so.... i have a generic short ram intake on my car (came with it 3 years ago) and the metal bracket broke... so i was lookin to get a newer one.... with a better mounting bracket... the aem short rams are under 100 bucks on ebay.... but the CAI ones are like 200..... are they realy worth the $?

 

It looks better, and performs a tad better. what you're paying for is the CARB certification if you live in CA.

 

ooooooooooooooo....... i get it...

 

It's a tube with a filter, how bad can ya really screw that up.

just be sure u inspect the quality of the filter

 

The filter is the key piece here. Since AEM's come with k&n filters, most people prefer to buy the cheap ebay pipe and throw a k&n on the end of that.

Personally I prefer a short ram because to me the .001 hp difference is not worth hydrolocking my engine.

 

Hahah. No. What Tony said. We're talking 1-4hp here tops above 5000 RPMs, so you won't feel it. At least it will sound good.

Ebay, $30 shipped. Buy a K&N for it, but chances are your 1.6L doesn't need more than the ebay filter.

 

I think AEM intakes are worth the money. For one they use the best piping you can get, and they use K&N air filters. But on the Short Ram or Cold Air, it doesn't really matter, they do about the same.

 

K&N drop-in filter, stock airbox

save yourself time and money

 

Actually, AEM does not use the cotton style K/N filters anymore. They have their propietary "dry flow filter" that does not require oiling of any sort.

So in his case, if emissions are not an issue, the cheaper route may be better. But for CA. emissions, an AEM would be a better choice because of the CARB certification and new style filter :dunno:

 

yeah.... aem suposedly has surpased KNN in the perfomance of their filters