btw is it standard or automatic? im assuming its red...so you might as well tell people how much you paid, where at, with how many options, cause theyll ask anyhow
before you ask, here are the BASICS (not everything you need to know, but a lot) about intakes:
Ok, here are the low-downs on intakes (please read, good info):
First, you have two types, CAI (cold air induction) and SRI (short ram intake). For the most part, you have two name brands that make intakes: Injen, and AEM. Injen makes the CAI and AEM makes the SRI. Also, you can purchase a no-name, Bomz, or other off brand intake from eBay with simliar results to the SRI.
Rumors: Dispite what a lot of people say, the two types of intakes do not yeild a significant power difference. I have owned both types and noticed NO, NONE, NADA, ZIP, ZILCH increase between the SRI and the CAI. The basic difference is 1) Looks (the Injen you can get in different powdercoated colors), and 2) Personal Preference. The eBay intake will yield almost IDENTICAL results to the AEM SRI power wise. In my opinion, the eBay ones look like junk, but they serve their purpose...I had an eBay intake before my Injen...it's a good intake for a tight budget.
Another rumor is that you will have to worry about the CAI taking in water and destroying your engine...while this is theorectically possible, it will not happen unless you submerge your intake in water (ie - drive through a 2ft deep puddle)...the CAI is hidden in your wheel well behind the plastic shield which is screwed in...if you are especially nervous, you can always get the AEM bypass valve, although I personally think it's a waste of money.
Prices: You are going to spend significantly more money for the Inejn or AEM intake over the eBay intake. And you are going to spend more money for the Injen over the AEM. A lot of owners feel it's worth the money to be able to get your intake in Black, Red, Blue, Silver, etc, and therefore spend their money on the Injen. Frankly, if you don't care about name brands, or care what people think when you open your hood (if you even open your hood), I would not waste my money on the Injen or AEM...but that's just my opinion, and many hours have been wasted arguing this point. Many owners have found the best prices for the Injen at
www.adventon.com...
and about exhausts:
Lowdown on exhausts:
Ok, this is a very opinionated opinion
Personally, I think that the stock piping is quite suffcient on the Protege5 unless youre going turbo. Therefore, I would not waste your money with a catback exhaust, and instead put your money elsewhere (not to mention you'll save a buttload on shipping). Mostly, you'll see people have the Racing Beat, JIC, HKS, or "custom" exhaust. Basically, from what I understand (although I've only had one exhaust, the HKS), the main difference is sound. I highly doubt that you will notice a difference in performance between the Racing Beat cat-back and the HKS axle-back exhaust or the JIC. If you wanted to go the custom route, you could simply buy a nice muffler from eBay, and take it to your local muffler shop and have them weld it on, and get the same gains as a catback system for probably half the price. i know my local shop wanted to charge me $150. so plus a decent muffler ($100+), you could get a custom cat-back for around $250 installed...then use the money you save to buy yourself a high-flow catalytic converter from the same place. The reason I chose my HKS rear section (in other words, it bolts to the stock piping right around the rear axle, as opposed to the second cat converter) is because it comes with a silencer that you can use to significantly dampen the sound of your exhaust - this keeps you from sounding like a damn ricer, AND can be very important in areas where they are strict on noise ordinances and EPA violations...plus, HKS is a good name too! i also like the way it looks coming out at an angle. Install on most of the exhausts should take you less than an hour with a good jack and a friend...they should be two bolts only, and come with gaskets!
