Mav I have to disagree there, your thinking of the Mach 1 for direct comparison to the XE rev1. The Mach 2 standard beat an LS if memory serves correctly. I've had 2 Mach I's, Mach II, and a Mach II GT. The Mach II could handle everything the GT could, the GT just did it all on normal fan setting whereas the Mach II needed them on turbo.
The Mach I was good for bartons but not for anything more, just wasn't powerfull enuf.