is there anything at all to reduce that sluggish takeoff for an automatic 1.6 2WD (YES, IT'S 2WD) without too much noise? l really do not need to wake the whole neighbourhood!
thanks for the advice guys, but l do not mean wrx performance. i'm talking about smaller enhancements, eg. around 30-50 more hp than what l have now. it is a great car, and where l live , it is enough, just want it to perform like a 1.8 or even a 2.0. l hope you see where i'm coming from.

There is not really much you can do for ''low end'' power on that car, short of a supercharger, which l am not sure they make for your car. A turbo will take too long to spool up for you on the low end. Bolt-ons are really only good for mid to high end. You can try to make your car lighter. Or even perhaps get it tuned professionally, but that would net you minimal gain for the price.

Judging by your question you really havent the foggiest idea about Subaru. Subie doesnt make a 1.6 in 2002. It would have been a 2.0L or a 2.5 if it were N/A. And they quit making 2WD around 96'. But what you can do for the car is cut some weight. Intake and exhaust mods are a must. And if you can find them, change the gears out to lower gears. Otherwise slap on some N2O or a VF39.

Subaru did make a 2wd impreza with an EJ16 (1.6L) in 2002 in europe. however, with the EJ16 only being rated at 90 hp you are better off just buying a 2006 or newer Impreza with the EJ255 (2.5L Turbo DOHC). no matter what you do to your car it will never be fast. sorry.

Intake, exhaust(borla ''hushback''), weight reduction. Everything else is expensive and would be better off doing a motor swap.