Some people "hate" on them because they prefer low-end torque response. The current Honda's, especially with the K series engines have no problem with low-end torque however. The other reason, is likely what the person talking about wings and spoilers said. There is a subculture of wanna-be racers that sprang out of the true import tuning scene and gives some Honda enthusiasts a bad name. These are the guys with bone stock Civics with 104 hp and a loud exhaust who rev up on you at stop lights as if they were driving a sports car.Incidentally, Honda technically does not have the highest horsepower per liter. Mazda does. The Mazda RX-8 makes more horsepower per liter than even the S2000 does. The Honda does have the most among piston engines though.It's also worth noting that horsepower per liter, while impressive, isn't what wins races or what determines overall performance. You can have 150 hp per liter in your 2 liter, but if the person next to you has 400 hp out of their 5 liter and a car that weighs about the same I don't think they are going to care as they watch you disappearing in their rear-view mirror. LOLDriving skill and performance metrics are what matter. Horsepower per liter is only interesting to engineers.