Intake

[Kranberry]

I know this will end up to be a heated debate, but if money were no object, which intake is the best?  From what I've heard this is what I surmise.

Ractive most bang for the buck but since it has no heat resistent kind of metal thingy probably not the best. (not saying it is bad)

AEM, it is a short ram but since people say AEM designed it that way and not a CAI, that it should work just as well.  It does have a heat resistent powder thingy or something...

Ingen, heard goo things about this, except when you go over a puddle.

Is Ingen the best if money is no object?  I'm not saying best money:power kick ratio, but best period.

Thanks

Chung Wah

[MP5Navy]

If money were no object?.... This sounds like my kinda question as I am made of WEST SIDE money.

It is really a toss up between the AEM and INGEN (OFFENCE INTENDED for all the "sucks" with Crap-tive (opps Ractive) intakes! ("sucks" refers to the post on Ezboard about "you guys are sucks pay the big bucks for real stuffs"). LOL of course those that know me will know that I am joking.

I bought the AEM cause it's AEM! AEM was voted a "top ten" power product by Import Tuner. No only that but if AEM thought a true CAI was a better design for more power they would have made it that way, or at least offered two versions (short ram or CAI) like they do for Civics and other cars.

Read this:
AEM Intake Schooling (http://www.aempower.com/induction.htm)

Although I think the AEM is the best intake for our cars right now I think you should get the INGEN so that I can be the only cool guy in this club.

Wonder what Ed will have to say.... http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ChopstickHero]

since he is my WESTSIDE brother, I will not take offence to his remark about my Ractive intake ....

I'll just mess up his car when he's not lookin http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

But anyways, I have the Ractive Super Flow intake and it's definitely an improvement over stock. I've never driven a protege with the Injen or AEM intake, but i'm sure the performance improvement between all three is almost similar.
i think the major thing that is accounted for in the price is the fit and finish. the aem and injen fit perfectly.
the ractive takes "superior" bracket modification skills ... lol ... http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif, but still fits well once it's in.

Kranberry, at the next meeting check out my car/protege5girls's car (ractive), MP5Navy's car (aem) and crusinblackp5's/Eds mp5's car (injen).

as p5crazy would put it .... use the force to choose the right intake, young jedi ... lol http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Familia 323]

Hey Mike (Chopstick Hero), is it true that Ractive will be changing their name in the near future ? I heard some talk among vendors that eventually the owner will. It had been suggested that the name Ractive just doesn't cut it, but performance wise, it scored well on dyno tests (in a Civic Si) ran by these vendors.

[p5crazy]

SOOO refreshing to hear some logical, knowledge based opinions here about these tech. questions!

Damn kids...keep up the good work...you are taking something that seems sooo complicated for the folks like me, and making it black and white!

Great job guys! http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

hehehe...and it is probably just a coincidence you kids are from the West!

[Protege5girl]

If $ was no object, I'd get the AEM. I've read that CAIs actually decrease performance on our cars for some reason. (I can't remember where I read this....maybe i dreamed it).

Granted the AEM and Injen look nicer than the Ractive, however is the extra $250+ really worth the extra 1hp?

If I had extra cash floating around tho, i would get an AEM, i'm sick of all the CRAPTIVE comments! lol

[p5crazy]

Kranberry...don't listen to her!!

She's a girl, she has NO CLUE what she is talking about...AND she is from NORTH\EAST SIDE...THE WORST KIND!!!

hehehe...j\k... http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif have to beat you down every once 'n a while...I like to call it EGO MANAGEMENT!

Dude...as with most of this stuff, from everything I have read, and heard others talk about...again...

Bottom Line: you get what you pay for!

You can spend $100 for 1 step above stock, or I am sure you can find a place to custom build one for a couple grand that would put all to shame!

