So I've read all kinds of things trying decide what intake to get for my 2012 Ralliart. I've seen AEM is best option as far as easy to install but, it's not legal in my state (Maryland) I wanted to get Injen but, heard it will not fit with my fog lights. I really wanted to get a cold air intake but, I also read the car comes stock with cold air intake and really given during summer I should be fine with short ram. So as you can see I've read a lot of different things time I see if I can get some help on this from people more experienced. Thanks.

 

The car already comes with what amounts to a cold air intake. Unless you have done turbo-back exhaust, intercooler, and turbo upgrade, there's no reason to be touching the intake at all other than getting some extra "Whoosh!" sound.
Using a short ram intake in the engine bay, so it sucks even more hot air during the summer, makes absolutely no sense. Also, other than the AEM intake which is supported with a GST map, you'd need an expensive custom tune.

 

Not sure where you heard such a thing, but I'm in Maryland and I think you've been misinformed. Or maybe you meant a test pipe? That IS illegal here in MD....

 

^My response too.

 

Why would it be illegal? I can see no cat would be cause more states are the same but cold air shouldn't.

 

I am having the same issue. I can't decide weather or not to purchase the Injen short ram intake or just put a simple aftermarket drop in filter.
I have the 09 RA.
According to the Injen website "the gains should be up to 20HP".
Plus it looks cool!

 

The AEM 21-698C Cold Air Intake based on AEM website says the intake is not legal in Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. I've asked couple mechanics where I worked about it no one gave me a rock solid answer. But, seems like unless I want to pop out a fog light AEM makes only cai that fits 09+ Ralliarts.

 

To add on though again I couldn't get a rock solid answer one of guys I talk to had a brother owned a WRX and when he went for emissions he failed and that was a problem area for him passing. I would love just get AEM but, I'm don't feel like swapping it out when have to go get emissions checked.

 

Again, I think you're confused. They don't even pop your hood when you go in for emissions inspection, so first of all they don't look, and second of all an intake has nothing to do with failing emissions inspection here in Maryland. A test pipe or high flow cat could possibly cause you to fail the emissions test if it cause your car to throw a CEL or they look under the car and don't see evidence of a CAT on your exhaust. I just had my emissions inspection done on my Ralliart last month, and I was in and out of there in less than 5 minutes. They didn't pop the hood, look under the car, ask me any questions, nothing at all. I think the guy just said something like "cool car man"......so stop stressing about all this stuff.

 

Thanks for the info..
The AEM C.A.I. doesn't look fancy but it seems more practical. +16HP gain.. not bad too!

 

(same as a drop-in BTW )

 

All these "+16 hp" or "+20 hp" claims are just bs companies use to sell intakes. A tuned car will actually make same or even less power with most aftermarket intakes vs the stock option. Sure, you may make more hp without a tune, but it's actually not good for the car. Just get a drop in filter if you are really set on modding any part of the intake.

 

Yea I've already decided to go with drop in K&N filters any type of after market intake last thing on my shopping like going drop some money next on Burchur exhaust

 

Thanks for all your input guys really helps a guy who use to be just into 4x4 with Jeep's to now into a little bit different world.

 

So essential what your saying is a majority of the people on this forum let alone all the other car enthusiast around the world, are a bunch of suckers that seem to believe that an aftermarket intake of any sort is just a sham and they are wasting there money?

That's a pretty bold notion for such a lucrative industry.