RE: smart upgrades?
 

Within reason, I don't believe it is possible. Would probably be cheaper to sell your R/A and get an EVO VIII. I hear you on smoking the mustangs, I have been tossing the idea of turbo around for my car, but it's so damn heavy and has a bad transmission for speed(tiptronic 4 speed w/ OD). The gears feel spaced too far apart...like my 79 Camaro with factory 2.43 rear end gears...it wants to move, but it's limited. When I'm in the 2800plus RPM range I'm good, but when I get to 5-6K and need to shift, it drops WAY down in the RPM range. I wish I could have better gearing like you wish you could have AWD.

RE: smart upgrades?
 

BTW, I EXPECT to be ridiculed for the turbo thoughts on my car. I want somethin that's a sleeper, something that is low key and you don't expect it to be fast. Who can live with being beat by a wagon? lol...NOBODY. luckily for the world right now, nobody has to.

RE: smart upgrades?
 

yeah. you will surely have to rev first at the lights to stage a race. ur gears are far apart and mine are so damn close. I like it when i'm bookin it, but when i'm just daily driving it gets on my nerves driving at 3,500 rpms all the time on the highway. also, you can only get so fast with fwd. you have trouble with road grip once u reach a certain point.

RE: smart upgrades?
 

I have an auto transmission with the option to shift (tiptronic)...but I cannot stage like a manual...no 3000 rpm launches for me. This is where I get my @ss handed to me, my car launches like a lead balloon. I still hit 2900 rpm's at 70 mph on the highway though...but it allows for faster response since I'm close to the MIVEC changeover point.
There is a bright side for your traction dilemma which is more easily solved than my transmission dilemm....you can get a limited slip for your front end for a little over $1100 if I remember the price correctly. You can also get some grippier tires that will help a little.