This is one of the biggest reasons I haven't done anything to my car yet...I am making a budget for things like this, seeing what others look like, the reactions and everything. Once you figure out that "hey, if I spend $200 less on an intake, and put the $200 I saved over the AEM towards a set of cams...my hp increase will be a bigger difference then the dude that bought the AEM" it's all about balance my friend!

my $0.02 CAD

[ChopstickHero]

familia 323,
not sure about ractive changing their name.
maybe the ractive name is getting played out so changing it could be a marketing scheme. same products, different name.

brent, you're right.... do your mods in moderation and try to work on a budget. that way you can maximize the value of you hard earned dollars. http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[Joe_Pro5]

Yeah, it's hard to say which one is best (for performance) without seeing a dyno of stock, and the individual intakes installed. Probably not much diff between the three brands.

As for looks... definately Injen. You'll pay through your teeth for that tho.

[Familia 323]

PRM (Toronto based) is another intake system that's supposed to be very good. MX-3.com & other Mazda groups including Dave Lazer (well-known MX-3 racer from Montreal) recommends these intakes very highly. They're well designed and the quality is top-rate. I've seen it before on Jamie's (now drives a MP3) older Protege. If you want to learn more about the PRM Jetstream intakes & installation, go to MX-3.com and look for links to Vaughn Nishimura's technobabble page regarding PRM Jetstream intakes, quite an interesting read.

[JcsMP3]

Here are pics of my prm intake.....

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc.....view=l (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/frazin78/lst?.dir=/Intake+Pics&.order=&.view=l&.src=ph&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/frazin78/lst%3f%26.dir=/My%2bgirl%26.src=bc%26.view=l)

Jc

[Kranberry]

JC, do you have a dyno of the PRM intake? I think maybe after the Brullen day if people get their cars dynoed it will help make my decision. Hopefully there will be enough people doing the dyno to help me make my decision.

Right now it is leaning towards AEM, but RActive and Injen are not too far behind as to be not thought of.

[JcsMP3]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Kranberry @ April 24 2002,12:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">JC, do you have a dyno of the PRM intake?  I think maybe after the Brullen day if people get their cars dynoed it will help make my decision.  Hopefully there will be enough people doing the dyno to help me make my decision.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Any short Ram is a hot air intake... mine is a true CAI cause it sucks up the cold air from the fender which isn't by any means as hot as the engien bay air.

I do have a dyno.. it increased by 4 Whp and 5 Ft lbs of torque. Unfortunatly I lost my dyno sheet but I do remember my numbers.

What is also not taken into consideration is that this mod isn't only to increase HP but to get to your peak HP faster... unfortunatly they can't time this on the dyno's but to reach your 7 000 rev limiter it takes less time meaning more HP faster....

Jc

[Familia 323]

Hey Jamie, it's been awhile. We met during the CanAm meet in Niagara.. Glad you're back..

[YP5 Toronto]

JcsMP3: Where did you get you intake? How much? How much to install? I'm 110% interested in putting one in (today).

Jason

[JcsMP3]

I got it installed from www.prmracing.com I beleive he charged me around $340 for it or something, not too sure as it's been awhile. He does the complete install for you, it's great it takes about 1 hour since he knows what he needs to use now.

His number is on his website. You can call him up and make an appointment. He is a little hard to reach sometimes though....

Jc

[JcsMP3]

Here is a link to a new intake that someone designed.  he is off the www.mazdamp3.com website.  He did this himself, trust me it's a great looking intake.

http://forum.protegemp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&amp;threadid=3579 (http://forum.protegemp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3579)

[MP5Navy]

It is a good looking intake. Is the guy sponsored by McDonald's by any chance? LOL Just that all that red and yellow reminded me of BigMacs, BigXtras, Quarter Pounders, and tasty McDonald's fries! This is not a put down just an observation. http://toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[dinu01]

$340 for an extra 4 lbs of torque and 5hp? Doesn't sound like a good deal at all...

But that's just me (All-Stock, All the time).

[MP5Navy]

Dinu, you don't think that 5HP all over the rev band is a good gain for $340? It's no wonder why you choose to keep your car stock cause HP never comes cheap.
I wonder what magical part you can buy for less money that will post you similar power gains....

[ChopstickHero]

The magical source of all his HP is the Soccer Ball Air Freshener!

Where can i get one?!