Microstation sounds like a pretty full featured app then!

I find that you can model most objects more easily in MAX rather than in a CAD application but admittedly at a loss of precision. I think the texturing options are more comprehensive as well.

Although there is much you can do in MAX to create some stunning renders I find that I do more rendering right in Poser and import the 3D elements as needed rather than the reverse. The availability of good lighting presets makes this more doable now than ever before.

No matter what the application is everything does seem to end up in Photoshop though for finishing :)