Can you FEEL the difference on a cheap upgrade?

[Ed]

I've just added a K&N panel filter to the standard airbox and also fitted a much less restrictive Piper cold air feed too. It's on a Vectra 2.2 SRi shown below.

Now, it sounds quiter on idle, throatier on acceleration and also feels like it revs a lot faster too. I'm assuming any noticable gain is pyschological due to the increase in noise it makes. You can't really detect an increase of 1hp on the road can you?

 

[Ed]

Nice illegal numberplate. Makes you look like a ***** who cant afford a proper personalised reg.

 

[Ed]

Interesting it sounds better. I'm after an insurance friendly way of increasing the noise mine makes - did it set you back much?

About £50 all in. Insurance didn't care either. Sound it makes is fantastic. Silent on cruise and angry on acceleration.

 

[Ed]

Thats what I want. Who are you insured with and what did they say?

Norwich Union for all their sins. I told them exactly what parts were changed. The lad asked if I had modified the airbox in any way and how the feed was fitted. I listened to some music for a while then he let me know he's added the details to the policy and there's no change in premium for it. I am 34 and it is only an air filter I guess.

 

[Ed]

How does the Piper cold air feed work, just asking as if your using the standard airbox, have you removed the standard airfeed? Im surprised when you say the filter makes more noise as they don't normally I am thinking that perhaps the airfeed is whats made the difference. May even not close up correctly I might be wrong as I can't see what your talking about?

The new air feed comes straight from the air box and weaves down to the front bumper. It's made of flexihose and has a red shiny bell end. It's definitely the filter that makes the noise though. My mate had one on his XR3 and it sounded superb.

I remember the days of cheap mods on old cars. Simply drill holes in the airbox!

So do I. I remember seeing people run their cars with their birds tights over the carb instead of filters.

 

[Ed]

You get a LOVELY induction roar with these, cold air intake and replacement panel, although the difference in noise wont be (or isnt usually) as evident as an induction kit (cone) it still makes a throaty noise when you want it to.

I was warned off these [cones] because of ambient heat soak making them less efficient.

Not as much as a cone would but they are crap without a cold feed anyway.

Precisely.

 

[Ed]

Get it re-mapped (chipped) you should then feel a difference.

I only really replaced the filter because the old one was minging. I couldn't be bothered to tune this anyway as it's merely a reliable, comfortable hack for work. Coming from a Saab 9-5 Aero I think I need a bit more than a remap to get the power I would ideally like.

 

[Ed]

You will probably get hardly anything out of a remap too as its a non-turbo 2.2 petrol right?

Correct. Currently performance isn't on the list of things I want right now hence the type of car I've got.