It appears that these things inhale thru the tiny crack between the bottom front of the hood and the top of the headlight assembly. Can this be right? I know it's a high pressure area and all, but I mean really. Someone needs to come up with a ram air system for these things. I have my doubts about the K&N filter, if it takes in hot underhood air.

thanl you for noticing. it seems nobody else can see that. they also pull air from some holes in the fender but ALL of the "C"AIs get air from the same place as the stocker and it isn't cool. for now the only good intake is a DIY. the others are a $250-$350 bigger filter

I took a 5" hole saw and cut a hole in my hood over in that corner and I have an elbow stickin up out of it. HAS to be worth at least 15hp. I can really feel it above 120mph. ;-) lol.

Although a cold air intake will not probably give you any colder air, what it can offer you is a lesser restriction of that air and that can be a benefit over the stock airbox. Greater flow will get you greater HP.

I won't even get Nocturn started on the purported benefits of "ram air" either. Svede has a nice do it yourself intake setup. He can probably link you to his step by step.

I would venture to say most CAI's probably flow better over the stock airbox even with a K&N panel filter. It won't net you much now but look at it as a supporting mod for future ones, (headers, exhaust, heads and cam).

Now if we could just get svede to start manufacturing IAT sensors with an OEM style to replace our slow reacting thermistors in the stock IAT sensor.

the only way i see a ram air system would work to its fullest, if the throttle body was mounted again to the top of the air manifold so its directly connected to the ram scoops

*must resist urge to chime in*

I took a 5" hole saw and cut a hole in my hood over in that corner and I have an elbow stickin up out of it. HAS to be worth at least 15hp. I can really feel it above 120mph. ;-) lol.
wow, sounds awesome. got pictures?

Now if we could just get svede to start manufacturing IAT sensors with an OEM style to replace our slow reacting thermistors in the stock IAT sensor.

I'm no expert here, but have you heard of the "Omega" mod? Replacing the thermistor in the IAT itself to a faster acting one (just as you said)? From what I heard it is not all that difficult.