Don't forget about the RV9
When I bought my 7A, I had a very specific configuration that I was looking for.
I wanted:
a tip up canopy for the unobstructed view from the cockpit.
a CS prop for obvious reasons
a 7 instead of a 6 for the larger tail, though I wasn't closed to a 6 if I found the right one.
Injected, 180 HP. (my Titan has 188 on the dyno)
I was less concerned with avionics. This combination didn't come up very often. I love my plane. It is all steam gauges, which may be a project soon enough, but they are what I am comfortable with for now.
I didn't consider a 9 because I am definitely interested in exploring gentleman's aerobatics.
I had a great conversation with Allan Nimmo of AntiSplat Aero the other day.
In his opinion, the RV9 has a much better airfoil than the 6/7. He gets a very high and efficient cruise speed and lands incredibly slow. He analyzed carefully how things fit and put his 9A together a bit differently than intended. The result, according to him, is a plane that cruises at 220 MPH on 7.5 GPH, or something like that, if it is inherently a bit less stable than a typical 9.
He did mention that due to the low speed lift performance of the 9 wing, that an A model is better than a TD, because when you drop the tail on landing, the wing wants to fly again unless you are really slow. Tough for crosswinds, he mentioned.
His performance numbers sound pretty incredible. Those aren't numbers for most stock 9s, of course, but pirate, if you are not planing aerobatics, the 9 might open up some good options for you. I have seen some nice ones.
A thorough pre-buy is essential. Get Vic Syracuse's book and read it.
There are myriad details to these builds and everyone of them is a little bit of an original.