It's actually spelled VTEC and it does stand for Variable valve Timing & lift Electronic Control. One answer explained well as to WHY to have VTEC but certainly didn't explain HOW too well...Basically, the VTEC system in Hondas does NOTHING until the engine rpm hits 5500 and the oil is at a certain pressure which it should be at that rpm!At that point some changes are going to occur in the engine and it results in more power, better acceleration, and more fuel consumption which propels you down the road putting a big smile on your face. What really makes you smile is that this performance and fuel sucking change goes away again when the rpm comes back down and your foot gets out of the gas pedal caging the beast if you will and preserving the good gas mileage typical of Hondas and Acuras.The $1000 price addition is CHEAP! Well worth it. If not for the extra power then for the increased resale value.Here's how it works...First lets install two intake manifolds instead of one but let's make them one casting with a diaphragm separating the two... one is for lower performance, high gas mileage... the other is for high rpm, high power, let the fuel rip mileage. All controlled by vacuum to that diaphragm.When it comes to the camshafts, ( 2 in an DOHC or dual overhead cam engine) instead of having one lobe to move each valve up and down, let's machine three lobes for each valve. (whew! those cams must be expensive!) The center lobe is the normal, low rider lobe and the two outside lobes are the high performance, high lift lobes. The three lobes have three rocker arms riding on them that take the lift from the lobes and transfers it to the valves. Only the center lobe's rocker arm actually touches the valve. The high performance outer two rocker arms only connect to the center rocker when oil pressure drives out a tiny piston shaft that locks the outer rocker arms to the inner rocker arm. At that point, the high lift lobes continue to move the valve after the middle rocker has lifted it all it could from the middle lobe. Pretty cool really.But how does that oil pressure get there to do that? The computer senses the oil pressure and rpm of the engine (among other things) and at 5500 rpm, it opens a solenoid operated valve that directs high pressure engine oil to the tiny pistons in each of the rocker arm assemblies. That solenoid valve is called the VTEC solenoid.They designed the whole engine to withstand a higher rpm so when you are driving down the highway at 55 mph and you come upon someone doing only 50, feel free to downshift and put your foot into it. The engine will come to life and whip you by that slow poke before he knew what that streak was! I'm here to tell you that engine can handle a 5th to 3rd downshift at those same speeds and really come to life! Watch those rpms though... you needn't ruin such a wonderful setup by going overboard!So... is it worth getting for an extra $1000? It's the best $1000 horsepower addition with stock components you can imagine. You can still add nitrous oxide or a Jackson Racing supercharger and still keep your mileage down to earth!Well, you got my $.02 Good luck!