What is the easiest/cheapest way to improve HP on my 1.6L 99' Protege? Would a cold air intake and a cat back exhaust be the best way to go for the cheapest price? I have noticed that since I put on the 17's, with their extra weight, that the car is sluggish.

 

i would say to go back to 15" wheels and save for a Wagner Turbo kit. Wagner built a 1.6L turbo kit for a guy near him and he consistantly smokes corvettes and porsches on the auto-x.

 

A cold air intake is definitely good "bang for the buck" - around fifty or sixty bucks for the one on e-Bay including shipping. Other than that, you could do a cat back, header, underdrive pulley.... do a search on this forum and I'm sure you'll find a lot of options, many of them much, much cheaper than your rims and tires (assuming that you bought quality wheels and tires).