Most likely it was a feature that the Design team decided didn't add "fun" to the player experience. It is unlikely that there is any reasonable way to re-enable this feature.
One of the many things that were dumbed down for SR3, like getting rid of varied police models (fat cops, female cops, etc) in favour of one model with a few different faces.
I got places to go, people to see!
Or FrostBite engine style.....HNNNNNGGGHHHDestructible environments Red Faction style please!