I had a 98 SE V-6 ATX, which was a GREAT car. Just bought a 98.5 SVT which is, in my mind, a much better car. However, in being so, i'm looking at two main things--- fun to drive and good at insulting the ricers. The SE just simply doesn't compare with the high revving engine and SWEEEEEET exhaust note of the SVT, not to mention the fun of rowing the gears. The SE is a great deal, and performance wise is not too far off from the SVT, according to the "butt-dyno", but the SVT is far and away more fun to drive. Plus- the name carries more weight with the Civic crowd, and I can make them all feel like jacka$$es when people like my friend spend $22k on a modded up Civic that still sucks and can't come CLOSE to keeping up with me on a twisty road, or in a straight line for that matter. Bottom line, want something fast and cheap, get the SE, want something that you'll enjoy driving that much more, get the SVT.
