Dude, 9:1 compression isn't very high at all. I sure hope he could get some power outta the engine. Also, those hatches being light as a feather really make up for the lack of power most hondas have.
Yes, I under stand about the gearing, my mom's civic is slow as crap but will get off the line quicker than my car because of gearing, though it sucks on the highway and won't even top 100. I understand you like high revving engines, that's cool. I don't. And you say you have a larger RPM band to work with, though you really don't since you have to stay in the higher RPM range to move.
