I used to own an AE102 which is essentially the same car... almost. First things first. Smack a pod in the intake and put a catback exhaust on it so it sounds like a monster devouring children like a baws. Then buy some coilovers (mrpltd.co.nz ;) ) and better tyres. Try and do some headwork, up the comp to 10.7:1 and get some cams made up, and then start removing weight :) Think about what makes a hot hatch hot, they have a spirited noisey motor, which isnt essentially fast, and they go around corners like crazy... thats what you want to replicate :) I stopped after that first step of the pod, must say these cars have a crazy intake sound :D but the lack of revs and power (less weight?) made me go to a much much hotter hatch, a 4AGE AE82 ;)