GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Just wondering if someone can give me their experiences with CAI vs. SRI on the vibe. Mpg, performance, installation, and anything else you want to add. I'm on the fence about which to buy. Thanks in advance.

The SRI is definitely easier to install, since it's just in the engine bay. A CAI would need a few more things to get it down to behind the fog light. The CAI gives a sucking/vacuuming noise while a SRI give a throatier noise, and is louder. Both give a little extra oomph in the low/mid range. As for temperatures, the CAI kept incoming air temps down, closer to ambient air temp, as compared to sucking air in from the warm engine bay.

KITT222 wrote:The SRI is definitely easier to install, since it's just in the engine bay. A CAI would need a few more things to get it down to behind the fog light. The CAI gives a sucking/vacuuming noise while a SRI give a throatier noise, and is louder. Both give a little extra oomph in the low/mid range. As for temperatures, the CAI kept incoming air temps down, closer to ambient air temp, as compared to sucking air in from the warm engine bay.

Great thanks, from what I can find SRI's seem to be alot cheaper too, might just give it a go and maybe get the CAI when I have some more extra bucks laying around.

Also some people have reported hydrolock with CAIs if you drive through a deep puddle, although rare i believe

Doug14 wrote:Also some people have reported hydrolock with CAIs if you drive through a deep puddle, although rare i believe

Thanks for that. Is there a much of a difference between the cosmo sri and the k&n version, I can't help but feel like there is because of the prices.

Alot of it is paying for the name in my opinion. K&N MIGHT have slightly better build quality but the price difference is quite vast. K&N only makes them for the GT models, and the 03/04 with throttle body cable, and the 09/10 i believe, not sure about awd, probably the same as base models. They do not make them for the 05-08 with the electronic throttle bodies. I have a Cosmo SRI on my 06 base and I love it. I believe Cosmo makes both CAI and SRI for all models of vibe, except possibly the 09/10 not sure.

Thanks again! Looks like ill be picking up a cosmo sri tomorrow or early next week.

Righton, shipping probably wont be too bad for you either since your in Canada too.

Ordered it this morning, shipping was 17.00

Yep that's all I payed. And you're a bit further away too!

I prefer SRIs for the peace of mind they provide. No worries about possible hydrolock. Although K&N considers the intakes we have on our 2009 Vibe GTs CAIs, they are technically SRIs since the filters are in the engine bay. The filter stays a lot cleaner being up in the engine bay as opposed to down behind the fog light too.

The hydrolock prettymuch sold me on the SRI even if it is uncommon I don't want to take the chance.

Same here, I should also mention that the Cosmo filter does not come pre-oiled. You should get your hands on a K&N recharge kit if you haven't already

Canada Post is saying its going to arrive today, can I get the k&n kit at Canadian tire?

Nevermind that just checked it myself and they have it in stock across town, I'll pick it up later on, thanks for the heads up.

No problem!