Driveable Differences: 89-90 vs. 91-94

[Neejay]

I know the DOHC is 155bhp, 160ft/lbs and the SOHC is 140bhp, 152ft/lbs, but for a daily driver, will I be able to tell the difference?

Im gonna look at this auto 89 fastback with 151k miles. The only reason Im thinking of getting an auto is because its only $1,150.

If it was a decent DOHC manual, I was gonna keep it NA, but since its a SOHC automatic...Im thinking of swapping.

[Altiman94]

you will notice a difference between the models, and more so with an automatic. If you wanna swap, get a cheap one and do it that way. Dont waste your money on a newer one if you are just planning on swapping.

[Neejay]

You dont think $1,150 is cheap enough just to swap later?

[S13HatchLuvr]

trust me... there's a huge difference in power location in the SOHC vs. the DOHC... the dual is definitely better as a daily driver, simply because you can access power where you should. (even modded DOHC will usually get wheezy after 6K rpm, but that's not daily, now is it?) anyway, i just got rid of my '91 hatch (totaled... i hate that) and bought an '89 coupe, and even with mods, there's simply no way that the SOHC will feel like the DOHC... sure, SOHC guys, you can come up with examples that will surely outrun DOHCs, but they feel completely different.

[S13HatchLuvr]

SR power all the way!!! but for a daily driver/beater, definitely the DOHC with '91 camshafts

[Neejay]

trust me... there's a huge difference in power location in the SOHC vs. the DOHC... the dual is definitely better as a daily driver, simply because you can access power where you should. (even modded DOHC will usually get wheezy after 6K rpm, but that's not daily, now is it?) anyway, i just got rid of my '91 hatch (totaled... i hate that) and bought an '89 coupe, and even with mods, there's simply no way that the SOHC will feel like the DOHC... sure, SOHC guys, you can come up with examples that will surely outrun DOHCs, but they feel completely different.

Well I guess I should have mentioned that Ive never driven a DOHC before (my 94 civic was SOHC non-vtec, which was an auto and totalled). So Im wondering if I should just get this deal, and swap later, or just wait for a manual DOHC and go NA...but turbo does sound sweet...

[BoyWonder]

If you plan on swapping not too long after purchase, get whatever is cheaper. For daily driving, the DOHC is going to be better since it's slightly stronger feeling, and newer (which I guess can contribute to it feeling stronger, but also can mean more life left). I have driven both and I think I like the feel of my DE manual over the E manual. The DE is in my 95 while the E was in an 89 Hatch.

[Neejay]

If you plan on swapping not too long after purchase, get whatever is cheaper. For daily driving, the DOHC is going to be better since it's slightly stronger feeling, and newer (which I guess can contribute to it feeling stronger, but also can mean more life left). I have driven both and I think I like the feel of my DE manual over the E manual. The DE is in my 95 while the E was in an 89 Hatch.

Well, if I get this car, it'll leave me with about $600...so Im thinking in about 2 months, I'll have enough for the sr20. Dont know about the money for the installation though.

And as much as I hate getting another auto..hopefully I can wait it out for the sr20.

[PROJECTRB240SX]

BAHHH WHY GO SR WHEN YOU CAN GO RB AND BE MUCH MORE SATISFIED AND EVEN SAVE MONEY.

[BoyWonder]

To each his own, I suppose.

I'd definately take an RB over an SR though..

[Neejay]

To each his own, I suppose.

I'd definately take an RB over an SR though..

Well, originally I'd chosen the RB, but after asking around, some people claimed that the RB would cost more to install.

[SeVa-S13]

Stick with the SR.

[BoyWonder]

Stick with the SR.

:rolleyes