Well I just got my 8 a few weeks ago, and I already purchased and installed the mazdaspeed cold air intake, and I thought I'd do a little write up of my impressions of it. There's also some info I'd like to include that I didn't see on the forum anywhere when I was doing my research.


First of all, let me say that I'm pretty happy with the product so far. The fit seems to be great, and I was very happy to get a lot of the plastic "junk" out of my engine bay. It looks much cleaner now, in my opinion, than it did before. It does take a while to install, but can easily be done on an evening during the work week. Note that while the instructions state that you must take the front crash bar off, you really only need to losen it enough to be able to wiggle the intake piping through. I'd suggest this anyways, because when I was doing this I didn't see a great way to disconnect the airbag sensor.


There were really only two issues I had with it, and they can easily be solved. One is that since the intake gets rid of the VAFD you have to cap off one of the vacuum lines. Well the vacuum cap that they give you seems to be wayyyy too small for the job. Luckily my friend used to own a VR-4 so he had tons of extras laying around and we found one just a bit bigger which fit great. The other issue I had is that the 3 remaining vacuum lines you do re-install, don't fit the greatest on the intake. I have already had one pop off of it multiple times, and I have tried realigning the intake a little to provide better angles for the lines, and still no dice. Again something easily solved with a couple of zip ties (if those are your thing) or a couple of small clamps from your local autozone. I guess related to this is also the fact that it seems unavoidable that one of the vacuum lines will rest atop your alternator. Again something I'm not a huge fan of, but something that shouldn't be detrimental.


In terms of sound/performance. Well, I got in the car and revved it a couple times with the bumper off and it sounded great. Then my friend made some comment about how it sounded good at WoT. I of course had not revved it that hard so I said "That wasn't WoT, I'll show you WoT" I hopped back into the car and floored it. All I can say was that it scared the crap out of them. It was great. So then we put the bumper back on and took it for a test drive. Driving around town with my normal shifts coming somewhere between 3000 - 4000 when I'm driving semi agressive you barely notice the sound difference. Casual driving when I shift around 3k it sounds almost exactly like stock. But when you get on it and get up into the 6k+ range you can definitely hear the difference. Btw, for those of you who are concerned there is no "highway drone" imo, and I drive highway every day to work so it makes a difference to me. Basically it's exactly what I wanted. quiet when you want it to be and loud when you want it to be. In terms of power, I think we all know the story here. If anything it's not much. I think there is a little bit extra available below the peak, according to the butt dyno, but that could just be the sound.

All in all I am very happy with the product and I have noticed a small increase in gas mileage over the four or so tanks I've used since I've installed it.


Maybe I'll upload some pictures later, but they're easy enough to find if you look.

 

Very cool. I might end up purchasing it or the AEM since they are so similar if not the same.

 

A while back I was looking for some folks who were interested in getting some discounted CAI's made. No one piped up. I just picked up the package last night, including a Mazdaspeed Decal. I won't be selling any I don't care to be in the parts business, but if there would have been interest at the time the cost would have been under $200 including shipping.

It's identical to the Mazdaspeed system and is entirely aluminum.

 

Its the same.

To the original poster, the vacuum cap with the AEM was a little tight as well, but since its rubber, it stretches, and after some manuvering, its not that hard to get on. I'm not sure if they include the exact same size. For your multiple hose issue, just get some zip ties, or vacuum hose clamps. Might look like ****, but at least it will get the job done.

 

nice write-up

makes me even more eager for my AEM :D

 

They're very similar if not exactly the same. The cleaning fluid that comes with it has mazdaspeed logo on the front, but on the back it refers to the fluid as "AEM cleaning fluid". :O

So yeah i'm pretty sure they're exactly the same.

 

so you pay the name and waranity :P

 

i just paid for the name.. haha, i love brand names

 

AEM was the third party on the design team...So whatever the MS has is pretty much going to be the same as the stuff on the AEM except the logos and the warranty that MS comes with....

 

I put my MS intake on 2 weeks ago and i love it, it sounds way better then before.

 

I've had it on for about a month or so now. I bought it before they were out. I love it. I got used to the sound it made from 5500-9000 pretty quick so now it's basically like nothing. Performance wise, it feels like there is a little jump from 6000-9000. It's definately not there just regular driving, but there when you need it. I like it and it looks amazing and sounds amazing.