Well, this won't apply to all cars, I realize, but my civic had so much fuel in the cylinders it was running out the intake and yet as soon as I got the new coil in it started immediately.
It did idle low (for a cold engine) at about 1000rpm for a second or so though.
Keep in mind I use upper cylinder lube so maybe that's why.
Back to the point, it sounds so me more like there isn't enough fuel getting to the cylinders as opposed to too much - not an expert though.
When was the last time your fuel filter was changed?
If you can rule out the injectors, filter etc. I would lean towards main relay or something under the dizzy cap.