Here is my meaning.... a human body with a soul is an alive man... a car with a soul is liked a living car... it alive and have its own character. Everytime you look at it, it's like it saying something to you. A car without a soul is a dead car, it may run well but it's dull and boring... Any Ferrari is alive and kicking... Everytime you look at it, it saying... "drive me, I want to go fast"
To me, soul is the ability the car has to make the hair on the nape of your neck stand on end, and send a shiver down your spine. The ability that an inanimate object has to elicit an emotion from you.
Yes, I think that is very much it. The car, through its maker, actively engages you in a conversation when you drive it, when you maintain it, even when you just look at it. It speaks to your emotions. You drive it when you dont need to and you go out of your way to admire it Whether any particular car has soul is subjective. But I think the definition is fairly universal.
What did it smell like? HOT OIL? That to me was part of the old Porsche soul - not quite the same with der wasserboxer...