Ive been thinking about going to a fwi. i have a K&N intake. would it b worth the time and money to switch to a fwi? also being my daily driver it sees rain and snow would this be a problem? also anyone that has some pics or ideas on some designs let me know.

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The biggest thing a FWI does is make a tone difference in your engine. Yes you might get 1-3 Horse power, yes you might get cooler air, yes its less constrictive. But really its the sound difference you will notice. It will make a SC engine Scream like no bodys buisness and a N/A engine Roar like its got minor exaust work done. Trust me. heres some pics of mine and a vid with some sound clips.






And so long as your fender doesn't get commonly filled with snow or water it should be ok. Mine weathers rain all the time and is fine. And the filter is still pristinely clean after 3 months so far.

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All sho no go...

A FWI will work about as well, but the blower whine S/C in the cars I've rode in that had FWI's seemed to be a little louder. If you already have a K&N I'd stick with it but it's up to you.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

ITs fun making a FWI though ill say, even tho it was a PITA for me.

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All sho no go...

k ill prolly stick with the K&N cuz mine has PLENTY of S/C whine and has a borla exhaust so its pretty loud. but please keep posting opinions. i would love to hear from some who has had both a K&N and fwi and which they prefered and why. and love to see pics and vids as well

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Well the only filter they had at my Local auto stores was a spectre or atleast that was the only one that fit. personally i think K&N is cool and all but mostly a name because that stock airbox is rather constrictive in design. my spectre flows great and it was 20 bucks.

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All sho no go...

mine was on the car when i bought it so it really dont matter to me what it cost for the filter lol

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I have the K&N FIPK (Cold air) and it to me was worth every penny. I got it used for $200 shipped with a BNIB filter from someone on CGP.

The downside of FWI is if you drive in the rain you run the chance of water getting sucked up through your intake. Any intake will be an improvement for your over the stock airbox though whether its just a filter and some PVC, a fenderwell or a CAI.

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yea i think im gonna stick with my k&n

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Good call. Why spend more money if what you have already works? I had a K&N FIPK II on my GTP and I liked it a lot.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

yea i love it i was just wondering if the fwi was better since thats all i hear anyone talking about now

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like i said the FWI is mainly a sound difference thing. and a very small increase in HP. i would say it feels like my car was a bit more spritly from a dig after the installation of the FWI. but it could just be that its louder at wide open throttle now.

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All sho no go...

FWI's are obviously a little further removed from engine bay heat, but the thing is (and I've said this before, and I'll say it again) it doesn't matter. My intake air temps were never more than 10-15* above ambient temperature while the car was moving, and they were usually less than that and my filter was exposed to heat from my engine bay and headers. Especially if you're shooting for your best performance at a track, you can take your headlight out. This gives the air a direct path to your air filter. Tucking the filter in the fenderwell blocks it from "direct" airflow. I don't think anyone has ever provided dyno charts proving that one or the other is better, so you can run whatever kind of intake you want, IMO.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

No there arnt any charts for FWI but i belive some one did a chart for an open 9 inch cone vs a wizair box and the open cone was a 3hp increase and the wizair box was a 2. just food for thought if your considering those options also.

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All sho no go...

If you say you get snow, then most likely your fender fills up with snow, salt, and slush. I was considering doing a fenderwell intake, but then i looked in there, and said no way. I decided to just stick with an open cone K&N if i did a fenderwell intake the filter would be destroyed in minutes...

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My Wizaired setup's been holding up to winters just fine. Think this is the 3rd winter with it, actually.

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

Let me be the first to say, sucking up water is no fun. Ask me how I know.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Cause of your time in prison?

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All sho no go...

lol how do u know?

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FWI + huge puddle + engine turning 2500 rpm = no fun. But nothing was broken thank god. Thought 10.5:1 compression would have broken something but nope. I got lucky, but after that my intake is behind my headlight just to make sure that doesn't happen again. Haven't noticed a difference in the butt dyno from moving the filter.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

that would suck. i think im gonna keep mine behind my headlight

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The cobalt ss guys have had problems with hydrolocking their motors because the stock intake is in the fenderwell and they just hack the box up and throw an open cone on there with nothing to protect it.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

1-3 HP gain from a CAI? Oh hell no. I got 70 HP at the rear wheels on my GTP from my CAI. Yeah. Now what?

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

Im sure mike lol

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All sho no go...

That's all? You should have seen my dyno chart after I added colder plugs. picked up 120 AWHP

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6