Alright. This is getting kinda old, so I'm added my two cents and then just gonna start laughing about this. First of all, I think you have to have respect for anyone that doesn't buy the car runs 12's and knows nothing about why. You have to respect the man that invests in his car, and does the research about what products do and takes the time to install them, i.e. Ben. 2nd of all, I was flipping through the old issue of July 2000 SCC with the VW GtI vs. Si. The dyno charts of the Si aren't that impressive. Yes you have more Hp up top, but you need torque to get off the line.
Secondly to the post about the size of engines and stuff. IF you wanna talk about the size of an engine being all that, go rotary. The displacement will have a better output of power than our engines can. If you wanna still debate displacement, someone commented that why can't a 2.0 beat a 1.6? If you wanna go that way get a Hemi (please tell me you know what a Hemi is). Displacement freaks need to be educated.
Third, there is way more to a car than Hp and torque. Ever seen a V-8 in a car with crappy suspension? You ain't gonna see him go very fast in a turn. Better cars aren't determined by better engines.
Fourth, as to which car is better as a definitely champion. Who's driving? I have a 95 SE-R with CAI, Clutch and Motor mounts, and I don't think I could turn a 15.4 (a guy posted a long while back he hit a 15.4 with just a CAI. It's in the mailing list archives somewhere) CONSITITENLY because I'm not a strip driver nor a auto-x-er, I don't have the experience think I could turn a decent time, but who knows. I almost beat a modded V-8 cause he missed a shift. It's all about skill in knowing how to drive your car. The car that you built. Not the factory.
Whoever made the comment about our cars not looking good? I beg to differ. There are body kits out there for us, just not as radical. Radical isn't bad or good. It's a style, which means more options. I came across this on the web and fell in love with it.
http://importfan_200sx.homestead.com/200SX_95_UP_Page5.html
It's clean. It's a new look.
If you wanna talk about sales of cars, I could have sworn I read in Super Street that the SI is dead? If you want the issue number I'll go get it. Honestly correct me if I'm wrong but I thought it said it was. In the same issue the did an article of the Accord prototype or something, really sweet looking. I'd like to see that become a production car. I haven't personally gotten a chance to mess around with an Si country (I live in V-8 country), but I'd like to. I did get turned down by a guy who was doing a civic in work (in the end I think it will look good), but he said that he didn't wanna race cause he used to have an SE-R, and knew he'd lose. That's him. The next guy may have more skill and more money in his car that will blow me away. It's about respect.
If you want cars that respond to mods get a 350. Every trans am and camaro in the world runs flow masters, so they've gotten be worth something....I hope...If you car that is infact a car that will shock people ( I love doing that) and will still look good, invest in a car. Work on it. Learn to drive it.
The only people you are truly better at are the ones you beat in a race at a given time. Watch out cause next time the may get out of the hole a bit better and you might have to catch up.