MSCAI, Injen CAI, or Cobb SRI?

[guitarsoloist87]

I've spent weeks trying to figure out which one is the best. Which one has correct maf diameter, proper air straightening, and whatever else there may be. I don't see the point in a short ram but everyone is obsessed with cobb so why not buy the only intake they make right? Well I want a cold air. I've heard the mscai is slightly better just because it straightens the air a bit differently to give a better reading on the maf. I don't know what to do anymore. Anyone have advice on mscai vs injen? I saw almost nobody has the injen on the poll that was just done and its $150 less than the mscai. So what makes the mscai so great? I'm not worried about warranty even though I got extended I'll just cancel it. I got the mod bug hehe. Or if you can tell me why you would go with the cobb let me know as well. I know they make an enclosure for it to make it better but I don't know how much that is. Good if cobb cause I can just drive there and just pick it up lol. Please help! Ayudame!

 

[john blutarski]

I think the Injen has no air straightener but I could be wrong. Also I think most people just prefer the MSCAI because you don't have to take it off prior to going to the dealer for a warranty job.

Personally I'd go with the Cobb. It's performed great for me. It can be used with their OTS maps if you decide to go with the Cobb AP later on. Also it's so easy to remove in a hurry if you need to go in for warranty work.

 

[eg6motion]

injen has no straightener but has proper MAF size so it doesn't cause cel's. MSCAI is popular because warranty and Cobb is popular because of price. Like stated above, if you ever decide to go with an AP then i'd just get the Cobb SRI as well.

 

[Kain]

This is my BOOMSTICK!

 

[opt_ms3]

I've been running the Injen for about 8,000mi without issue. It does not have an air straightener, but I think the shape of the intake doesn't cause much air turbulence.

 

[PaPaSpeed]

I think the Cobb SRI is a good choice and a good price. I have the CPE Nano and really like it. If I really wanted to go all out, I'd get the CPE Xcel CAI.
Just get something and get rid of the stock airbox.

 

[Wurf]

Have you considered the Protege Garage intake? They are a supporting vendor and make a short ram with straighteners for a very reasonable price. Another is the Corksport for $240 which is a short ram that includes an aluminum turbo inlet. It does not have any straighteners but you can read the technical specs in the press release on their site. It reportedly does not need straighteners.

Personally my car will never see the dealer with anything but the OEM equipment on it no matter what brand of parts it may have when I drive it. At this time, it is stock, but I also don't plan on posting my mods EVER on this board, if and when I get them.

 

[jon619]

I've got the MSCAI because I take my car to the dealer and I need the CARB # being in CA. I noticed a good increase in power with the MSCAI. In case you're interested, I have a CPE CAI in the for sale forum. The only reason I didn't use it is because it doesn't have a CARB #. Whatever you get, get something with an air straightener. GL

 

[Hank3]

How about the Fujita? I've seen the name pop up some on this forum and others.

 

[TheRealDefman]

I have the Injen and I have not had any CEL problems, it does not have a straightener. I think it's a very good intake and there are/were a few used ones for sale here recently.

This is my BOOMSTICK!

Now, Now Claudio, take it easy....

 

[Wurf]

Maybe we should start a straightener debating thread? Seems like the mfgs that sell intakes with straighteners have some logical arguments, but look at how many intakes without them still work so well?

 

[dronizm5]

SRI's ROCK!!!!!!! I don't have a CAI obviously, I have the Cp-e Nano and it works great... and although highly unlikely I don't have to worry about sucking water up through my intake. Go with the SRI in my opinion sounds nice looks good and is an easy clean. P.S. Nano SRI comes with an air straightener.

 

[my3needsaname]

MMMMMMMMMMMSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cause I really want one.

 

[Wurf]

After doing some basic digging on other Mazdaspeed forums, I've come to the conclusion that:

• Air straighteners are a good thing
• Without any other mods you might be ok without them.
• The topic of air intakes for the MS3 is eternal, will never die, and will be beaten to death until the car is no longer in production for several years.

