I'm actually from Southern Cal. And you wouldn't believe the handling on my car. I've got some 18x7's, Intrax springs, upgraded sway bar, strut bar (tib struts coming soon). I've left a few mustangs along with others(stock) slamming on their brakes around the curvies here it's the funniest shit. I pass em on a straight right before the curves come up and they come rushing up next to me, then we hit the curves and poof the other car is gone and all I do is laugh because I know they can't believe a Hyundai just did that to them, of course on a straight away all I'll see is tail lights from a stang. But it's nice to know that once I have my turbo installed I'll have an awesome sleeper in my hands. The aftermarket is slowly starting to catch up with this car too... If you live in southern cal you're in even more luck because the companies that make the stuff for our cars are here and they need test cars all the time sometimes you get the tested goods for free other times you pay a very low price. I'm getting an exhaust soon for free from a company all that's required is that I do pre and post install dyno runs to prove the horsepower gains. b4 you buy a lancer, civic, corolla, or any of the other more popular cars test drive an elantra, the 04 comes with a 2.0 vvt engine.