ForbesAutos.com users are of two minds when it comes to shopping for new vehicles, according to the latest list of top 10 cars and trucks for which users request price quotes.

"What we see here are clearly two strong segments," says Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision Automotive. "One that has reliability first; and the second, esteem first."

Six of the top seven ranked rides on the ForbesAutos.com first quarter 2007 list — which covers the period January 1 to March 31 and is based on the number of dealer price quote requests submitted through the site — are cars that impress. They are: the BMW 3 Series, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Ford Shelby GT500, Lincoln MKX and Toyota FJ Cruiser. The other four are more practical and include the Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Pilot, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

"The list is comprised of cars that people are fantasizing about, as well as cars that people actually want to buy," says Gabriel Shenhar, senior auto test engineer for Consumer Reports magazine.

The two hybrids on this list also portend purchasing behavior among car buyers, says David Greene, automotive product analyst for J.D. Power and Associates. "There is a trend toward smaller SUVs and vehicles with better fuel efficiency, due to the rising cost of gasoline," he says.

The Lincoln MKX, a high-end midsize SUV with a distinctive panoramic glass roof, placed first in the current ForbesAutos.com poll. "It doesn't come as a big surprise due to the fact that the crossover segment, especially in the premium market, is hot," says Lincoln spokesperson Alan Hall. Last quarter the MKX tied for 11th place.

Consumer Reports' Shenhar agrees that the "next big thing" is the so-called crossover SUV — which borrows the construction of a car, rather than a truck, for a better ride. The Honda Pilot, Lincoln MKX and Toyota Highlander Hybrid are all crossover SUVs, while the Chevrolet Tahoe is a traditional, truck-based SUV.

The Ford Shelby GT500 ranks No. 2 on our list. Greene says that its popularity could be linked in part to the media buzz generated in January at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, where an 800-hp 1966 Shelby Cobra — the forbear of the Shelby GT500 — went for $5.5 million and the first production Shelby GT500 sold for $600,000. "Both cars instantly rose to celebrity status and helped raise the beloved enthusiast cars' status to a fever pitch," Greene says.

Three sedans — the Lexus IS, Lincoln MKZ and Mercedes-Benz S-Class — that made last quarter's top 10 fell from the ranking, leaving only two on the current list — the BMW 3 Series and Toyota Camry Hybrid. The 3 Series was the top-ranked vehicle last quarter, before slipping slightly now to fourth place. "It's not surprising to see BMW there," says Strategic Vision’s Edwards. "Overall, it's a very delightful car."

Slideshow: First Quarter 2007 New-Car Shopper Favorites