Is there truly a reason to buy a TRD or Ingen CAI? It's just a pipe with an exposed filter. What would be a reason to not buy one of the cheapo ones on eBay? I am in the market for a CAI but I can't see any reason to spend $300 for a name brand when I can get the same effect with a <$100 eBay version.

Also - is there a difference between the 05-06 and the 07-08 versions?

1. you get what you paid for.

stick with reputible brands, crap off ebay are more likely to have poor fitment, cause CEL, shake and rattle, and not even provide a gain in power.

i have the trd cai, it is great, looks and sounds great, has a bypass valve to reduce the chances of hydrolocking, and it is much better both in sound and power than the K&N 69 typhoon that i had on it before, which constantly broke it's transmission mount support and rattled around against the fender.

Ask yourself these questions.
1. Is the material used in the cheaper intake the same as brand?

2. Is the interior of the cheep intake nice and smooth so that it doesn't cause turbulence.

3. what material is the cone made out of and how small of a particle will it pass through.

4. Will it have fitment issues.

With that said, i'm sure a part of the price in the "name brand" intakes is the name itself, but the bottom like is like drax said,

you get what you paid for.

Well thanks guys, that answers my first question. Second though, is there a difference between the 05-06 and the 07-08?

yes, 05-06 intakes will not work on 07-08 tc's and vice versa, different MAF sensors.

u get what u pay for

if i was you id just do the resonator mod and get a high flow air filter and take out the charcoal filter in the airbox lid. i can hear my car suckin air now.