Need Info Regarding The Vtec System

[DarkangeL]

Hey all,

Regarding the VTEC engines. I've read around a bit and have a rudimentary understanding of them. And the word VTEC seems to be almost synonymous with Honda Civics. But I do have a couple of questions;

Do I really need a VTEC driven Civic? Is there a very large difference in performance between a non VTEC and a VTEC? And how useful is it in daily driving?

If you take two similar engines, one with VTEC and the other without, will the non VTEC burn more fuel at higher RPMs (As I take it they've been designed to be economical?) than a VTEC at the same RPMs? Or are the VTECs built simply for more performance?

Are VTEC engines a lot more complicated than standard ones? As in, when it comes to repairs? Do they require extra attention when it comes to general maintenance?

Plus when test driving one, what sort of things should I check for to see if its a properly maintained one? For example; is there a noticeable change when the VTEC comes on? Should it be a smooth change?

I know there are a lot of questions, and I do apologize if these questions have been asked before, but I'm a complete noob at these things and I would appreciate some good answers, or at least some suggestions on good reading material.

Thanks all.

Edit: Seems to have done a double post. Can a moderator delete my earlier one?

Edited February 9, 2010 by DarkangeL