what is the difference between a Cold Air Intake and a Short Ram intake?

 

The short ram takes air from inside the engine bay which is warm.

The cold air routes the filter to down inside the bumper area where cooler air can be ingested for a little bump in power.

 

You want a cold air intake! The cone at the end of a cold air intake sits ferther away from the motor than a short ram intake. Motors work better and produce more power with colder air. Picture yourself jogging. If you had cool air to breath rather than hot air, you are going to jog faster and longer than if you had to breathe in hot air. Go with the cold air intake. Also known as a "CAI" Short for Cold Air Intake. Here are pics of both.

SHORT RAM INTAKE





COLD AIR INTAKE




See how the cold air intake is burried away from engine heat? Much better!

 

being a runner that i am, i'd prefer running in warmer weather.. the cold air is too harsh on runners lungs FYI

anyways, i'd go for short ram because of the following reasons
1) it makes the egine look nice
2) its cheaper but performs around the same HP gains (1-2 hp difference)
3) it benefits the low end a little more (air has to travel less distance)

i wouldnt buy a CAI because:
1) its $$$
2) the air is warmed up by the time it reaches the engine because the metal piping on a CAI conducts the same temperature in the engine bay - therefore if your engine is 190*, your piping will be 190*, thus warming up the air anyways
3) CAI tends to "lag" or not produce a lot of power in the low rpms because the air has to travel further