I know this post will probably generate lots of feedback but after reading a couple other thread's I decided it would be nice to offer everyone a chance to post what they use and why. For starters I use the AEM Cold Air Intake kit, it comes with their DryFlow filter and a heat shield with rubber gromment to help with the heat. So here's my take on intakes. If you just put a cone filter and leave the stock airtube they don't help very much. A bigger gain is seen when you remove the stock air intake tube from the airbox /or cone filter to the turbo compressor housing. This tube is small diameter and flex plastic filled with ridges at the two bends. This causes the incoming air to be turbulent. Replacing this piece with a smoother tube where the bends are made without creating ridges (metal or plastic) streamlining the airflow, this is why mandrel bent exhaust tubing is so popular, less restrictive. The elimination of the ridges also allows for a slight increase in diameter allowing more volume to flow, just like sucking water from a coffee stirring straw versus a drinking straw. Also a cone filter offers a larger volume of air to enter as there is more surface area on the filter. The higher quality cone filters are usually made from a higher quality material to allow more airflow with less restriction (K&N high flow/AEM DryFlow), however since most of us use a high quality air filter like a K&N this doesn't apply. I'm sure many of you are screaming at me that the cone air filter just sucks in motor heat. However many of the top quality kits offer a protective barrier with a rubber gasket around the air filter, I admit these aren't very effective but every little bit help plus most filter's are right above the air duct opening. UNDERSTAND with a cone filter setup you WILL get a warmer air charge I'm not denying that, however you will also see less restrictive air flow allowing more air in. Where I'm from the temp isn't much of an issue at night and if you're afraid of to warm of a charge intercooler sprayers will make a huge difference, I recommend a Cryo2 Kit it runs off of CO2 which is cheaper and easier to fill than nitrous (also safer) and I don't think any states have restrictions on this, where as some state's restrict nitrous like in my state you can't have a nitrous tank in a street car without a roll cage. Also might consider wrapping the intake tube to help keep this cool if you choose a metal intake, i didn't but have friends who have. In the end it all comes down to the drivers style, time of day they drive in, and of course personal preference but I have an AEM cold air intake (kinda an oxymoron since it does suck hot air) and I like it a lot. So there it is please feel free to add your input as I'm sure we all have our own opinions on this and I hope to get some great feedback
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