I'm Switching from SR to CAI

[BlueCrush]

I have decided to switch my intake from a Short Ram to a Cold-Air Intake. I am wanting the added power that comes with having the CAI.Just so everyone knows, my SR has already been sold! I should have it today or tomorrow and I'm looking forward to installing it.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by BlueCrush »I have decided to switch my intake from a Short Ram to a Cold-Air Intake. I am wanting the added power that comes with having the CAI.Just so everyone knows, my SR has already been sold! I should have it today or tomorrow and I'm looking forward to installing it. Which CAI did you get? I am still waiting for my Injen CAI. I have to call them today to see where it is!

[BlueCrush]

I got the Cosmo Racing again. They had one listed specifically for the '05 AWD W/Foglights for $108+shipping.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by BlueCrush »I got the Cosmo Racing again. They had one listed specifically for the '05 AWD W/Foglights for $108+shipping.For 1/2 the price of the Injen you can't beat that!

[BlueCrush]

Nope! I had Zero problems with my CRSR so that prompted me to buy from them again. Did you order the black injen? I have heard they are taking forever to get those shipped!

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by BlueCrush »Nope! I had Zero problems with my CRSR so that prompted me to buy from them again. Did you order the black injen? I have heard they are taking forever to get those shipped!Yeah, I did order the black. I called them today and they said they thought it either came in or was supposed to come in today and should be to me by tomorrow as they are less than an hour away. We'll see.

[Raven]

You'll like the Cosmo, I've got one. You'll get more HP since you'll be sucking cold air instead of hot air off the engine.

[Toasted7]

Which CAI is better... Cosmo or Injen?

[BlueCrush]

Which one is better? Well if you have a lot of money, Injen will probably be better for you and if you don't have a lot of money, then Cosmo Racing will probably be better for you.(ha, ha) But, seriously, Injen is probably a little better quality material so you'll be paying more for that and the Injen brand name. They are going to be pretty close as far as the HP gains you will get since they are both made to do the exact same task. Bring colder air into the engine. Its basically, how much are you willing to spend on a CAI. I chose the less expensive route.

[Toasted7]

Well, I have installed an Injen CAI on my parent's Vibe and that went pretty smooth and they are happy with it. I was just trying to figure out which got you more bang for your buck and it looks to be the Cosmo. Thanx for the info!

[POLO]

What is different between the short ram and cai?

[Raven]

A short ram is a short intake which has the filter on top of the motor where it sucks in hot air. A CAI curves down into the front of the car behind the foglights and breaths cool air, therefore making more HP.

[SilverExpress]

Hi there, Does the Injen CAI go into the driverside fenderwell? So like when you go to install does this mean removing the driverside wheel, and the plastic shields that line the inside of the fender?

[CyBeRjUnKiE]

From what I've gathered, yes you'll have to remove the fender as well. I've read somewhere that the COSMO is a rip off from Injen design. So that's probably why they are so similar. I'm personally using the COSMO and I'm pretty happy with it. If you want the name brand price, then go with the Inejn or AEM. Otherwise pretty much the same I would think. Make sure to throw away the instruction manual that came with it and look for the Injen walkthrough somewhere in here. Seems the instructions that came with mine wasn't very helpful and seems to apply to the GT only.

[Katscan]

Sorry to bring up this old thread but I am a complete newb when it comes to mods. I have read a few threads here and there about SR and CAI and I think Im going to go with a CAI, only problem is Im gonna have to pay someone to install it for me. Anyone know how much that is going to run me?Secondly, I was looking at new exaust as well, but I dont want my car sounding like a weedwacker or a rice burner. I want the performance but not that annoying sound that Ive heard on some of the hopped up riceburners. Id like a more deep rumbling sound.

[Mrizzle05]

Well thats what we are here for...CAI... kinda a PITA to put in. but well worth it. you dont have to take off the bumper or remove the wheel.It does take about 2-3 hours if your a newbie at it. there are lots of install threads here. and if you need help more will answer.If you pay someone at a shop... your looking at about $150+ to install cuz of labor time!As far as exhaust, if you spend the extra dollar... go magnaflow or borla. they are really nice sounding and a complete kit.Just my opinion

[AKLGT]

why do you want to pay someone to do it for you?? it will take you 45 minutes! lancer did a HOW TO guide, step by step awhile ago. do a search and SAVE YOURSELF MONEY!!!! just make sure you disconnect the battery before you do anything else and CAREFULLY remove the Mass Air Flow sensor (put it somewhere very very safe). install it last before you reconnect the battery. other than that, it's very simple. i'm sure that there will be plenty of folks here that can help you out if you have a camera and a laptop nearby as you install it.a cai will be louder at higher RPMS but the rice boy sounds are probably from the bumble bee or fart can mufflers/exhausts they like to put on their cars. i'd suggest the magnaflow. it's a deep growl and not that lame (i wish my car had a turbo) sound. lol.as for the design of the intakes? they are pretty much going to be all the same. there isn't any real difference between any of them other than maybe the tubing. the matrix specific ones will have a little different tubing length for the pre-06 models since the vibe's foglights are where the filter lies on the trix. the made for vibe ones are a tad shorter. i had a TRD CAI and had to shove the filter up a bit so it wouldn't jam against the rear of the foglight. what you are paying for mostly is the name, quality of tubing, and all the R&D that goes into making them. I'm not sure if the Cosmo is carb legal for CA emissions like the injen, AEM, or TRD intakes.

[Katscan]

Guess Im just a little intimidated by the work. I can work on my car as far as changing oil and all that mantinence stuff.....just making mods seems a little scary to me. lol

[Mrizzle05]

they only hard part is getting the filter on when you get the piping put in place and mounted.other than that if you take your time and do it... its pretty simple when you get done.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by Katscan »Guess Im just a little intimidated by the work. I can work on my car as far as changing oil and all that mantinence stuff.....just making mods seems a little scary to me. lolif you can change your oil, you certainly can do this! i can't even change my oil and i've installed about 5 or more CAI for myself, parents, Phil, friends, etc. phil changes the oil at the dealership. i'm glad he works there.and it's a helluva lot easier to put the filter on first before you install the intake pipe. just a hint to make the install faster and easier. you have to wrestle with it a bit more, but beats crawling under the car and moving the fender wheel liner back.

[03frostygt]

Thanks for the tip on the Cosmo CAI. It looks like they are exactly half the cost but advertise exactly half the HP gain. If they are the same thing with different stickers, why the difference? Different filter quality? And if so is the filter interchangable with, say a K&N?

[AKLGT]

as said before, they are basicly take offs of what has already been done. doubtful they do as much R&D and dyno's to back up their claims too. if you look in another thread created by team infidel, he just recently went to Injen and they used his car for a prototype for the 05+ GT's. they backed that up with dyno testing and everything. theirs will be carb legal, and have all the documentation, higher quality, etc. the cosmo is still a good system, but it's like buying a hyundai accent vs a cadillac. they may both get you from point a to point b, even both be fun at times, but one is simply "better" so it just depends on if you want to spend the money or not.