OBD1 suffered from being non-standard. Every car had a different protocol that suited the make and model. Definitely, OBD1 is better for diagnostic, datalogging and tuning because it included important information specific to the engine of the specific car. For example, in a turbo car it might include knock detection and turbine speed. The drawback is for each make of car you need a different diagnostic box, and as you can imagine, the ordinary mechanic would not have been able to afford all the boxes unless they were specialized or a dealer.

OBD2 suffered from being rushed through design to solve this problem, and impose a strict standard for *all* cars... as a result a lot of specialty data channels like knock, etc, that are not consistent for all cars (NA cars..etc) are dropped. So it effectively is a lowest common denominator standard that works for all but is useless for many. Too bad the protocol committee didn't actually have more time or knowhow to design it correctly. But if there's any chance of a standard way to talk to the engine computer then it would have to be OBD2 as it is the most generic

Calvin