If you really want a first gen, get a 1.6 unless you can get a 1.8 for a comperable price. There is hardly a difference in feel between the two. The second gen feels awesome in just about every situation, it's such a better chassis, and the drivetrain, even though it's the same hp as the first gen 1.8, it feels ten times better. Get a second gen if you can. I had a 99 sport a few years back, it had the bilsteins and torsen lsd, what a great car! My only complaint is highway driving... Because they gear these cars for acceleration, when your doing 80 on the highway, your turning over 4000rpms, which makes the car feel like it's straining, and your fuel mileage suffers. Oddly enough, the ls-1 is at about 2000 rpms at 80, and gets 30mpg!