I am in a older generation than most of the people on here and my generation always believed the bigger the better when it comes to engines. I have noticed that most people on here prefer the 2.x engines over the 3.0 that came in the first generation cl's, is this because of the problems with the transmissions or are there other reasons? The 2.x is still a SOHC VTEC isn't it? I could understand if it weren't. I have never seen a manual 3.0 either so I am guessing if you want manual the 4 cylinder is the only option also. Anyhow I was just wondering why it seems everyone on here seems to prefer the smaller engine that was available in these over their bigger brother. I have read and read on here but have never really seen this question answered

 

The 3.0 only comes in auto... and the auto transmission is a piece of horse poop on top of some garbage

 

^
2.x manuals are pretty much rock solid.
i have a 97 with 316000kms (196k miles)
and it still drives better than most cars it's age or newer with way less mileage
i get good gas mileage, sounds good, easy to drive, it takes a beating, and i've only recently had a problem with the engine, O2 sensor on header is throwing the CEL, but i've had the cl for about 50000kms and it's been through a -40 degree winter all outside, daily commutes of 300kms, and it never missed a beat
...and for a 3.0, with the thought of impending doom (tranny failure), i don't think i could ever really enjoy it, and certainly not have my fun with it, as i do from time to time with the 2.x
and yes 2.x are SOHC VTEC

and don't get us wrong, theres some people on here that probably love the 3.0's, but all you ever hear is the bad aspects, and for those the tranny is turrible, just turrible

 

If you're strictly referring to the 1st gen motors, the 4 cylinder has more mod potential. They can be converted to OBD1 which gives them lots of tuning options. Not that there's been a whole lot of high powered CL's on the site, but the potential is there. I think that's why the 2.2 and 2.3's are more popular. Plus it had a manual transmission.

Only reason I went with the 4 cylinder was for the 5 speed and better gas mileage. I had no plans of modding the car or keeping it for as long as I have.

I don't follow the J32 swaps all that much, but if they're relatively cheap and have tuning software available to them, that's the motor to have. Last time I looked into it, there was almost no support for any serious power adders.

 

Thats another reason its a costly swap, if u want to run high horsepower, you need something like AEM EMS or something similar, and those kits are expensive.

Another reason the 2.x's are popular is because u can swap an H22 in them and have a manual transmission with 200hp, which means the power of the J30's with higher revving and a manual transmission.

 

I''d take my 3.0 over a 4 cyl any day. I had a guy with a honda accord 2 door 2.2 lets say 96-97 rev at me at a light. I brushed it off since it was 1 am lol but he dumped it. So I said eh why not. I let off at 55 and was a few car lengths ahead of him lolz. Poor guy......

 

Same here. I couldn't imagine myself driving anything slower than a 3.0 CL.. Not saying the 3.0 is slow, it's just not that fast either. It def pushes you back in your seat when vtec hits on that first grear though.

 

Thats cuz it's a single cam. It would be reversed if I were the car next to you lol.

 

Most people prefer the 4 cyl because it's a direct swap for prelude engines, the 3.0 autos also blow out more frequently than the 4 cyls. I still prefer my 3.0 though

 

no, it's cause it's stock. my CB7 was just as fast as my 3.0 is now.

 

Single cams with that amount of power are few and far between from what I've seen.

 

I prefer the 2.3 for the mileage and the manual tranny. i cant stand driving automatic.

 

My buddy tried to race me in my 2.3L using basically the same car (96 Accord 2.2L) and I smoked him. Went 2nd to 4th and was still able to pull on him in 4th. He flew around me at like 80, but I wasn't going to be speeding like that through that area of town in the 55 mph zone. When I let out, I think I was up 6-7 lengths on him. And I thought my car was slow

 

auto sucks =[

 

I would much rather have a stick also but it is what it is I guess. I figured there were no 3.0's with a manual since I had never heard of anyone swapping theirs over on here. Well I guess I should say that there are times I prefer a stick over an automatic, with my bad back sometimes I hurt in my legs and on those days I am grateful for the automatic. I do have 2 other cars that are manual so I can still go out and have fun, one is my camaro that is close to 400 HP which is allot of fun to drive