit in it that was "set" for the particular car. This is not the biggest issue. A good shop will look at this and should have a spectrum analyzer. Implementing improved noise reduction through dynamat and other products can really improve sound as well. Still the better aftermarket drivers/crossovers and dynamics from amps with more power are a big thing. Focal and Oz make nice car gear. Kef used to and may still.

ET