No offense intended for the OP in regards to this topic being beaten to death. You won't be the last to start a new thread. After further investigation, the published numbers for the Corksport SRI with turbo inlet look great, however they are not for an otherwise bone stock car, but rather one with exhaust mods. This skews the results because the gains will be more significant as you have already "uncorked" one side of the motor which has a greater impact on the power jump for the other side. It's not a fair comparison to other published numbers such as for the COBB for an otherwise stock car.

As has probably been said countless times here, the gains are likely to be very close for any of the SRI products. I think I would shop like I would for anything else, the most bang for the buck. Others may have priority on appearance or design factors they like better. I would not take the dyno results for any of them as absolutes in making a comparison.

 

[guitarsoloist87]

I'm not too concerned about price. Its really between the mscai and cobb now. I don't think I want the cobb unless I can get the heat shield thing for it too but it doesn't appear to be online. Possbily I could drive down or call them and they would have one that might just fit on like they have on their own speed3? I'd like to run short ram in the winter and cold all the other time so the 2+ or however many piece mscai is would be nice for winter and summer. If you had $400 to spend only on an intake, would you get mscai over cobb? I'm not planning on using a access port ever. I'm planning on going out to mazda to order one today. If I'm going to invest, I want the best.

 

[john blutarski]

After doing some basic digging on other Mazdaspeed forums, I've come to the conclusion that:

• Air straighteners are a good thing
• Without any other mods you might be ok without them.
• The topic of air intakes for the MS3 is eternal, will never die, and will be beaten to death until the car is no longer in production for several years.

No offense intended for the OP in regards to this topic being beaten to death. You won't be the last to start a new thread. After further investigation, the published numbers for the Corksport SRI with turbo inlet look great, however they are not for an otherwise bone stock car, but rather one with exhaust mods. This skews the results because the gains will be more significant as you have already "uncorked" one side of the motor which has a greater impact on the power jump for the other side. It's not a fair comparison to other published numbers such as for the COBB for an otherwise stock car.

As has probably been said countless times here, the gains are likely to be very close for any of the SRI products. I think I would shop like I would for anything else, the most bang for the buck. Others may have priority on appearance or design factors they like better. I would not take the dyno results for any of them as absolutes in making a comparison.

I just want to comment on some things since I've owned both the Corksport SRI/inlet and the Cobb SRI & inlet. I felt a noticeable increase with the CS SRI/inlet compared to just the Cobb SRI (duh) but then when adding the Cobb inlet, it felt similar to the CS. My LTFT"s are slightly lower with the Cobb (probably from the straightener) and there should be a heat advantage with the Cobb since it's all silicone as opposed to metal. Either way, as you said, most SRI's out there should have minimal difference in gains. Obviously the cost advantage goes to the Corksport at this point. PG also is considering making an intake/inlet package that will compete with Corksport's price but include a straightener... something to keep in mind.

 

[Wurf]

I recently read Cobb is dropping the heat shield design and will not produce it for sale. I could be wrong, but that's what I recall. The Cobb is only $175 and IMO the Mazdaspeed CAI is hardly giving you anything more for the extra cost except shiny pipes under the hood and a mazdaspeed sticker. If you believe your warranty Mazda would cover problems with your motor with a Mazdaspeed intake on it, then go for it. Keep in mind it will be more difficult to install, replace and clean the filter, and I would want to keep an eye on that filter regularly for mud and dirt. I would probably put one of those water barrier filtration covers on the air filter too.

Happy trails

 

[guitarsoloist87]

I'm also looking into injen cai again lol and cp-e cai. I hate my life can't decide. I want some benefits of short ram but the all the benefits of a cai at higher speeds. I'm not worried about warranty. I'm the guy that thinks its better if it costs more

 

[Wurf]

I'm also looking into injen cai again lol and cp-e cai. I hate my life can't decide. I want some benefits of short ram but the all the benefits of a cai at higher speeds. I'm not worried about warranty. I'm the guy that thinks its better if it costs more

Then by all means CPE IMO.

 

[guitarsoloist87]

The cp-e is $80 more than the injen. I wish I knew why. The guys at shops around here recommend injen just because they see it works the best, especially with subys cause thats all they work on. So they figure it probably works the same on mine. Everyone I know uses injen too. 04 evo 8, 05 sti, and a 03.5 msp. They all run great. Maybe injen is the winner.