Its all about HP per weight ratio. The small rice burner types can be as fast as the heavier muscle cars because they weigh 1,000 lbs less.
However, the smaller 4 cylinder engines have to work a lot harder to achieve the same HP as a V8 and will wear out faster.
For my tastes, I would rather have the smoothness and grunt of a V8 Camaro or Mustang beneath me rather than the shaking, screaming buzz-bomb of a 4 cylinder.
Also, I'd rather be in a bulkier Camaro or Mustang than a light weight Civic should I get into an accident.
The Zetec is a decent contemporary engine, and the new SVT Focus has squeezed a lot of HP from it.
