does anybody know whether the jcw cai is more restrictive than say a cai from mini mania,opinions please?

 

they are all about the same. It's my opinion that the jcw has potentially the best insulation out of an "aftermarket cai"

However, I think if you're handy with a dremel and you can figure out how to mount a cone style filter to the stock box (this shouldn't take much more then some pvc pipe and a ruler) you can do just as good for the same amount of money.

if you are looking for a decent aftermarket box the alta is popular and it is said by some... the easiest to modify to make it better.

p.s. it's a forced induction car... so the airbox doesn't really matter all that much...

 

thanks for your quick reply,kind of what i thought

 

As someone who has turned obsessing about the temperature of the intake charge into an art form, I'd have to disagree slightly with this statement. Not that it's the most important thing, and may be down the list quite a way for many owners. But we (those of us in the Intake OCD group) have found some pretty significant ways of reducing the approach (the difference between ambient and IAT in the manifold), and the airbox contributes to lowering the approach.
It's my considered opinion that the perfect/best airbox is not available, but it would look like the Alta, but be made of the same plastic the stock box is composed of.