Which intake do you feel is a better intake and will offer optimum performance results? Please, actual results and experiences.

 

Boy, that's a religious discussion! Several threads on this in the past, but since you're only about a hundred miles from me, here in the People's Republik of Kah-lee-fohr-nee-ya, you have the bienniel smog thing to worry about. You may be close enough to the Bay Area to have the "enhanced" smog deal to address.

I had the Vararam on my 1999 A4 coupe, and found it to be pretty much exactly as advertised. While it isn't one of the pretty carbon fiber deals I've seen elsewhere, it shoves cold air through the throttle body, and the faster you go, the more it shoves. With the basic Diablosport Predator tune, the difference was profound.

But, to be fully legal, you have to remove it and put the stock unit back on for Smog Checks, since Vararam doesn't have a CARB E.O. number. If you know a shop that doesn't look too closely, you'll probably get by. It looks a lot like a GM part - cast plastic, decent quality but not like the parts on my friend's AMG sports car. But if not, you will need to change it out. Takes a couple of hours, realistically. Less if you're really fast, more the first time around. Took us about three hours to install the first time, about an hour and a half of real working time to put the stocker back.

Cajundude has great instructions, which help a lot.

Someone from Callaway will probably jump in here to point out that they do have the E.O. number, so you don't have to go through this drill with their unit. Reports are that it works really well, too. Both constitute Cold Air Induction, but I think the placement of the scoops inside the reliefs for fog lights, right out there in the front of the bumper, does make the Vararam more effective at grabbing volumes of air.

YMMV. I've got a newer car now, and haven't decided whether to put the Vararam back on. May be willing to sell, but not sure. It worked well, but the new car is an M6 car, and I'm more comfortable with drag racing the A4 - stomp and steer! - and may just stay with the Z06 intake and a K&N. Not as Ram Air as the Vararam, but I'm not doing the same things. Not sure I'll even tune it, beyond lowering the on/off temps for the fans.

There's my take. Vararam is terrific - good value for the bucks, and great seat of the pants improvement. PM if you want to talk about getting a used one...

Cheers!

 

Thanks. Now I don't have to jump in.

OK, I guess I should jump in after all. Just to mention that the Honker inlet is also located in a low temperature, high pressure area at speed (we've measured it). And we've found that eliminating the air bridge, relocating the MAF sensor (Honker is the only C5 system that does that), and optimizing the air duct shape provided reduced restriction and increased airflow.

 

Is it anywere near or equal to the amount of pressure derived from the vararam? Also, if already having one, would you make the switch to the other. Is it worth it?

 

I switched from Vararam to the Honker. I like the filter arrangement much better in the Honker and the filter also has more area.

 

Another option - build your own ( see post somewhere here) intake for no more than $140.

Prove the more expensive ones are better?? And by how much 1/2 HP??

Normal driving on the street - you would not benefit from the so called "ram effect".

 

You don't race at 30mph though.....

 

as soon as I get above 15 mph i open my window, stick my head out, and open my mouth wide. it being winter, this rams cold air through my system and improves backpressure out of my honker. no installation necessary, it's all oem, baby!

 

Lol...best post of the night!

 

I'm STILL laughing

 

ROFLMAO

 

glad you enjoyed....this forum could use a lot more civility and laughs...

(oh and to the OP--I had a Vararam installed, and am happy with the results. )

 

You really can't go wrong with either. I have the Callaway Honker and it's a very well built system and it performs. The Vararam I hear has poor build quality and fitment issues, but once you get passed all that you'll see good results.

 

So let me get this strait.......you just asked Calloway if they'd make the switch to Vararam.

Seriously though, you can't go wrong with either. Some think the fit and finish of the Honker justify it's price. I went with Vararam and am very happy.

 

Too Funny....LMAO!

 

Two comments on this. First, the build quality and fit approximate the original. Not bad, but not show-car stuff, either. I liked my Vararam, but I've got the garage queen Shelby to be a show car.

Second point is probably more pertinent to the OP, given the location about 40 miles out of San Francisco and rock-throwing distance to CoCo county. Smog Checks. The Callaway has the E.O. number, so you don't have to find a shop that will ignore the mod. Anything between the front bumper and the back of the cats, the Stadt of California wants to control. I've heard and read good things about the Callaway, but really liked the Vararam. Still, unless you like the prospect of being failed for a modified car without proper E.O. number, or the prospect of spending three to four hours every couple of years changing back to stock for the Smog Check, you're probably best off with the Callaway. More money, but less hassle.

Man, I love living in California...

 

Yes, I do miss CA smog police...

Hey, we've got 93 octane out here too!