I suppose there could be some question of why would anyone be enthusiastic about some dumpy GM hatchback. The Prizm GSI is actually a pretty interesting and rare bird, besides being a blast to drive and practical car.
Most know the Prizm is a rebadged Corolla, built at the joint Toyota/GM NUMMI plant in California (now serving as the Tesla plant). The GSI version, built on the Corolla AE92 chassis, has all mechanical goodies found on the same generation Corolla GTS coupe, including 4 wheel disk brakes, a sports suspension, and the 4AGE engine. Not just any 4AGE, but the 1990+ small-port variety that was good for 130 HP.
I wonder if my engine has been replaced. Other GSIs I’ve owned had a plain exhaust cam cover instead of a big “Toyota”.
The body itself has some Toyota nerd appeal. The 4 door liftback AE92 Corolla was sold in various global markets, but was a Prizm exclusive in the US. It’s a love it or hate it design. Personally I love it’s simple shape, bulbous greenhouse, and minimal adornment.
I must be a minority because only a few were built and sold. I’m not sure how many non-GSI Prizm hatches there are, I rarely see them in person or on the webs, but there were only 830 GSI hatchbacks built all years combined. (This according to my nerdy friend who called and got the numbers from GM, and published on his site PrismGSI.com.) Many of those have been crushed by now. They are a very desirable 4AGE donor.