So I finally got a decent car, a 98 protoge LX 5-speed. (Before I was driving a 94 eagle summit...yech) Took me a few days to learn standard, but I absolutely love it, and am now very comfortable with it.

Of course, working more closely with the machine makes you notice exactly how much balls the vehicle has, and perhaps you even begin to wonder what it would take to get an extra couple of horsepower out of it.

Right now the car pulls about 97hp at 3000rpm. Not exactly ass-hauling material. Short of putting in a new engine or stealing a faster car, what's the best way to cause the vehicle's other testicle to drop?

Disclaimer:
Willing to spend a bit of money?
sort of...depends on the cost and benefit.
Have a garage and superior auto skills?
Nope on both counts. I'm a firm belieiver in people knowing the tools that they have to work with, but I must confess, I'm a journalist, not a mechanic. That said, I don't mind spending some time researching/practicing, and definitely will before touching ANYTHING.

I have no interest at all in playing with the vehicle's exterior, at least not for now-there's nothing dumber than a vehicle with a $2000 paint job and a weak-ass drivetrain.

Unless the driver has a mullet. Then it's awesome.