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I went to my dealership today to go get my liscence plate while I was there I asked the car technician about buying a new air intake/exhaust and if it would void my warranty(Nope) effects on AF ratio (Not really) stuff like that. So anyway I asked him would it be better to get a drop in filter or to buy a whole new intake system. He told me I could get a new system if I wanted but there wasn't really a point since I would obviously keep my car N/A. I asked him why and he tells me that your car is still going to breath almost the same because the suction in the plastic piping would not shrink, how ever the plastic piping would shrink under high amounts of pressure ( FI) so to really get most of the use out of a new system with metal piping you would boost your car so there would be no bending in the piping of the intake.

So long story short, if the metal piping is so you don't lose boost in the intake, what is the point getting a whole new system on an N/A over a drop in? The chrome doesn't count

 

smooth airflow as opposed to that ribbed tube and less turbulance

 

I kept the ribbed rubber piece for the SRI, because I think rubber conducts less heat then the chrome piping. Maybe not as nice looking, but the air going into the throttle body might be a few degrees cooler! Just my opinion though. By no means a scientific answer

 

Well, you tech was right, to a degree. There will not be huge gains either way, but the main difference, at least in our cars, is going to be sound. If you want some sound to go along with that intake, then get the full system. If you just want your car to breathe a bit better, maybe gain 2-3 hp, go with the drop in.
Even if you were to go FI, you would have to toss a full system because a turbo kit would come with its own. differnce of gains would probably be 5-8 hp vs 2-3 hp. Not Much in the end. I went with drop in and axle back just for a bit better breathing, nothing major at all!!

 

I think that with the stock airbox Mitsubishi has made for the Lancers, it actually breaths fairly well for a economy car. Hard to squeeze much more power out of something that is already efficient for the displacement size!

 

just get a short ram intake system... you can find them anywhere and they are easy 2 install. check ebay and www. roadracemotorsports.com

 

You can even get a adapter at the local auto parts store, and attach a K&N if you have the $$, if not, then just get the generic brand from the store. You will still essentially get the same effect. Just make sure the MAF sensor is attached correctly and sealed!