If you like mechanic / metal working, why not start with a smaller car you like, and add deer-protection to it ? (full cage, front bull-bar, ect.). You get the advantage of small car (FE) and the protection you care about.
I am trowing this idea even if I know most people would not build a full race-spec cage in their subcompact in the event they were to hit a deer, but because I, personally, would have fun engineering and building such a car.
