It's actually not worse. The higest end Civic is a 4 cylinder whereas the highest end Camaro is an LS1 V8. At least if you start on the best available platform it makes sense.

Corey is right. The #1 argument for the V6 over the V8 is not having the money to purchase a V8. A stock, crate 350 SBC from GM is roughly $1200 whereas engine work alone on the 3800 I posted is more than triple that! Shit, my wife'll sell you her LT1 Trans-Am for $5000 at this very moment in time if offered. That's not much more than the engine work for the V6.

That turbo kit is nice, but how reliably are we talking about getting 400hp? You'd probably be spending a little bit more to repair whatever you shake loose while boosting the living hell out of your 3.8. 400HP in a V8 is (normally) completely reliable.

Plus, you're not going to get 12's on stock suspension in a V6 car, especially an FWD one. That's another big expense whereas most V8 cars are equipped pretty well in the back to handle that kinda abuse.

Again, just food for thought. I'm not trying to discourage anybody. I'm more trying to justify everything I've said in a V6 vs. V8 argument lately.