I'm currently looking to buy a CAI, but why should I spend 250 + $$ on AEM when i can get say like a Ractive CAI for 100 dollars? The point im trying to make is why should I spend more money on a intake when there both just metal tubes with filters on the end. or what does AEM have that Ractive doesnt? The name?

Thanks much

Chase

 

From what I can tell the only difference is the name.

 

BUMP

 

if you live where it rains,get a two peice-injen or comptech.i'm selling my aem cai now.

 

I tend to shy away from the names Ractive, OBX, Tenzo R, APC, etc. They're second-tier parts, not great quality stuff. Yeah intakes are essentially all a filter on a pipe, but the AEM in this case does make more power than the others. It's pretty universally accepted as the way to go.

 

For the power gains that your going to see with an intake is not worth all the extra money for the AEM. I bought a cheapy one from ebay and put an apexi power intake filter on it and spent a lot less and I feel that I have just as much power as anyone does with the other intakes. Just my .02

 

is that new blitz filter any good??

 

How finely calibrated is your butt dyno?

The AEM makes more power and gives you a resonance supercharging effect (no it's not really supercharging) that makes a nice power hump in the midrange.

 

I don't have any dyno runs with my set up but would bet that any gain with the AEM don't justify the cost...again atleast for me.

 

Imo do it once and do it right. If you want the aem save up and buy it. If you buy the cheaper one when youll probably start second guessing yourself. Aem is proven. reactive isn't.