For Italians, adequate technology...
At least the Ford looks ok.
I actually saw a new Ford Focus sedan the other day, and it took me a second to realize what it was. Looked really good for a Focus.
^ New cars are sold on the premise that the dealers make their money repairing them (especially higher end). Not wholly unlike wireless companies selling phones cheap so they can rake in the money on the monthly service.
As the Toyota iQ has been mentioned,
how about this the Aston Martin Cygnet based on the iQ but tweaked a bit to cover some of the issues mentioned about the iQ's interior and bodywork quality.
It's only £32,000 (€40,000)
http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/aston-martin-cygnet
Reminds me a little of Grandad's old Vanden Plas Allegro.
Jeremy Clarkson sells his Mercedes and takes £87,000 depreciation:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2571470/Yours-13-000-Jeremy-Clarksons-Mercedes-bought-2002-100-000-reviewed-Top-Gear.html
I finally saw (and heard) the commercial on TV a few nights ago. Mrs. WM kind of chuckled and murmured something along the lines of "Jesus Christ". Then I said "I KNOW!! Seriously? I work myself to the bone and all I have to show for it is a closet full of secondhand clothing! Where's the pool, mansion, and new car? And we don't even have kids!!"