Price aside, I would take this over a lame prelude intake any day. Those prelude intakes use big heavy metal piping that really should be used for exhaust. It heatsoaks easily. It's not the same as when you buy an expensive intercooler piping kit.

I bought one, mocked it up, and then I was like wtf... my stock rubberized piping is a "colder" intake than this metal. And yes I cut the whole in the fender and everything. I even put the ThermoTec heat tape on there and then someone pointed out to me, "uh dude that stuff KEEPS HEAT IN, not out." When you heat wrap something you are keeping the heat from getting into the engine bay, not the other way around.

I drove around with the 'lude intake for like a day and said wtf why did I waste my money on piping that is now hot to the touch whereas the stock rubberized stuff has got to insulate the intake charge better. Rubberized piping with an airbox is a better way to go, whether it's stock piping or some kind of custom deal.

 

You realise you're comparing a part that goes before the AFM to one that goes after it right? They're two totally different things, so your comments aren't really relevant...

 

Yea it's not exactly in competition with the intake piping. It's designed to complement it. Unfortunately without more ducting, it's pretty useless. And thus would be pretty useless anyways, because you could just extend your own ducting instead of paying $500 for a carbon fiber funnel.