is an aftermarket intake worth the cash? most people say they feel gains in the higher RPM's. i don't really drive my car much above 4000 - 4500 RPM's normally. is the intake a "worth it" upgrade?

 

YES its worth the money. i just got mine and ive noticed power all through the power band. not to mention that the throttle response is twice as good. i got my injen for $210 well worth the money

 

Aaron, do you personally know anyone else with a Protege that has put on an intake? if so....see if they will let you drive their car so you can do a BUTT DYNO comparison....I have the injen in mine....not only is the throttle response better....it sounds better.....and when you open the hood...it LOOKS WAY BETTER!

:{D

 

I think the concept of an intake is worth the small power gain...but spending $200 on one is not in my opinion.

I made my own, looks just as good and does the EXACT same thing for $20, not including the filter.

So to answer your question, NO.

 

nope......... i don't know anyone else with a protege. could someone explain the throttle response..... how it's better?

 

throttle respone is when you mashon the accelerator and how quickly your car picks up in the rpm's. i noticed that it is about twice as fast

 

what about the jerky engine breaking in the low rpm's when you let of the gas? is that worse? same? thanks for your help fellaz.......

 

jerky engine breaking at low rpm's? i have no clue about that i dont have that problem i dont think.

 

Ambient,

I'm curious about your process. Do you have pictures? What did you do? Maybe it's posted somewhere else...

I am reluctant to drop $200 on some plumbing, but being a newbie I'm a little lost as to what my alternatives are. Seems simple enough. I would just need to maintain a diameter of 2.5" interior diameter the full length...but where do I get the parts.

My only real concern is about keeping moisture out of the flow.

 

well something to go along with the $200 is not only its performance...but how it looks...yeah I know...some people don't give a "flying rats butt" how it looks as long as it works....those people, in my opinion, should build their own intakes....you can buy the tubing...you can have it bent....buy the connectors somewhere......get the cone filter...and yes....most likely...spend a lot less money over all.....BUT....personally....it was so easy for me to pick up the phone....place the order....and in a few days its at my door and looking FINE!!! none of my time spent getting all the pieces and parts...no time getting the tubing bent JUST right....no time fabracating anything....I think about how much I get paid at work...and my OFF time is MORE valubable to me than my time at work....so, can I do the work myself and be money ahead? if yes...I do it myself....if the answer is no....I will just lay out the cash!

in case you haven't seen one....here is what the Injne looks like installed in our cars.

 

thanx nuke,

I have seen the Injen intake and this is the one I was considering. I see what your saying. Looks are important, so is my time, but chrome doesn't really do anything for me and I thought it might be fun crafting this thing.

Would I really need to have custom bends? Is there a place I could get assorted pre-bent sections that I could piece together?
Like a turbo-store's parts bin or something. Anyway. This is something I will research on my own unless anyone might have some insight.

 

Fluid,

I saw a post in here SOMEWHERE....where they built their own intake...was really sharp looking too....in fact its one of the other mods I think...anyway....they got their material from JC WHITNEY of all places...and it was prebent pieces just like you are talking about. worth checking into if you want to do it yourself.....and after all the proper fitment was made up you could always have it all powdercoated or whatever to make it all spiffy! :{D

 

mmmm powder coated, that's more like it

 

Sir Nuke,

You ever have any problems with moisture on your system? I was thinking about getting one too but then, this is Houston if you catch my drift. Did you purchase a bypass valve?

 

NO, didn't get a bypass valve....if you really get down there and look....unless you drive your car through a foot or more of standing water....you will NEVER get water in your intake, its nicely inclosed in there...and you will never have to worry about SPLASHING water from off the road...or a car wash or anything like that.

NO, I will never drive through standing water either....never have, never will....I have personally witnessed the dangers of that....I will pull up on a curb and onto a sidewalk and park before I will ever do that. Just not gonna happen.