Well, many entry-level cars are not only economical in terms of maintenance and gas, but for singles/young couples with small children, they are good starter cars and today's subcompacts are superior in quality to the subcompacts in the past when they lacked air conditioning, power steering, power windows, anti-lock brakes, stability control, airbags, and AM/FM Stereo Radio. We still get nicer cars on occasion, but as a general rule, the subcompact and the compact by far have been the most common types of cars offered on all daytime versions of price, all the way back to the Cullen Era. Primetime, specials, and special weeks/shows are where we get our high-end cars. Plus, you can easily sell a new car and there are plenty of car buyers on a budget that would gladly pay $14,000 for a new car without any taxes by an independent seller.
With regards to trips, I like the variety the show offers, but I would create a fee game where there would be a special offer where the contestant chooses their destination if they win (a la Carmen Sandiego), with any place in North America financed by a common airline and hotel chain. Still, on IUFBs, you have weekend destinations, and even for a place like San Francisco or Lake Tahoe, there are more than enough people from Southern California who like those destinations due to their offerings.