Only replacement I've toyed around with always comes back to the same thing, it has to have a V8. Mainly because I'm beginning to think that between 2.0, hybrids, and total electrics, V8s days look to be numbered in passenger cars. The same debate is facing supercars in that can it truly be one if it isn't 12 cylinders. I've gotten the impression that it has nothing to do with 4s, 6s, or 8s being able to produce the same amount of power (super or turbo) as much as it's purely about the number of cylinders.
Having said that, our old Honda has over 100 K and I'm beginning to wonder if a modern replacement may be in the furture. I'm diggin several different cars, but the majority of them generally have 2.0. Which I'm beginning to think is the modern or future equivalent of the SBC.
My main concern is that any new car purchase takes $$$ away the hope of ever dropping a V8 in a Kappa.