They are basically the same weight without accesories.

There is approx 15kg more engine and 5kg more gearbox in the car with the l-series v a-series, if you were to move battery to the rear and put a H165 under the rear end weight evens out pretty quickly. If you look at the amount of crap that gets crammed in a 1200 engine bay when doing a CA or Sr swap no wonder they can upset handling.

Both my sedans are using manual tunnel without cutting firewall/rad support etc.

L-series for the win!!