Ok I've been searching through the threads getting all the different thoughts on the K&N. I'd love to hear from the people that have one on their car and what they think. Should I get one or save my money? What are the pluses and minuses regarding this thing? Thanks T

 

First off...Save your money.

or...Search ( Couldn't help myself.) Then Save your money.

or...Read "Similar Threads" below and Then Save your money.

 

So I'm getting a "Save my money" from ya.

 

Well--it flows better than stock--but the advantage is that the airfilter is reusable-thus saving you money. The filter pays for itself--some cars respond better to the K&N drop in than others--I have used them in all my cars and never had a problem--they will give slight gains in gas mileage as well. Its a worthwhile mod--but not for performance.

 

Whenever I think about mod'ing my vehicle I say to myself--I like the way this car looks what could I do to add hp?

hmm....I'll leave it like this (many have said the same thing). Do you remember the RX-8 recall for miscalculation of hp? If a filter or more so a whole new exhaust or a whole new intake could add power (noticable power) to this car wouldn't mazda have taken that route instead of doing buy-backs.

I'm saving for something that without a doubt will perform like a turbo. In terms of sound? Perhaps and racingbeat setup. So if you want an intake wait for RB. Filter? Rather keep my engine free of pebbles.

 

EXACTLY. You are not going to get any noticeable gains from an aftermarket exhaust or intake (at this time). Mazda has gotten just about all that can be gotten out of the engine, intake, and exhaust, and still have it be legal (in the US). The only thing that will perform like a turbo, is a turbo. But, with a turbo, you have to consider the associated costs for an intercooler, new intake, etc., etc., etc. I'm guessing there will be some type of header setup sometime that will make a new intake and exhaust system a legitimate area for hp gains.

 

It is my humble opinion that K&N's intakes are crap for some if not most cars, but if they do make anything right its their airfilters.

 

Agreed. I dislike the intake for the 8, but their airfilter seems to be fine. It's expensive, but I do like being able to just clean my existing filter without having to replace it (I got a Green, but it's the same thing really)

 

I don't have a K&N filter for my 8 but when I had my old PGT I did gain 1-2mpg from it and a few extra horsepower (the car only had to downshift 1 gear instead of 2 when climbing the mountain to go skiing)

 

I have put the K&N Typhoon intake on my 8, and honestly, I love it. She sounds throatier, and I notice a difference in the performance. I am not saying it is the greatest thing you could get for the 8, but I would recommend it. I have just over 15k miles on my 8, and I have had it for 6 months. I love driving it and am always out in it, so I feel like I know my 8 pretty well and it is easy for me to notice the mods I put on.

 

Well to put things into perspective, if a K&N costs $30 more over a stock filter that translates into $3 million for the 100,000 RX8's that were produced so far. Plus a K&N requires a maintenance procedure instead of just flicking the old one out and installing a new filter - so that also translates into money for maintenance procedures and future owner complaints about additional maintenance costs.


Compare that to the $500k they spent in rebates/buybacks and the buybacks look pretty cheap.

 

Ok thats one that likes it..... Has anyone put one on then took it off because they didnt like it?

 

heh. What's a k&n run, $250-350? A stock filter costs what, $30?

A green filter, or any of the other drop in filters will run about $50, flow better than stock, while being washable. Far as I know, the only thing the K&N has is sound, but many who have it later complain about loss of power, poor idling after they get over the initial rush of a monster sounding rx-8.

 

In my opinion, if you want to run a K&N filter, get the direct replacement panel filter that works in the stock airbox. Don't buy the cone kit.