Reminds me of the old arguments of 283 versus 350/383/400 smallblock Chevy. We had a Malibu that came with a 307 and when it smoked out (we're talking James Bond smokescreen here when you downshifted on the highway) Dad found a 283 somewhere and we installed it over a weekend.
I'll take that nimble little 283 over the frame flexing brute of a 396 any day. Even the fairly mild mouse motor could light up a lovely two tire fire.
