New car fever

You don’t need a new car, said one of the Tappet brothers on Car Talk, until your monthly repair bills exceed what your monthly car payments would be.  I am approaching that point, so I’m researching new cars.  Since you readers express remarkable expertise on just about every topic I raise, I come to you for advice.   My impression is that automobile quality and technology have come a long ways since I last bought a car over a decade ago.  So help me out.  Though I would love one of those autobahn monsters they laud on Top Gear, I need something affordable, though preferably with a little pizzazz in the way of performance, styling, or technology.  Do any of you have a car that you’d recommend or recommend that I stay away from?  What would you consider the best American-made vehicles (whatever that means these days)?  What considerations should I factor in?  And how much should a person offer below the sticker price?