a little late on this... but i totally agree about cheapening the brand. but i guess you have to move some metal.
working with volvo, I wish i had the v40 here... or some of the cheaper optioned cars they have in euroland available to me. i have to have almost everything full jammed. volvo wants to compete as a luxury or near luxury brand and they think that if they start offering cars in the 20,000's, they'll be laughed at by the MB's and BMW's of the world...
yet we still have the c30...