For me, these cars are ALL about the engine...
I could have paid less for a car that was faster, and more reliable, and more durable, and more comfortable... but meh, where's the joy in that?
Brent, to answer your question as per my decision making process, in order of priority for me:
1. The engine HAD to match the car.
If I had bought an SPF or ERA I'd have chosen different engines, but with an Aluminium car, Alu Body, Alu billet bits everywhere, etc, there was really only one obvious option, an all Alu engine.
2. Weight - Is the enemy of anything that needs to move and accelerate. It's what makes Lotus, Lotus, and Porsche, Porsche. If its good enough for car manufactures to delete carpet, radios, door handles, and change glass to polycarbonate, or steel to Aluminium, and then to carbon fibre, so be it. Designers and Engineers bust a nut trying to shave ounces, so dropping 100lbs by using an Alu block, is a no brainier, particularly 100lbs on a sub 2000lbs car. The fact most all probably aren't able to tell the difference, is NOT relevant, if the placebo is.
My BMC road race bike weighs 6kgs (just over 13lbs). I can feel and tell the difference when I ride it compared to my 6.8kg (15lbs) road bike, my Strava times aren't that much different, but the pleasure off riding the BMC is just blissful. It's not even a full 2lbs difference.
3. Advancement / Progression - The automotive manufacturing world has followed this advancement and progression with intakes and heads. Iron out, Alloy in, and before you know it to Carbon or Carbon fibre wherever possible. Why stop at just heads and intake?
4. Durability - If you recall we discussed this at the time, and the truth is for a car that sees so few miles and heat cycles per year, opting for the more exotic, fully optioned specs, was a no brainier. Remember, I twisted your arm to upgrade to the forged SCAT crank, and the titanium bits. My car will never see 100k miles, the world would have run out of
oil 3 times over by then. Further,
AFAIK Alu blocks have been beat on and tested in many high end motorsports. So theoretically, any durability quotient should have well and truly be met. The fact they may not produce the same max HP wasn't irrelevant. The car is grossly overpowered as it is... Thanks for that by the way!
5. It was new and pretty... meaning we didn't have to go hunting in graveyards for a solid but seasoned block. Nor be held to ransom (time and money) for a virgin 427 Side Oiler that had been sitting all these years just waiting for me, if it even exists.
I hope that helps with your survey
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