not really theres a bunch of little differences like audio, seating, brakes etc... and most people want a mostly stock car, do you want to buy a car with a swap done in someones garage that could have problems later on? well some people Im sure do, but certainly wouldnt pay as much as an original vtec. anyways the vin should have bb1 as the 4-6th digits I think, if not somewhere around there. bb2 = si and ba8 = s.