Im debating on getting a CAI, but my question is... At what RPM can you really tell a difference (sound wise) that its a cold air and not a stock box. Im just wondering about this, so when I drive with my mom in the car... will she be able to tell that I have done something to my car?

 

I ususally shift between 3-4K, so would it be loud before that?

 

I don't mean to dog on you but I find this hallarious. How old are you anyway?
Unless your mom drives the Z every day she will not have a clue....**** I bet you could pop teh hood and write "NON-STOCK INTAKE" across your CAI and she still would be clueless.

I also would suggest looking into a JWT Pop Charger if you are into sound.

If all you care about is performance you may want to do a search...many claim loses in HP....others claim K&N drop in is better than a CAI. Many will even tell you that are car is already has a CAI since the intake is past teh radiator.
Good Luck!

 

Im 18, bought the car a lil over a month ago... Your right, she would have no idea about anything that I do to my car... but then again, its just a thought...

as for the HP loss... hmm, that makes me second think it....

 

I get the sucking sound at around 3000-3500 RPM's while heavy on the accelerator.

 

I get the whisper sound when i shift and the good sound at about 4500 and up. You don't really hear anything loud unless your flooring it above 4500 anyways. And buy the way I gained alittle extra pull with my CAI. Oh yah and if you tap the gas a couple of times you hear the more powerful suck.

 

at 65mph an extremely informal survey seemed to show stock and CAI were the same intake temp as reported by the cars ECU through onboard diagnostics.

your best hope to have a gain would actually be at low speeds. the Zs intake is sealed off to be isolated from the engine compartment.

the CAI is just adding a 4" tube down to the radiator section. but that same air its drawing is up where the stock Z is drawing from. so its actually just a long straw to pull the same air. better to not have a longer tube, let the air flow freely up to the stock airbox. a popcharger improves on the design from that point which is probably why the popcharger gets more gains than a CAI which can lose.

 

you dont really hear it like you do an exhaust...

The engine bay sounds fuller...

its starts to happen when at full throttle... 4500 RPM...