I read the post 'Short ram vs. CAI,' learned about WRX's, how they are fast and how you don't need either if you have turbo. But for a 4cyl. 6th gen without turbo does a CAI out perform the short ram by alot? if the CAI draws the air from under the car the short ram uses same type of filter and just draws from under the hood?

 

cai (cold air intake), grabs the air from the outside meaning cooler air entering...
Short ram grabs the air in your compartment + hot air given off by your engine...

i forgot which ones which but one gives a better response up top, and one does a good amount down low in rpm ranges.. but it doesnt really matter if its for daily driving...

 

CAI might get you a few HP, specially if u live where it can get cold (ie winter)....both will increase throttle time by a very minimal amount

i coughed up the money for an AEM CAI just cause you know its quality, AEM stands behind their ****, and its more bling than an EBAY tube w/ a k&n filter.....

CAI also will sound really nice on 1/2-full throttle (my car at WOT and redline is almost louder than my buddies old impreza w/ apexi n1 catback under same circumstances......)

 

I would say go with a CAI but that is just me. I got a CAI because it can be converted to a SRI if i feel like it, or if it has been raining a whole lot.

 

yeah alot of people have said eBay has crap stuff on it, but does that mean the name brand stuff on there can be boot leg? I've seen AEM CAI on there for $185 w/ free shipping and some short ram for around $90.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 01accordv6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">or if it has been raining a whole lot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

since the CAI is under car, when it rains or there are puddles it'll ruin it if you don't convert?

 

AEM bypass valve......but u need to cut ur tubing w/ a saw to do it, so if ur scared get a short ram

 

why not just buy a cheap $25 short ram off of ebay and then get a boot and buy another tube and bend it to fit like a CAI will. It just drops through the hole where the resinator (i think thats what it is called) and that way if your afraid of the rain just take the boot off and put the filter on the top. Simple as that.. I doubt highly that the type of metal used has a lot to do with it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike813 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cai (cold air intake), grabs the air from the outside meaning cooler air entering...
Short ram grabs the air in your compartment + hot air given off by your engine...

i forgot which ones which but one gives a better response up top, and one does a good amount down low in rpm ranges.. but it doesnt really matter if its for daily driving...
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CAI gives you more top end power but is less responsive. The short ram has great response time but lacks the top end power. IMO, I like the short ram better; there is a lower risk of hydrolocking, and it makes only a 1- 2 hp less than CAI. When you add a bypass valve to a CAI, some performance will be lost also. So the intakes basically even out in power but the short ram will retain its responsiveness. That's why I like short ram intakes.

 

I found with stock piping with a universal filter give's better throtal responce that a SR ebay intake...this was all technicaly proven on my butt-dyno...

 

is it true that short ram intakes are louder then CAI?

 

well yeah, because it's closer to the cabin you know right on top-CAIs sit in the fener-well and out side the car, farthest away.

 

If the CAI is top end then I'm going to guess that when you say responsiveness you mean acceleration. So would I be correct to say if I'm looking for off the line performance go for the SRI?

 

if ur looking for performance, than an intake wont really do ****.....its bascially like the finishing touch on an NA build (like sturt tower bars)......just CAI's will make ur car growl @ 5000rpm....but the BPV changes the sound....before i installed my BPV, one of my buddies who had a GSR got an AEM CAI the day after we installed mine, cause it sounded that much cooler than his ebay short ram....just my $.02

 

94 200K miles on it and awm CAI made a very big difference in my ride. Still a little lag off the line. May need to tighten teh throt cable- But I am very happy with my ride now.. Plus you will lose about 30 lbs of baffles and shiz out of the car... I have the one that was before their newest one.. ( Off subject I have hear wondeful things about the new aem cai but they were all on celica) I have a honda and wife has a celica.. Also look at INJEN.. NOt sure wich is better for honda's..

 

One more thought.. My bro has an si and did not get a bypass valve but rather cut the cai and installed a flow through cone fileter and had it is much better. My .02