Phil:

IMO, "Performance" is a word to be avoided, it it cannot be avoided then ignored. Relative terms are always ambiguous unless set against a base point. Performance also does not necessarily mean more power, it could just mean eaaier starting, or a lower fuel rate. Or cheaper fuel.

But as a generality, to a person driving any of Honda's motorized roller skates a Mazda Miata is a performance car. Then the Miata driver runs up against a Cadillac with the Northstar engine and gets blown off the road by a big sedan. And the Cad driver is excited, so he buys a Corvette, and gets waxed by Porsche 933. The Porsche driver dreams of a Ferrari F-50. And so forth, ad infinitum. There's always faster, more maneuverable, prettier, more economical, etc.

But to someone flying an OS LA engine, almost anything is a performance engine in comparison.

Bill.