My current auto Eunos has been a bit of a disappointment (all down to the crap gearbox). It's going next summer when I should get a better price for it. I am in the lucky position of being able to afford it's replacement without having to sell it first and will be looking to buy in Feb/March once I find the right car.

My question is.......Do I spend my 8000 quid on a 1994 1.8 and then add an exhaust, filter, CAI and try and get the power up to around 150 bhp - or do I get another 1990 1.6 for 4500, get it mechanically sound and then add a supercharger? From what John Cookson wrote about brace bars yesterday, the post 1994 1.8 sounds like the one to go for handling-wise. How easy is it to get another 20 hp out of it?

All prices quoted are for imports if you DIY, or at least go to Dublin. Last year when the yen was at 220 per pound I got a 1990 manual in classic red for 3200 on the road but sold it straight away (for a nice profit). (12/99)

I have a 1994 1.8 which I wasn't too pleased with, performance-wise. It was a slow to respond and had breathing difficulties at the top end. I had a twin exhaust, CAI and ECU replacement (UNICHIP programmable ECU, tuned on a rolling road). The dyno printout shows 142 BHP and the car is a **dream*** to drive - instant response with no lag (and I MEAN instant, not a stutter, not a hesitation, just clean smooth power) and a fabulous top end pulling well until the rev-limiter cuts in. Nothing compared to a s/c but for general improvement it was great.

Now, I did have the Jackson Racing CAI first, which gave a very good improvement on its own, mostly top end - 340 quid from Moss. The exhaust and ECU improved matters further and gave a smoother accelleration curve and more power across the range, but not sure how much more. Therefore, unless I started with less than stock 127 BHP I don't think you will reach 150BHP, unless the intended exhaust is a full system with freeflow cat (anyone?). (12/99)