Japanese engine manfacturing company that makes more then just cars. Their engines are very relible and well-built, however its nothing special to have one.
Your 2004 Honda Civic has the same specs as my 1995 Ford Contour (
hazardmobile) with 103,000 miles on it, yet I would still beat you if we raced due to the drag produced by the 30 pounds of NOS stickers and the 20 pound inverted 747 wing on 3 foot stilts attacthed to the rear of your front-wheel-drive car.
My mom drives a 2001 Honda Accord V6 (proof that NOT ALL imports are 4-bangers, most of them are). It is fun to drive and everything, and looks pretty good, until you slap a sheet metal tube to the exhuast which makes it sound like the 2-stroke yamaha engine on my fishing boat and a 10 foot inverted wing which belongs on a commercial airliner.
I won a race in my Honda, a lawnmower race.
Having a small fuel-saving japanese car is great, until you destroy the engine parts and wheel geometery by 'trick' or 'ricing it out'.