sooo.. im thinking about being cheap and buing an ebay intake, what do you guys think?

 

Do it!

 

I bought one for my wifes old mustang and it fit perfect, the only thing I suggest is buy a good filter for it like a K&N or something. They usually dont come with a good filter.

 

i honesty wouldn't go with Ebay for performance parts. you get what you paid for.

 

i bought a short ram one for my old grandprix gt, i made sure it came ith a k&n filter......but if you want the performance go with name brand if not do the above^ or at least buy one used....

 

I'll disagree with the "no eBay" policy with one caviat....know what you're buying.

I got my current ebay intake about 6-months ago. Same as the Injen CAI. I'm using it in the SRI config (just the first pipe from the throttle body curving over next to the head with the gauze filter). Hold the two up next to each other....NO difference. Main diff? Mine's black powercoat vs. polished alu. Same size, bends, ect. And a purchase price that was a whole lot less than the name brand.

My only "bow to branding"? A small SL sticker where the Injen label would be.

What the advantage in performance? I noticed an improvement in lower and midrange torque. The car climbs better with less "fade" on hills at 70-75 mph and has a little more "omph" when it comes to accelerating into traffic from on-ramps.

 

you also have an xa so the power increases are diffrent.

an important factor you did over look is the material, if the material is that thin metal crap then you do not have a cold air intake you have a long pipe that heats up the air hotter than your stock air box did , combined with a crappy filter your better off with stock so IMO if you go with the ebay intake make sure yu have a k&n filter and wrap that snit in heat wrap...

 

thanks guys! i have a k&n laying around, thats all i trust.

 

can someone explain how to match a good filter (like K&N) with an inexpensive, effective cai?

I've seen the cheap ebay intakes like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-05...87317024QQrdZ1
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-05...93767805QQrdZ1
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-04...89866345QQrdZ1
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-06...spagenameZWDVW

but I don't get how to use a K&N filter with them.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

all you do is put the filter on the end and bam your good. its just the guaze filter on the end.

 

just bought one and installed it today. i never had a problem with ebay parts sincei became a member(about four yrs ago). Untill now. The mass air flow sensor does not bolt on right and the car wont run even when i tried to seal it to get buy until the new one comes in. I am breaking down and buying an Injen. I should have spent the moneyfrom the start......

 

If you're buying the "ebay intake" then you're asking for problems and that intake is NOT the same as the Injen. Anyone can bend a pipe to fit a car that's easy. Injen intakes are tested and tuned for your car. You get what you pay for that's all I can say.

If you want proof that all intakes are not the same look at the GSC motorsports thread on the tests they did on the intakes. They're not all the same.

 

my ebay CAI has been on for over 6 months, with an HKS foam filter...perfect fit, my buddy with the similar setup (Injen CAI, Tsudo Axelback Exhaust), i run him and i always beat im by at least 1 car lenght....i have just the ebay intake and Megan catback....the only reason i went with a non-name brand because im goin turbo, and i didnt want to spend a lot of money on something im only gonna use for a year....plus i got to find a perfect color matching one, metallic blue....perfect MAF connection and no leaks or excessive heat at all....even the bracket mounting inside the engine has awesome bushings unlike INJEN, my buddy's bracket snapped from engine movement after like 3 months and now it makes metal slapping noises every time he revs....i have pictures on my profile if u wanna check it out....

 

When you install things properly they don't break. I'm not here to defend Injen so don't get me wrong. Buy what you want it's your money.