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CAI are they worth it?
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05-27-2008, 11:37 AM | #1 |
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CAI are they worth it?
It's going to cost me about 500 bucks for a CAI and I need some serious input, is it worth it? please explain....
Thanks!
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05-27-2008, 11:39 AM | #2 |
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I'd get Downpipes first
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05-27-2008, 11:40 AM | #3 |
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05-27-2008, 11:44 AM | #4 |
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well I can't justify putting 500$ on a CAI...
for that kind of cash.. I'd much prefer something that will give me a nicer sound and more performance.. like DPs... (assuming you don't have them) sorry.. should have elaborated more... it seems excessive... coming from JDM cars (in term of tuning), where a CAI would run you like 150$, 500$ is REALLY steep...
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05-27-2008, 11:44 AM | #5 | |
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05-27-2008, 11:53 AM | #7 |
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let's just assume I do. Not that I really have one
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05-27-2008, 12:06 PM | #9 |
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people complain about that one
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05-27-2008, 12:33 PM | #10 |
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People complain about UR, People complain about Logic, People complain about Stett, People complain about VIP, People complain...period.
If you are looking to buy a product that no one complains about you aren't going to find it. Do some research and make your own decisions..... |
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05-27-2008, 12:39 PM | #11 |
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I have the UR CAI and I don't regret 1 cent I spent on it...it sure won't affect performance as much as downpipes but letting the engine breathe better definitely allows all the other tunes to work better, especially any piggyback that you have that raises boost...i got the Forge Diverter Valves installed along with it and the car with Procede v2 now pulls endlessly...you can always put more stress on the car, but relieving some of that stress and helping the car along the way is also just as important when tuning...
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05-27-2008, 12:39 PM | #12 |
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Just make a dual cone intake yourself, don't waste your money on these pre-made ones.
The factory airbox is fine up until 330..340whp... above that it is too restrictive and robs you of quite a bit of power. Get downpipes/tune first, then go and make an intake. |
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05-27-2008, 12:59 PM | #13 | |
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If you want a true CAI then get the UR it's worth it IMO.
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05-27-2008, 01:10 PM | #14 | |
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05-27-2008, 01:47 PM | #15 |
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If you don't have a tune, save your money, the CAI will yield you only a few ponies anyway. The stock airbox flows quite good on stock and even mild tune cars.
Add a drop in filter like a K&N or BMC to get around 2 rwhp on stock power levels and 3-4 on tuned levels. Car will this way look stock and you will get ZERO issues from service at dealerships regarding warranty. Most CAI won't cause any warranty issues either, but there are some dealers who could and would use it as a potential reason for a failure of some sort. |
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05-27-2008, 02:22 PM | #16 |
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Lets see...the question you have to ask yourself is does ambient temperatures to the intake pipe give greater performance than hot engine air temps....If you answer yes than a CAI is for you, if the answer is no, then almost all of the intakes out there just feeds the engine hot engine bay air....You need to see which theory of performance you believe in whether hot or cold, then make your decision...Many people will tell you that their intake is the best and I think its a biased remark...Answer the question above and move on...Out of all the CAI out there, IMO I also think UR has the best, but I am a believer that cold induce air into the intake will give better performance gains over hot air!!!
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05-27-2008, 02:33 PM | #17 | |
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I would disagree. The factory airbox is a restriction. The question you have to ask is with your mods, how much of a restriction is it. My understanding is with a piggy and downpipes, you need a less restrictive intake. I would suggest UR or dual cones. I'm not sure if anyone has an answer, but with a 15psi piggy like attache or V3, and no other mods, do dual cones make a difference in the 1/4 mile trap speed? That is the question I want answered... Hot/cold, ram/ no ram it doesn't make a hell of a lot of difference. When you are driving down the road, your turbo rams and heats the air that goes in. CAI choice as long as it isn't restrictive doesn't change the air charge temp going into the intake manifold IMHO. On a dyno, as Shiv mentioned, you can see HUGE differences in CAIs depending on how you ventilate the front of the car. Best test is the trap speed in the 1/4 mile. If you gain a mph or two, your intake is working |
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05-27-2008, 02:44 PM | #18 |
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sure, your turbos are ramming and heating the air, but relatively speaking, the cooler the air going in (before it is turbo heated), the cooler the air will be coming out.
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RPI IC / UR catless DPs / JB3 2.0 beta / UR CAI / Quaife LSD / Snow Methanol Injection / VK oil cooler upgrade / Forge DVs / M3 rear sway / Riss catch can / Paddle shifting 6AT / M Sport steering wheel / Logic 7 / Dunlop Direzza Z1 255/235 / |
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05-27-2008, 02:46 PM | #19 |
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05-27-2008, 04:12 PM | #21 |
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BMS mine was from the first batch and haven't had a problem with it I check it here and there when I clean my motor. I would say get the bms but just don't tighten it too much just enough and you should be fine. 100 bucks for the filter and get some dps while your at it.
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05-27-2008, 04:16 PM | #22 |
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i'd keep the money and spend somewhere else. i like the sound though!
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