Apples and cumquats
Mr. Hugh,
A little about my self, I have spent time in the auto industry, motorcycles, retired from the brewing industry, and while at it, dabbled "heavily" in aviation. How did I find time to do all that, simple, with great difficulty.
No matter how many Yugos or Corvairs, or what ever didn't make the scene, although you need to get your numbers straight, the auto industry has far fewer complaints that GA has ever dreamed of.
The number I gave you, and I know you'll agree, is comparing 500,000 GA engines built over a span of some 50+ years vs. the millions that the auto industry produces yearly.
Difference is that there are more Yugos, and Pintos in aviation than in the auto industry.
Not you, or I or any one else flying should have to pay for some manufacturer's mistakes, year after year, after year. If the automotive lemon law were include aircraft engines, we would no longer be able to fly.
As to taking yearly care of one's car, I would venture to say that even you do not take care of your car the way you take care of your airplanes engine. I know you would not be please at having to add oil on a hourly basis, and if you drive from sea level to Grand Canyon as I have, I doubt you'll lean your car the way you have to lean your flyer.
In the last six months alone on our field, at least 4 engines had to have top end work (and at least two more pending), and I assure you that all these owners take very good care of their flyers. I also know for a fact that "none" of them ever perform yearly maintenance of their daily drivers as they do in their ACs.
BTW, we have a Corvair power homebuilt on our field, and just like the car, it's requires very little attention, save for the aircraft related components. Oil consumption, FYI, not known it's changed every 40 hrs. Yeah, he does have to lean, but that will soon stop with a change to a CV carburator.
If we meet up. I'l buy you an apple or orange, your choice.
T88
RV10/Lycosuarus 540