Induction Kit, Is it really that good? Options

[mikeh117]

I know there have been many posts with regard to CAI's and Induction kits. However are they really worth the money and the hassle of fitting? I have a stock 3SGE which is totally unmodified but I am considering fitting the K&N 57i with CAI.

Here are my thoughts:

Pro's:
Makes my Celica a tiny bit faster.

Cons:
Costs £100.
Got to fit it.
Raises my insurance premium.
May affect main dealer servicing.

I would really like to make my car faster but without getting a GT4 or fitting NOS. I would particularly like to hear from UK owners of the 3SGE who have modified thier cars and have dyno results to show what gains are achievable.

I also know that once I start modifying my engine I won't be able to stop until either I blow it up or I run out of money.

[chucho]

If it rains alot or floods in your area easily i wouldnt recomment getting a CAI. A friend of mine that lived in New Orleans sucked water though the intake when it flooded and killed his engine. I know AEM makes a water-bypass valve but other than that i dont have much personal experience. Rains to much down here so i bought short ram (for sound purposes only)

[mikeh117]

I have spoken with a work colleague who specialises in performance mods and he has advised me against the K&N stating that they offer no discernable performance increase with a lot of noise. He recommends a performance filter for the stock air box as this offers best hp/£ or getting a proper HKS or Apexi system designed specifically for the 6G Celica.

Apparently unless the replacement induction kit is designed specifically for the car the airflow can actually be restricted by vortecies and other air-flow dynamics, rendering the device useless and possibly even degrading performance over the stock air-box.

Anyone agree with this?