Best forum package?

[Halden]

Hello guys....!
I want to set up a forum - not unlike this one. It needs to have an up-to-date feel to it and able to take google ads and my own ads. Any thoughts on the best package available ATM? your suggestions will be highly appreciated...!

[StarBuG]

The best forum software out there is vbulletin (which powers this forum)
and you can get it here: ((login for URL))

Another big player in payed forum software is from Invision Power Services Inc.:
((login for URL))

There are also a lot of free forum software with the biggest being:
((login for URL))

But my recommendation would be vBulletin.

[woody]

There are more out there than the 'big three', and vBulletin is going thru some major Public Relations issues right now and many customers are very displeased.

I use XenForo on one forum, vBulletin 3.8 on my large site (6m posts), and SimpleMachines on a few small club sites. All have advantages and disadvantages.

From a total-suite package, IPB seems to get great recommendations but I have no experience with it.

I honestly would NOT recommend vBulletin at this time, but am unsure what other package I would choose.