Intakes are widely used in the import scene, and typically they do give you a pretty decent hp gain on a dollar per hp basis. I've installed several now on previous cars, and it's definitely something you can feel in the "seat of your pants". They work by drawing in a large volume of cold, dense air (instead of hot under hood air). Additional fuel is metered in along with the increased air flow, to maintain an appropriate A/F.

As with most mods, nothing is for free. The cost is increased under hood noise (as a lot of factory intake design is restrictive on purpose for acoustical reasons). The other downside is decreased chances of water ingestion, since it is much easier to submerge a filter that is mounted down low. I don't think there should be any debate that a well designed intake is an excellent place to start when modding a car. Even old Muscle Car advocates would agree - it's the same principle as Ram Air. Beyond that, read up on AEM's website or in Sport Compact car for more details on these. I am not going to debate the effectiveness of the mod on this car, but I would imagine that 8-10 hp (max gain) would not be a stretch for a well designed unit in this car. Generally, a 5% gain has been seen using these in the import community, among various types of cars that are popular to modify.

Many of the mods that I did on the previous car were well researched and supported by claims from my peers. But even when dealing with a known company, a leap of faith is required. I ordered an intake from Iceman years ago for a Neon that I owned. I waited and waited after putting in the order. Weeks turned to months. Finally, I called up and demanded my money back. The factory had a fire at the time, and as a result, there as a huge log of backorders. So, there's one example of a reputable company letting me down. On the other hand, I ordered nearly hand made parts for my Mazda from members on my previous forum, and often enjoyed great results. My header was hand made in PA, and supported by dyno data. It worked better than I expected. In either case, it often takes a leap of faith to get things done on a car that has little or no aftermarket support. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? I wouldn't blame a guy for sending off a check in good faith for something that might have worked out. Seems the only thing he is guilty of is having faith in humanity. What's it going to take to restore yours?