Just yesterday I was searching for a BMW 5 series E39 to see how they still hold prices, but now that I know Lada was made perfect from the beginning BMW doesn't make any sense anymore. Related to the topic of the post in my opinion cars or any other product manufactured in this market economy has probably half the quality it had during the social economy.
They might have much more features, but they break much more faster, they are way more expensive to repair and all that comes on the back of the buyers. In my opinion the best cars have been produced until 2006. These models have had serious build quality, pretty nice design, enough safety and comfort features, good performances and decent fuel consumption and the price paid for the quality one got was honest in my opinion.
Nowadays almost all things are made to get broken too often. Cars, smartphones, shoes, clothes, furniture...everything. You have a whole different variety to choose from however, but what's the point if they all brake at the same time.
Interesting topic. I have discussed it many times, especially with Germans. They have had their golden era and saw this difference in markets better than I.