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For many people materialism is an important part of their lives; from looking their best, owning the largest house and wearing the latest jewellery. It makes a difference to how business people are perceived and can be used to make people feel better about their lifestyle. Competitiveness has been a part of western life for many years and with so much influence put on first impressions and constant advertising it does not look like changing anytime soon.

This is especially the case with cars with some drivers only caring about getting from A to B; while others want to get there in the biggest, formidable-looking and high performance car possible. That’s why premium car makers spend fortunes designing, updating and modernising models to bring them in line with driver’s expectations. Here are just a few reasons why a premium used Mercedes-Benz for sale remains so popular with motorist wanting more than run-of- the-mill:

Badge envy

The motor industry has some quality in-depth, so buying the best really does make a statement. Just look at the refinement that a Skoda now offers; pushing the bar up for Mercedes to justify its price tag. However, the reputation of Mercedes precedes it and the power of the badge should not be underestimated. When you see the large and muscular Mercedes badge adorning the front you know you are in safe hands and anyone seeing it from the outside knows you have paid for the best.

Coolness of the brand

Marketing plays a huge role in selling cars and building a brand that pulls drivers in and makes them fans. Mercedes is only second to Aston Martin in the cool brand shortlist coming in just outside the top ten, which is impressive but not surprising. Consider the fact that Janis Joplin did not sing about wanting an Audi, Jaguar or Porsche; she sang about desiring a Mercedes and that still rings true today.

Exceptional levels of refinement

When you step inside your car you can no longer see the formidable looks on the outside; that’s for other motorists to admire. This means that you need to know that your money is well spent with the levels of equipment, refinement and luxury inside the cabin. This is where Mercedes excels to the point where being in the back of the car is as exceptional as being in the front and any client, friend or family member is going to be in awe every time they sit in your Mercedes.

Hitting the roads since 1998, the Ford Focus has become the firm favourite among the everyday driver. While it may not be a heavy, battering ram of a muscle car or a fuel-injected throbbing sportster, it compensates for that in terms of pure practicality, making it ideal for the driver wanting to get from A to B with ease.

And, with the 2013 range, the new Ford Focus has maintained its top spot as one of the finest medium-sized family cars on the market, combining a host of new features along with its usual comfortable riding experience.

The range, as ever, has an impressive array of engine choices, all incorporated with Ford’s signature Ecoboost technology, which improves fuel economy by 20 per cent, along with markedly better torque and horsepower. While it’s no high-speed sports car, even the lowest powered engine in the range can make it from 0-62mph in well under 13 seconds.

But, a discussion on the engine is almost beside the point – no one has ever purchased a Ford Focus expecting a rollicking speed ride. The car has always prided itself most in terms of comfort, and with the 2013 models you can have all comfort you need, with smooth handling and an array of new features.

The improved selection of driver assist features are especially impressive, with adaptive cruise control, lane-change assist, electrically aided steering and traffic sign recognition all coalescing to make for an easier drive. It’s also a cruiser with an outstanding level of noise suppression and DAB and Bluetooth as standard, essentially future proofing it for at least the next few years.

Added to this is a somewhat improved dashboard and centre console which, while not quite leaping forwards to a touchscreen, has an improved graphic quality and slightly less finicky controls to create a more helpful user interface.

One slightly baffling change is the new lack of a three door option in the 2013 model. Although it’s not the end of the world – the car, after all, still maintains its appealing ergonomic design no matter how many doors are on it – it could strike the user as a curious alteration in a vehicle known for its wide range of options.

Essentially, the Ford Focus still works on the same level; a reasonably priced car that offers a smooth drive and a host of features.

While the range was never going to set the world alight for an adrenaline-fuelled petrol head, that was never really the point. If you’re searching for the vehicular equivalent of a flaming Sambuca, then you should look elsewhere. The Ford Fiesta 2013 is, instead, for the individual after more of a fine wine – refined, stately and with a smooth taste for the discerning driver.