I saw a LOT of those Fiat 500s all over Western Europe in June/July this year when i was driving this year on my Autobahn vacation.

Many were the convertibles and "snazzier" ones too.

Perhaps the lower purchase prices and $8.00 - $9.00 per gallon (from litres) prices were more compelling to Euro buyers than little things like safety and hospital bills after car crashes.

Reliabiity and safety wouln't count. Cars are mostly new, strict inspection laws coupled with rust and rot problems from heavy salt snow and slush over there, make cars pretty disposable after 3-4 years, they are usually gone and replaced by then.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)