ok, so i just got my 20k checkup done and i need a new air filter.

here are my options:

toyota filter - $35
cheap autozone - $15
K&N drop in - $50

or i could get an after market short ram or CAI


help decide, if aftermarket, which should i get and where (provide link)

 

It's a personal choice.
Autozone - don't trust it to filter as well as OEM.
K&N - have to oil and dry it without fouling the maf. Next time have to wash, dry it for hours, and oil it and dry it, again without fouling. I had one once. Not worth it to me.
CAI etc - noise without power, encourages bad mpg driving, watch out for puddles.
That leaves Toyota OEM.
Each to their own.

 

Short ram will give you a little more power if you have a manual an rev it. CAI is more expensive and you have to be more careful of puddles. K&N won't really gain you anything besides not having to change it, maybe a little better mileage and power over the service life since it flows better than dirty filters. I'd get one from the auto part store replacement over Toyota OEM.

 

http://www.amazon.com/K-N-33-2211-Re...2911433&sr=8-1
A K and N with a snorkel delete will give you an mpg or 2 and better throttle response.

SRI will give you some mpg, more low n mid range power, and a loud intake noise.

Cai will give you not as much mpg as the other two and will give you more mid to high range power. Also runs the risk of hydrolocking.

 

Any new replacement filter without the snorkel will do the same as a K&N without the snorkel.

Short ram has low end power loss, not gain. Gain over stock isn't until 3,500+ RPM. Anything below is less HP and torque than stock airbox.

Cold air doesn't give as much increase as short ram, but less low RPM loss.

 

I had a injen sri on for awhile, but then i just moddifed my stock airbox by "swiss chessing" it.. Its an old vw trick, http://forujavascript:emoticon('')ms.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2837772... i just cut out the front left of the airbox.. Loud like an intake and with a nice filter i think its just as good as the SRI. It blocks the heat real well.. then go to auto parts store spend bout 20$ on tubing n couplers and make your own sri.. just my 2 cents..

 

You forgot the best choice, a new Green High Performance Air Filter, 15% better air flow than a K&N stops dirt as small as 5 microns, It is not the cheapest but a Scion cost more than a Yugo (if you get my point)

http://www.morethantires.com/catalog...91/1085721.htm

 

$35 for a toyota filter? Dealerships in my area sell them for $17.00 plus tax.
Stick with OEM.

 

OEM filters for a long time. i just put a STP (fram) air filter that lasted for i think 45K. it still has life in it. the K&N Typhoon i have is cool but it makes me paranoid when i wash the car and drive it. im use to a short ram and i got this used and quickly so eh...

i would have tried a TRD air filter but i didn't get a chance too