The ideal position of the engine on a car will depend on a lot of factors. But in most FR people don't even think how crucial is this detail. Its basically proven, by the Mazda Miata, that the engine must sit at 75% (or 3/4) of its length behind the center of each wheel hub at the front. A 50% position (1/2) might be good for most applications, and that's why most FR cars will never reach their absolute performance in braking, aceleration and cornering due to the "lever effect" coming from the mass of a tall engine and all its peripheral equipment swinging front, back, left and right on the bay. Just because the engine is mounted on a subframe, doesn't mean that everything is shaking around it. Particularly, the entire suspension and all of its parts will be subjected to the directional change of masses coming from the car in contact with the soil.
People come with this wrong idea that the Honda Swinger 2000 was made to be exceptionally good on curves, but even if we compare the base proportion, the Miata gives more confidence to be handled at the sharpest trajectory of any curve. Miata was winning since day 1. The F20 engine of the Swinger sits very behind the front axle, so that is a big problem on braking and especially on downhill roads. Maybe on a very flat track you can exploit other characteristics of the car but even a mildly tuned Miata will put pressure on a sharp Swinger. Perhaps the only absolute advantage would be on a uphill, since the weight of engine and transmission will be directed towards the rear tires. But that also might come with the cost of frying the tires faster than the Miata.
I really don't believe most people get the idea of 50/50 weight balance. They don't know what it actually means. Its a number dictated on a magazine or a video, but not even proven correctly when they come with scales. Again, only the Miata is capable of handling that sharp weight distribution properly. Mazda engineers were really keen on finding the most perfect racing platform on a very small budget and simply have the best seller forever. And if we really think about racing in grand touring, rally, formula and autocross - categories that will demand the best of all worlds and a true library of mechanical concepts on your mind - then a wonderful world of complexities resides there for your delight.
Am I saying that the Swinger is the worst car? Never. Handling a Swinger sharp as a Miata might be even more delightful due to the challenges of keeping it going, and a true racer and tuner at heart is always trying to find some sort of complexity to decypher and delight on it. Both cars are excellent in their own ways, and I'm generally more favourable towards the one that is technically excellent and difficult. Again, I'd pick both cars. Perhaps only in a very ultimate choice, my heart will belong to the Miata motto, since this car manages to close all the possible gaps and deliver a true performance on the maximum level of tuning. Even on a uphill battle in the touge.
That's why, for me, comparing cars isn't always a case of making advertise for free, like most car magazines do. When comparing them, I'm comparing about the tuning potential of them, how difficult they will be to drive and what can be done next. I know most people just want a cool looking car out of the wash and detailing, but I cannot live without real performance. Never an "influencer". Just an artist, tuner at heart, rich & famous!
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