Name Brand Vs Ebay Intakes

i was specifically told on these forums not to waste money on a AEM CAI and im just curious is it true that no matter what intake you get youll still get the same performance out of a 30$ ebay one like the one here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7942892501&category=38634 what about companies like injen? i just need a second opinion and im looking to buy one very soon. thanks.

i was specifically told on these forums not to waste money on a AEM CAI and im just curious is it true that no matter what intake you get youll still get the same performance out of a 30$ ebay one like the one here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7942892501&category=38634 what about companies like injen? i just need a second opinion and im looking to buy one very soon. thanks.

heh you prob don't want my advice - because I'm the initial one that told you to just pick up a cheap intake. (:

What I meant by my "don't waste your money on it", is that a pipe is a pipe is a pipe.. all your intake does is allow the smooth flow of air into the throttle body. If you think it is worth it to spend 200 bux on this process, or If 200 dollars is not a very large figure for you then by all means get an injen, or a AEM or whateva floats your boat. If you plan to remain NA - it probably is worth it to get the *best* possible intake. However In my opinion a lot of that money could be spent better elsewhere. As long as you get a CAI or SRI (if you're afraid of hyrdolock and want to retain more of the low end torque), with Mandrel bends (the diameter is the same in the bend - regardless of the fact that the pipe has been bent) - and the inner surface of the pipe is smooth for a laminar airflow, I highly doubt anyone could tell the difference - If there is a hp difference between an AEM and a 30 dollar pipe I bet it's about 1 or 2hp and probably at very high rpms.. if that's worth 170 more dollars to you than so be it (: ... in any case everything (minus the dirt and other shite you don't want) has to be "sucked" thru a filter anyways - so I would make sure you have a good quality filter - but a pipe.. (atleast to me) is a pipe, and if it's the same diameter with minimal bends and smooth the difference will be negligle. I would say the same thing about an exhaust - whether you buy a 2 1/4 inch apexi n1, or greddy world sport or have a custom one fabricated at a shop that just bends some tube for you, it's a f'n pipe, granted the less bends, and the less sharp those bends the better - however - the muffler, collector, cat, flanges and any other restrictive and interfering parts will always be more of a limiting factor... and of course everyones difference of opinion on which tone is the best. With headers however- there is more of an art to that, so I turf my "it's a f'n pipe" theory there (:

anyways i'm repeating myself, and you probably wanted someone else to answer anyways (;

best of luck.

I would pay the 200 Dollars and get the AEM...for one simple reason...my car will still be "SMOG READY" ...I live in California..so this is very important to me..but maybe for someone who doesn't live in Cali...it's NOT...

With headers however- there is more of an art to that, so I turf my "it's a f'n pipe" theory there (:

with that said... whats the best headers for a NA prelude SI of course at a reasonable price...