My eye likes the more traditional look of the Winchester but the Marlin is really a better design IMHO. Winchester makes just one centerfire lever action, every thing they offer is derived from the M94. They do (or, did) make a M94 XTR "Big Bore". (307 Win, .356 Win., .375 Win, .444 Marlin, 7-30 Waters), essentially a beefed up M94. The .307 Win is a .308 Win with a rim, far more potent than any .30-30. Winchester's pistol caliber rifle is just another M94 spin-off. To me it always seemed odd to chamber pistol cartridges in a rifle length action. That's what the Winchester M92 was for, must of been to expensive to put the '92 back in general production (Rossi makes a '92 clone that's affordable and reasonably high in quality).
Marlin makes two wholly different centerfire lever actions. The M336 is their large frame (.30-30, .32 Spl, .444 Marlin, .375 Win, .356 Win, .38-55). The M1895 is their .45-70, and is derived from the M336. The M1894 is their small frame (.357, .45 Colt, .44 Mag, .218 Bee). The M336 has a solid top so it's real easy to mount a scope. You can scope a Winchester, they just don't look as nice. The Marlin M1894 is a smaller & handier rifle, since it's frame & bolt length are sized for pistol cartridges.
Marlin is a privately owned company, lever actions are their prime focus. I think their quality is higher and they certainly offer a ton of different versions and special runs. Winchester (it's really called U.S. Repeating Arms) has been bought and sold a number of times over the years and, near as I can tell, is run by foreign born bean counters. They make a lot of guns, but I don't know what the heck their focus is anymore, it certainly ain't lever actions.
To summarize:
If you want an affordable lever action for general purpose: get the Marlin M336 in .30-30.
If you want a powerful lever action for medium range hunting: get a Winchester XTR in .307 Win. They're still pretty common at gun shows.
If you want a fun-gun plinker: get a Marlin M1894 "Cowboy II" (or Rossi SRC 92) in .357 Mag / .38 Spl.
-- Kernel
[This message has been edited by Kernel (edited December 01, 1999).]