Aside from the cache, why a six over a four with same h.p.? Smoothness?, 1970-1976 914-4, 914-6 Options

[unpolire]

I have never driven a stock original 2.0 914-6. I have driven properly converted 914s with 2.7/3.0 transplants and my own stock 1.7Ls. Aside from the cache of a six in back, if you can have 200-250 h.p. from a four, why convert to a six? Is there a noticeable difference in torque and smoothness over a properly modified four? Can you feel it on the road? A serious question seeking the definitive answer that could save $10-20K later. Let's hear from both camps, pluses and minuses.

[mepstein]

I was under the assumption that the 2.0 six engine was only 200lbs more than a 4 and a 3.2 was ~ 250lbs more. I was also told that Porsche used to under estimate the hp of their engines so the 6's actually felt stronger than their numbers implied. I think it was the cost of the 914-6's vs 911's that led to their demise, not their performance.