Driving differences between VTEC and nonVTEC
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Driving differences between VTEC and nonVTEC
My son has had a 2000 EX with the VTEC 2.3 for 6 months or so and I liked it well enough to get a 98 DX with the non VTEC 2.3 2 or 3 months ago. Both are 5 speed manual 4 doors. I haven't driven the 2000 for quite a while and I lent my son the 98 while the 2000 was in the shop. He mentioned the 98 driving completely differently than the 2000. He just bought a 2010 Jetta and I'm taking his 2000 since it has less miles, full service records, and the 98 drinks oil like gasoline.
He's right...the 2000 is much different than the 98, the 98 seems a lot more responsive and fun to drive. I usually drive VW's or Subarus (but got tired of electrical problems and head gaskets) so I don't know anything about Hondas but I thought the VTEC would be livelier. Both have new plugs/wires/coil/clutch etc so they should be pretty much apples to apples, 2000 has 170k and the 98 has 210k, but if the 98 had less problems, I think I would take the 98 over the 2000, I don't know how many ave the chance to drive them back to back like this and make a comparison.
The PO of the 98 held some things back, which surprised me, he seemed like a decent guy. He told me when he dropped it off that he changed the oil every 3k but never checked it in between, said the oil light never came on and that was good enough for him. It went through the quart or whatever between the marks on the dipstick in 1200 miles so it's been low on oil a lot, since he owned it for 6 years. The guy put a transmission, clutch, axles, distributor, main relay and tons of other stuff on it but wouldn't bother to check the oil. I found a few oil change receipts in the glovebox that mentioned nothing on the dipstick when it came in.
There is a small puddle of coolant that appears above the starter from somewhere and it needs a timing belt. It's getting donated locally as a tax writeoff and it's a shame, because it 's a good car. Paint is all there, very little rust, but it's been neglected. Sad.
He's right...the 2000 is much different than the 98, the 98 seems a lot more responsive and fun to drive. I usually drive VW's or Subarus (but got tired of electrical problems and head gaskets) so I don't know anything about Hondas but I thought the VTEC would be livelier. Both have new plugs/wires/coil/clutch etc so they should be pretty much apples to apples, 2000 has 170k and the 98 has 210k, but if the 98 had less problems, I think I would take the 98 over the 2000, I don't know how many ave the chance to drive them back to back like this and make a comparison.
The PO of the 98 held some things back, which surprised me, he seemed like a decent guy. He told me when he dropped it off that he changed the oil every 3k but never checked it in between, said the oil light never came on and that was good enough for him. It went through the quart or whatever between the marks on the dipstick in 1200 miles so it's been low on oil a lot, since he owned it for 6 years. The guy put a transmission, clutch, axles, distributor, main relay and tons of other stuff on it but wouldn't bother to check the oil. I found a few oil change receipts in the glovebox that mentioned nothing on the dipstick when it came in.
There is a small puddle of coolant that appears above the starter from somewhere and it needs a timing belt. It's getting donated locally as a tax writeoff and it's a shame, because it 's a good car. Paint is all there, very little rust, but it's been neglected. Sad.
Re: Driving differences between VTEC and nonVTEC
Just a guess, but when you change the timing belts you also change the water pump so the leak may go away. The oil leak may be from the VTEC solenoid. It happens. So if you change that gasket (actually two) and the distributor shaft seal the oil leak may go away. A good mechanic should be able to tell.
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redman_em1
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Jun 25, 2011 07:49 PM