amsandun

Can't get any more true. Also, I second the "Germans love plastic" sentence. 

rather than "overengineered", I would say "engineered for different operating conditions". If a car travels most of the time above 200kmph , then the suspension like the bottom picture is mandatory to ensure handling and comfort. About plastics, they are composites not the type you have in the toilet bucket etc,its also part of innovation for cost and weight reduction. Even the Honda civic has a plastic Valve cover now, doesn't it?

This! Drive an euro at high speed and compare it to a Jap car, they're 2 different leagues!