well, the weight may not affect it as much like you said, but in a test between 2 rx-7's (one with a rotary, one with the ls1) the rotary walked away from it in everything, and the ls1 had over 100 more horses and a fair amount of more torque than the rotary. both were tuned by shops that specialized in that particular engine. what did that lead me to believe? the ls1 does weigh more than the rotary, and the weight in the front end messed with the handling, or something of the like.