You're right Rich in terms of the selection of cars in North America; lousy compared to Europe. Japanese cars are reliable but oh so BORING. I have thought about a Fiat 500 but my wife thinks they are just too small. Here in "Chemical Valley" BMW's are like...butts, everyone's got one, so they are out as well. I guess that's part of the reason I went for the F, it's a car I have wanted since '98, modern, and looks like nothing else on the road.