Ok here's the story, I love my car to bits, but it's just got the standard 4WS engine in it, I know most cars can out accelarate me, how do I get more horse power without having to suck off my bank manager. Please cheapest options, chip? another engine? boosters?. TIA Also the pros and cons would be good for each answer.

What sort of cars are you picking fights with?

Not really picking fights with other cars but my mate always leaves me for dead on accelaration although he has an older merc with a 2.8 engine in it, mine just really sucks when i come to accelarate quickly, dare I say i could be left standing by a corsa at the lights??? I know it's not the worlds fastest car, but it seems to miss that "bit more" power, done the usual engine flush full service, cambelt, it has been well looked after 69,000 miles at the mo. I don't know if I'm expecting miracles, I do drive as part of my job, TVR Tuscans, Cerbera's etc porsches but only short distances so I know how real sports cars perform. P.s. can you call TVR's real sports cars, the most uncomfortable car ever in my opinion :)

Big engine will always have the torque to give you problems, but use your revs to counteract it. Remember the engine doesn't really start working until 5k rpm and listen for the ACIS kick at 5.5k. If it hasn't been driven hard for a while they seeem to "gum" up the intake and need a bit of 7k rpm action to clear out the cobwebs. Reset your ecu by either pulling the efi fuse when your filling up or preferably discon the battery over night and let the car relearn ignition and fuelling maps. Cane corsas by giving it plenty of revs off the mark or take them up the twisties and watch them understeer into a field. :)

Remember the engine doesn't really start working until 5k rpm and listen for the ACIS kick at 5.5k. If it hasn't been driven hard for a while they seeem to "gum" up the intake and need a bit of 7k rpm action to clear out the cobwebs. Reset your ecu by either pulling the efi fuse when your filling up or preferably discon the battery over night and let the car relearn ignition and fuelling maps. OK well I'd go with that does this apply to my engine? ENG 3S-GE, I don't actually hammer my car and I think the most revs I had it too was 5k, not even been on the motorway with it yet :( just had no time, ps what is ACIS??? TIA Dave.

basically, up to 5200-5500 the air is only going through 4 inlet tracts, then a solenoid valve flicks an actuator and opens up the second set and you get a bit of a kick and a drop more oooomph, always a good laugh trying to hit a roundabout at 5k in second or third and coming off it just as the acis kicks in and getting a bit of powerspin :) :)