I wasn't promoting the four cylinder as being superior, not for this application anyway. What are some of your favourite engines Cap, to work on and also to drive? Do you ever work on classic cars?
i've got customers with 67 mustangs, 78 cadillacs, 79 trans am, a couple of old chevys, and a dodge or two. those are the most classic i get to see on a regular basis. the 67 stang just got totaled, ad the guys grandson was driving it, and got rear ended. hard. got a guy used to bring his 69 302 4 speed camaro to me, but he had to sell that. that was a crazy fast car. he's since replaced that with a cobra kit car, running a 5 liter ford. got another customer with an 87 mustang gt convertible with a small block ford, a novi2000 supercharger, and a couple of 10 second time slips....street driven.....but that car isn't in my eyes a true street car. it's too temperamental.
for ease of working on, i like the 2.2 toyotas, and most hondas. they're all crazy easy to work on. most gm v-6's are also pretty darned easy too. i like the 3.8's....all of them, and even the 3.1 and 3.4's. they seem to me to go long times with minimal maintenance. got one customer in a 94 regal 3.8 liter with 317k on the odometer.
driving? nearly all v-8's for me. 97 dakota 318, and my new mustang with a dohc 5 liter. i still have my 89 wrangler with a 2.5 liter iron duke. slow as molasses in January, but she gets me through the snow.
i've also got my 5 liter fuel injected 78 fairmont futura.