I love the stiffer steering feel in my 2007 C280 -- which I came to appreciate all the more when I test-drove a variety of newer cars (Audi, Volvo, Subaru, Honda). My '07 is starting to wear down, though -- repairs starting to pile up -- so I think it may be the year to trade in. But is there anything newer, affordable (ceiling is $16.5K) and reasonably safe/reliable that compares to my C280 in the steering-feel department? I was surprised by how underwhelming and floaty the steering was in the newer cars I tried.