Auto Parts: Which intake? -SRI?, cold air intakes, cold air intake

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I'm stuck on which intake system to purchase for my car: Weapon-R secret or AEM V2? Is the AEM V2 worth the extra $100 for what it offers?

Thank you

ANSWER:      They are both pretty much the same as far as performance goes.  What you are buying for the extra is mostly appearance and prestige.  Of course, most of these systems don't actually make any difference when compared to the OE breather system.  They call them cold air intakes, but they draw their air from the under the hood where all the hot air is.  OEM systems are much better at getting cooler air into the engine.  Swap your OE filter for a K&N replacement and you have a better system than almost any "cold air intake."  Of course, if you want all the extra noise, then you have to go with the aftermarket system.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!
Now, I know they also have short ram intakes. Is it true that they take in warmer air than OE systems? If so, why do people bother purchasing these systems if one of the sole reasons for a new intake is to put cooler air into the engine? Is it because it can get air into the engine faster?

Answer
    Any system that gets its air supply from under the hood is getting warm air.  Most "intake systems" fall into this category.  Most of them also reduce the size of the plenum from which the air is drawn.  You can get a good idea of how important plenum size is by looking at the intakes on sportbikes and naturally aspirated dragsters.  Bigger plenums enable more air into the engine, and faster.  They are particularly important to throttle response, which is the speed with which the air in the intake can be accelerated into the engine when the throttle is opened quickly.  A large diameter "intake system" may offer an increase in plenum volume, but they usually don't because they eliminate the airbox volume by doing away with it entirely.

    Why do so many people buy these systems?  It is mostly fashion, I believe.  They are brightly colored and much louder than the stock airbox system.  These are both things that sporty drivers seem to desire.  There is an exception to the "intake system" inferiority problem:  K&N products.  K&N tests all of their products to much higher levels than anyone else, and usually include an airbox replacement.  I've dealt with a lot of these companies and K&N is by far the best, both in quality and design.