I have owner all 3 lol. First had the AEM V2 never even installed it due to having to make a rain guard and or plugging holes so when you wash your car it doesn't get wet. Then I bought the FIPK works great also matched it with a AUT plate for more air flow. Now I have a CT Icebox, only reason I switched is because I vented my hood and the holes were right about the filter, again scared of water. CT works great looks better IMO also but the FIPK with AUT plate is dam close

 

+3 for the AEM v2! If you use google shopping results you can get it for around $280 shipped last I looked. I think the official intake thread even says it's one of the best gains around for intakes.

 

Seriously? The drain water solution is as simple as placing one peice of black tape over the hole in the drain channel under ther hood. I did it. My buddy didn't do it and has zero issues even driving in the rain.

OP don't less this comment keep you from buying AEM. It's seriously a bad reason to not buy it! sorry to offend anyone.

 

I just ran to lunch, it's absolutely POURING down rain today. There are puddle everywhere. Once again, I had absolutely no problems driving with the AEM V2 in the rain.

 

Actually, comptech went out of business. Some of the people who worked for it purchased the company and it became ct-e. Thats how I understand it.

As far as intakes go, CT-E and FIPK are probably budget friendly. PRM is another popular one, sounds about the best IMHO. I am building a hybrid K&N/PRM setup that someone did on here. Seemed like best of both worlds.

 

I had a CAI and I got caught in a heavy storm. No puddles, just driving down a two-lane road in heavy rain. Turned onto a side street and the car bogged when I pressed the gas. I shut it off and pulled the intake tube and there was water pouring out of the manifold. I towed it home and pulled the plugs. Luckily I was able to get all the water out (it was puddled inside the manifold) and as far as I can tell there was no damage. I yanked that piece off and put the stock box back on.

But I live in Florida so take it for what it's worth.

 

Actually, comptech went out of business. Some of the people who worked for it purchased the company and it became ct-e. Thats how I understand it.

As far as intakes go, CT-E and FIPK are probably budget friendly. PRM is another popular one, sounds about the best IMHO. I am building a hybrid K&N/PRM setup that someone did on here. Seemed like best of both worlds.
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A hybrid?! That spunds legit! How are you doing it?

 

I hydrolocked mine with a CAI. I had the car parked out front with a for sale sign for a few weeks. Got in the car and cranked it with water in the tube. Luckily Honda replaced everything under warranty, even though my warranty passed 400 miles earlier. I now have a FIPK.

If you live in colder climate, FIPK should compare to the gains of CAI.

If you live in a warmer climate, the FIPK has a tendency for heat soak and CAI might give better gains.

 

I've got a K&N FIPK, I agree the sound is awesome, but I ran an s2k back in the day that had an AEM v2 intake and I had the K&N FIPK + header and exhaust and I heard his intake over all my noise makers, and was glad I did because it sounded like sex. If your not worried about hydrolock, I would go for the AEM v2. the longer and bigger piping is much better for this engine power-wise, plus it really cleans up the engine bay as it just looks so open and accessible to everything.

Now that it's getting warm I can definitely feel the K&N bog down off the line for the first 1000 rpms or so and then when you get the airflow to the intake you get this surge of power lol it's kinda fun, but its also kind of annoying when your pulling out into traffic or something.

ALSO, I have a vented hood where the hole is directly above the K&N filter, I dont have any water issues even when its pouring cats and dogs, BUT and I've never seen this information on the forum before so I will go ahead and mention it here, the K&N filter does seem to get a lot dirtier a lot quicker because of the vent being right above it so while its sitting or parked Im pretty sure dust and dirt etc. are getting to the filter pretty easily. I clean my filter probably once every 3 months. But thats the good thing about the K&N filter, its rechargable so you just have to clean it rather than buying a whole new filter.

If I were to do it again, what would I buy? Probably the AEM v2 over the FIPK because Im interested in the power gains, you get a nice bump in torque down low (doesnt seem to be there with the K&N) and apparently nicer gains up top (dont know about the K&N with this one). If you want to see what the K&N sounds like, just take your airbox off and go WOT, theres your answer.

 

Google AEM V2. I was looking the other night right before I bought my K&N, seen close out on V2 $238.

I paid $202 for my K&N. Went with that one mainly because I don't want to cut my splash shield and worry about water. I think the K&N looks better as well.