what are the drawbacks/upsides to each of the engine layouts?

 

Horizontal lowers the center of gravity of the car and can be more stable, but is uh, quite the bitch to work on from what I've haerd.

 

I think the flat four has less vibration. But the inline four is simpler.

 

The opposed engine typically has less vibration, but the engine bay's they're crammed into makes them harder to work on, they usually make quite a bit of torque, and usually take to turbo well. Inline 4's have a simpler oiling system, crank is more conventional, and it doesn't require the same girdth in the engine bay to be mounted correctly.

 

And you don't have to pull the motor to get at the pistons. Bleh, I speak from personal experience. If you ever get a subaru, don't break anything internal PLEASE.....

 

does anyone know which way the pistons move?
someone told me they move front to back for the 4 stoke cycle
and inline moves up and down! can any one tell me if this is true?

 

They move side to side.

 

www.howstuffworks.com

!

 

as in left to right?

 

www.howstuffworks.com