So I recently bought a 09 Lancer GTS with CVT transmission. Flame me all you want about me getting a CVT but I drive this car everyday, and I have to drive it everyday to school. Dont get me wrong I love manuals but when your stuck in traffic and cursing because you have to shift every 5 seconds made me want to get a CVT. Im wondering if its even worth it to get any mods for my car, I was originally going to get an 07/06 STI or the EVO X but because of insurance I was unable to get it. I looked at the RRM Short Ram Intake the one for 160$ it says for the 08 models but I read the post above saying that all 08 mods fit the 09 model. "Expect to drop a full second in 0 - 60 mph times" now ive heard of this being bs, for me its kind of hard to believe also for an intake to cut off a second. I dont want to spend a load, and I just want to know whats out there and whats good and whats not. I may not even put anything in my car if people tell me not to bother because of my transmisson.

:liebe011:

CVT? Flame? Never! CVT FOR THE WIN MY FRIEND! :gunsmilie:

The thing with SRIs (Short Ram Intake) is that they help in the lower RPM band, so yes... you will get a quicker 0-60 time. When you run in sport mode, you can get up to 42 MPH just in 1st gear, so the boost here helps. Cold Air Intakes help in the higher RPM band, so if you're racing, your RPM band will be between 4500 RPM and redline.

Now, I don't believe that the RRM intake will give you a full second off of your 0-60, but I know that it will REDUCE the 0-60 time, that's for sure.

Would this be the same for a manual tranny too? If I want more lower rpm power I should go with the SRI? The only mods I have ever done was CAI and exhaust on a 87 mustang gt 5.0, so forgive my ignorance. I def need low rpm help, under 3500-4000 needs help. Seems like with just stock setup on the 5-speed, if I want to do some spirited driving, that I have to keep the rpm up, would be nice to get some lower help.
I know a CAI gives you colder denser air, so the colder denser air only helps in the higher rpm band?

I love the CVT...but ya my car at low rpms is slow...but i think that the short ram intake would be a better choice idk what do you all think?

Yep, it applies to all transmission types. But a stick would have a more noticeable benefit with a lightweight pulley as opposed to a SRI. The SRI has better performance in the lower RPM band, so you'll get a quicker pick-up and go. However, you won't see much of an increase once the MIVEC kicks in and you are doing a redline shift. As much as it hurts me to say this, the CAI will actually slow you down in the lower RPM range until the MIVEC kicks in. Once you start shifting in the higher RPMs, you'll feel the power of the CAI kick in and this is where the CAI rules.

SRI = Great for low RPMs and stand still take-offs. Poor in high RPM shifting.
CAI = Poor for low RPMs and stand still take-offs. Great in high RPM shifting.

You also have to understand that if you are leaning more towards racing, a CAI would be better over a SRI. This is mainly because you will only be in the low RPM range ONCE and that's in 1st gear. Every shift after 1st will be in the upper RPM range (which is where the CAI reigns supreme). CVTs benefit here too since you can leave it in Drive, punch it, and watch the tachometer jump to 5000 RPM while the CAI starts gulping in air.


With all due respect, I love my CVT GTS as much as anybody else, but with that love comes a price... knowledge. The CVT transmission is meant to help drivers conserve gas by keeping your RPMs down. If you really want the added boost, get a lightweight pulley from RRM and drive in sport mode. As for an SRI, get K&Ns SRI when they release it...

... if they release it. :460:

Thanks for the info freakingwilly. I was leaning towards the CAI at first, but when I read this thread I wasn't sure, but now i understand more. I wont be doing much racing on a track, might go once and a while, mostly i drive on back roads in a rural area, but some of the roads have tight turns that require me to slow and downshift, sometimes i have to slow so much that rpms drop below the usable power band and it takes a second to get going again, but thats few and far between. Most of my spirited driving is done in the higher rpm band so I think I'll stick with the CAI and also go with the light weight pulley to help with the lower rpms. Thanks, you've been a big help.

Well I still dont know what to get. Im not going to be racing my car because that would be retarted for me atleast and if i was to ever to race i would get an EVO or STI. I just want the best intake that will give me the best performance for my car I guess all around. But i dont think there is such a thing, unless im mistaken. My car is missing that extra power at lower RPMS, so maybe the SRI would be a better choice? Since it has better performance at lower RPMS.

Heh, that's what I do best! :grin:


If you don't know what kind of intake you want to get, then go for the SRI. It's a definite upgrade in all aspects when compared to the stock intake. The CAI is more geared towards performance and high RPM shifting. It's for the people who know what they want ;)

I HAVE ALSO BEEN LOOKING INTO THE CAI/SRI AND I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A DEFINATE CONCLUSION. I WANT THE LOW RPM HELP BUT IM JUST A BIG FAN OF THE SOUND YOU GET FROM A CAI. I KNOW THATS A PRETTY STUPID REASON FOR DETERMINING WHAT TO GET BUT THATS JUST ME. I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ANY SRI'S IN ACTION SO I'VE BEEN WAITING TO PURCHASE.

Caps lock only makes reading your post that much more difficult. Do us all a favor and lay off, will ya?

Anyways... there isn't a super effective SRI available on the market just yet. RRM does have a polished chrome SRI, but I have yet to see a dyno sheet on it. K&N's SRI gives something like 8 HP and 9 TQ, but I can't remember to be honest.

SRI's will be better in the low end of the RPM band. You still get the same sound as a CAI, it's just that the SRI is located right in front of the driver, so (as the driver) you'll actually hear it a little more than the CAI.

THANKS AGAIN FREAKING, I THINK I WILL CHECK OUT THE K&N SRI, AND ONCE AGAIN I APPOLOGIZE FOR THE CAPS LOCK, I AM AT WORK WHEN I CHECK THESE POSTS AND WE HAVE TO KEEPS THE CAPS LOCK ON.

You know if you hold shift when on caps lock you get lowercase letters?

Might help with posting online/writing emails. It really is annoying to read all caps.

then again, if you're going to do it, at least you have a semi-decent reason (although why you can't take it off then put it back on 2 secs later, i can't imagine)

Actually, you don't need to apologize. I have the exact same problem at work... all notations to accounts must be done in CAPITAL LETTERS. It's weird at first, but you get used to it. We still have the ability to turn it off though (passwords, user names, etc.).


Some companies have it hardwired so that the caps lock is always on. As for the holding shift down while typing... well, try it for yourself and tell me how annoying it is just to get one sentence out. :bwekk:

I think if you want the best of both worlds try combining mods. Like it was suggested earlier. Try teaming up the CAI with RRM's lightweight pulley. Willy knows alot about trying to get the best of both worlds with his original and elusive Quiet performer exhaust and also the Conservative performer.

:offtopic: sorta

:grin: I can't help it! Simplicity at it's best!