Burnout 3: Takedown is the only answer.
Paradise is massively over rated IMO and was more and more frustrating to play the more time you put into it. Having a crash mode could have elevated it a little more but 3 would have still won out for me.
Dominator
I had a friend with burnout 3. A lot of time was spent on crash mode. Also have paradise on PC, but I didn't play it that much.
Have to install paradise again and get into it properly.
I love legends, it’s my childhood. Played a lot of it.
I am currently playing Burnout Paradise, and since that is the only Burnout game I have played (and I don't like to play games that don't have PC ports, even though Burnout 3 looks amazing!), that is my favorite.
I am about to 100% Burnout Paradise. Once I do I will make a post about it. It's a great game, with honestly a few flaws, but it has become one of my favorite games.
I've had the privilege of playing Takedown on an OG Xbox, it was a pretty slick game but IMO Paradise is pretty much a direct upgrade. At least, I can't think of anything 3 did that Paradise doesn't do equally well or better with more polish, and that's through the rose tinted glasses of nostalgia.
Actually, one exception: Lazy Generation is peak in terms of arcade racing soundtracks.
