are precious few drivers cars still being offered these days for enthusiasts. So, I have a hard time knowing what to say to people when they ask me this question. Usually, what they're really asking is, "does car x have a known bad reputation for reliability" and want some kind of thumbs-up or validation from someone they deem to be more mechanically knowledgeable. I don't think any of them are asking, "is this a cool or exciting car that you would buy?" because the answer for 96% of vehicles on the road today is a resounding, "no."
I'm with you in that it requires large displacement, forced induction, and/or a truly special chassis to be something I'd consider owning. I've tried to convince myself that its okay to have a normal people mover, but I just can't to do it.
That said, I do think it's a better looking car than many of the other small crossover offerings out there.