simple question

Well if you go the turbo route then there is a lot of maintenance that is involved, and I mean a lot.
The only easier/cost effective way to get horsepower out of these cars is to turbo.
Sorry to burst some of your bubbles but this engine does not respond to bolt-ons. It has been proven many times. It may sound loud(exhaust) and make a whistling noise(intake) but the most you will get is 15-30 horsepower.
You can also engine swap or head swap.

 

All I have to say is don't waste you money and time on bolt-ons because they will not make you faster.
Do a lot of research on this car and figure out if you are able to install and maintain a turbo.
Oh and remember that this car was not meant to be turbo'd so tuning is a must. A good solution to that is swapping the Evo8 ecu, makes life easier.

 

^^ I always wondered if that would work. Hmm

 

Sorry will only work with the 4g94 M/T

 

the evo ecu will work with the 4g94...
I did not know that!

 

A piggyback can only do so much to a sohc engine.
You're going to be spending a lot more money that route than just installing a Turbo.

 

It all depends on how it was installed and the quality in the parts.
So far it has cost me some vacuum lines, oil(leak), gas(leak), and coolant(leak)
No matter how well you bolt it up you are going to run into problems. Once you start modifying then that's when problems start.

A lot of people say they will Turbo their Lancer but then back down when they realize it is not easy.