I proudly drive an 06 civic w/ 4 cylinders - motor trend car of the year. It gets good mileage, will probably last 250,000 miles, holds its value better than most, is extremely safe, is comfortable, looks good, etc. etc.
I don't feel the need to impress others nor worry about "performance." It was the best investment for a decent price. Whether I get to 70 miles an hour in 5 or 8 seconds just does not seem to matter, unless you are 19 YO. And in the cities, I never get the point of someone with a Maserati and a speed limit of 30 mph. But you get to constantly worry about whether someone rips it off or dings it.
But, to each his own. If someone wants to impress me, take the $90,000 for a BMW and spend it on those in need.