Around town I normally find the power output of my 1.6 8v sufficient.  This weekend I was going to a wheeling outing and was on a 2 lane road.  The vehicle in front of me was going 10 miles under the limit but I was afraid to pass him because I didn't think there would be enough power to safely get out and pass.  My Tracker is an automatic.  Do you guys pass other vehicles?  I know Wild does, but that doesn't count.

hammer down baby!!! i do it all the time ,let that baby talk...lol

Around town I normally find the power output of my 1.6 8v sufficient.  This weekend I was going to a wheeling outing and was on a 2 lane road.  The vehicle in front of me was going 10 miles under the limit but I was afraid to pass him because I didn't think there would be enough power to safely get out and pass.  My Tracker is an automatic.  Do you guys pass other vehicles?  I know Wild does, but that doesn't count.

Passing vehicles can be exceptionally painful...  Oh wait, I'm reading that wrong.

The dreaded automotive "slows" can sneak up on you very, well very slowly.  Sorta like old age.

Start with a tune-up.  New plugs, new rotor, etc.  Check the vacuum lines (My bet is that you have a Throttle body).  Check the cylinder compression.  Check the PCV valve, the exhaust system, electrical grounds, the timing, etc.

My '88 with a 1.6 8-valve can keep up with the traffic and pass folks (when done with common sense).  It ain't a Corvette or a GT-40, but it isn't a Yugo, either.

The way I used to pass was to back off a ways,
and time the passing event, speed up and get to
like 10-15 MPH faster than the car in front of you,
then pop out past and back into your lane, it just
takes practice and timing.

Now I just punch it, the turbo does the rest   

Just plan ahead on passing.
When You want to pass someone.
back off alittle.
Check for clearing.
Then Gun it.
The Sling Shot theory.
Works for me.

mine slows as it grows... it has lots of power in stock for with the zr2 package but now it's pretty sluggish and i'm on board with the sling shot and timing it by backing off a wee bit, still works great downhill though, i wouldn't even bother trying uphill passes.

In my 92 8v Auto, I wouldn't even think about it, but now driving my 95 16v manual, I'd go for it for sure, it's kinda like I'm driving my civic 

i have mp trouble passing in my 8v, has a shaved head for higher ocmpression and a cold air intake. maybe that helps a bit. the 4 door with the 1.8L pasess pretty nicely as well.

I have found it to also be scarey...all I have to say is turbo

passing is only as dangerous as you make it. It requires good judgement and a bit of old fashioned cojones.......

mine passes no problem. i guess there is more to the 16v than just the extra 15 horses. it must have a much stronger power curve.

16V has a much better power curve....you get the power at a lower range where you can use it....

I drove a 16V....after doing a zillion mods on the current engine and regret not just putting a 16v in when I had a chance

People are in no hurry until you try to pass them. Then, all of a sudden, they'll be damned if you or anybody else is going to pass them. I dream of having something that will take them by surprise.  Adam

People are in no hurry until you try to pass them. Then, all of a sudden, they'll be damned if you or anybody else is going to pass them. I dream of having something that will take them by surprise.  Adam

I have a "Slightly Modded"    68 Chevy Pickup and there is a long straight stretch by my house.  I slow down to about 35 (Speed Limit 45) and wait for people to try and pass my "Grandpa" truck.  Its fun, but the straigt is almost a mile long and flat.  You can see pretty much the whole road till the cars look like little ants in the distance.  So if I see a car even at the end I slow down or hammer down to allow the car to get safely in the other lane.

Turbo?  Blower    Roots style, "Happiness is being blown"

As we say over here 'It doesn't so much accelerate as gather momentum'