Is Vararam Cold Air Intake Worth It?
04-01-2018, 11:26 AM
#1
Is Vararam Cold Air Intake Worth It?
I am thinking of purchasing a Vararam Cold Air Intake for my 2002 Coupe and wondered if the performance gains are worth the cost?
04-01-2018, 11:42 AM
#2
Melting Slicks
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Performance gains will be minimal with only the Vararam. It does look cool, though. If you plan on more mods down the road, or if you want to get rid of the ugly stock air box, I say go for it.
04-01-2018, 12:09 PM
#4
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Of all the aftermarket air intakes available, the Vararam is probably the best in terms of performance gains. But there have been complaints about the fit of the components.
04-01-2018, 02:47 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Minimal gains, risk of hydrolock = no thank you IMO. You might get a few HP with both combined, unlikely noticable (it'll sound faster though 
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04-01-2018, 04:43 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
B.S. on the "hydrolock". Two out of my four c5's had the vararam installed and afterwards there was a noticeable increase in power. This was without having a professional tune. Don't believe everything you read on here, especially from guys who talk about vararams, but have never actually had one on their car. They can be a P.I.T.A to install, and they are kind of cheaply made, but they do work and you CAN tell the difference from before and after installation. I don't know the HP gain.
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2k2wranglerx (04-02-2018)
04-01-2018, 05:13 PM
#8
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B.S. on the "hydrolock". Two out of my four c5's had the vararam installed and afterwards there was a noticeable increase in power. This was without having a professional tune. Don't believe everything you read on here, especially from guys who talk about vararams, but have never actually had one on their car. They can be a P.I.T.A to install, and they are kind of cheaply made, but they do work and you CAN tell the difference from before and after installation. I don't know the HP gain.
with all of this... don't drive through bumper deep water and you will be fine
04-01-2018, 05:16 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
B.S. on the "hydrolock". Two out of my four c5's had the vararam installed and afterwards there was a noticeable increase in power. This was without having a professional tune. Don't believe everything you read on here, especially from guys who talk about vararams, but have never actually had one on their car. They can be a P.I.T.A to install, and they are kind of cheaply made, but they do work and you CAN tell the difference from before and after installation. I don't know the HP gain.
04-01-2018, 05:24 PM
#10
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the real gains won't show on a dyno because you need to be moving to actually get the air flowing... a big fan might help simulate the effect but it's not the same... they do work though, I had one on my car for a couple of years... I get your point if you daily your car and have no choice but to drive in rain but many of us don't so there is no risk
04-01-2018, 06:02 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
the real gains won't show on a dyno because you need to be moving to actually get the air flowing... a big fan might help simulate the effect but it's not the same... they do work though, I had one on my car for a couple of years... I get your point if you daily your car and have no choice but to drive in rain but many of us don't so there is no risk
I do realize cold air is beneficial for power. But in the real world, with a stock-ish non raced car... particularly a DD; why bother, for again... a mod I've never seen a dyno showing a decent improvement on a stock level motor.
Last edited by grantv; 04-01-2018 at 06:12 PM.
04-01-2018, 06:06 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
One opinion... read here recently a guy who lost his motor. I daily drive my car, if a foot of water was on a one way street on the way home one day... what to do? Likely? Not in the slightest. Worth taking a (tiny) risk for a reported but never seen dyno proof opinion only? Nope. Not to me and many.
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msandym (04-13-2018)
04-01-2018, 06:15 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Show me. I drive my car in the rain all the time. Never once had a problem. You're telling me the water came up through the intakes, through the air filter , through the throttle body and locked up the engine? Again, I call B.S. That sounds like the old story where the guy locks up his front brakes on his Harley, and does a front flip. B.S. I think I read that story on here, too.
I'm not doubting it's probably the best intake available, just mentioned it because people might want to know what are any possible negatives
04-01-2018, 06:21 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
How many have you installed on your car? I guess you have installed several, since you know so much about them and haven't seen any power increases. Maybe you didn't install it correctly. Oh, wait a minute. You've never had a vararam, but you know they aren't worth it and they cause "hydrolock". Man, I wish I was as smart as you.
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Diesel man (06-22-2022)
04-01-2018, 06:45 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
I have one and am completely happy with it. As much as I hate driving in the rain it's happened several times without issue. As for power gains, 420 rwhp with vararam, Kooks 1 7/8 headers, Kooks 3 inch catless x pipe, and 2.5 inch Borla stingers and a tune on an 01Z.
04-01-2018, 07:08 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
How many have you installed on your car? I guess you have installed several, since you know so much about them and haven't seen any power increases. Maybe you didn't install it correctly. Oh, wait a minute. You've never had a vararam, but you know they aren't worth it and they cause "hydrolock". Man, I wish I was as smart as you.
04-01-2018, 09:38 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
04-01-2018, 09:44 PM
#20
Race Director
I just put on one I picked up. I was kinda wondering about the hydrolock, but the way it sits it kinda seems impossible for that to happen under normal situations. Wasn't hard to put it on, just time consuming.
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walfran (04-03-2018)