I suspect many of the new members on this forum don't really think very much of what a Chief Buyer does. Often the position might seem easy - i.e. a trusted person who handles cash and makes the purchases on behalf of the members. That I would say is the straight forward simpleton's idea.
I would say there's a certain measure of risk management and negotiation skill that has to go along with that. Sense and sensibility must also prevail on the part of the buyer. My warnings ala the Russian Group Buy is a good example and also my handling of money for the 2nd round of the Whiteline group buy is also another good example.
Anyways, let me point out what my thoughts are:
Member wants to buy something so they put through that if they can save a few more dollars, why not turn it into a group buy? However what if the plan goes belly up? or if the product doesn't turn out to be of an acceptable quality? Who bears the costs?
And finally for the club to put its name on a group buy, I think we need to consider the product.
OK enough of my preamble, let's look into the proposal.
Background
The item proposed is the
Takeda Cold Air Intake System for Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 09-11 L4-2.4L TR-4203P.
It basically replaces the "to engine" side of the stock air intake box. This will allow the housing now to house a pod filter as opposed to the conventional panel.
Why is it attractive?
- with recent spate of floods, most people shy away from the Injen CAI.
- It allows for a "as close to stock" look while maintaining no open pod in the engine bay.
One needs to understand that you shouldn't consider the Injen Hydrosock to be Waterproofing for the intake. It's merely a water resistance measure. So you cannot expect to drive through a flood. To be honest if you have a flood up to the level of your fog lights which would be your door scuff plate, you really shouldn't be driving through it already.
I've driven through heavy rain (the kind you struggle to see through) with my CAI and have checked my air intake pipework in the engine bay and it's not wet at all.
There is no contest though that the Takeda product does look more stock.
However, you would need to pay attention to 2 points.
1. These are designed to be used in 2.4L models and not 2.0L. Some reading for you
here - read posts #13 and #14. It may well fit both cars but bear in mind the air intake requirements are very different.
2. Fitment. I've looked at the installation fitments as an issue as raised by this thread:
Re: Takeda Intake Install Question.
There is only one clip holding the box and the other side seems to flex and move back and forth on hard acceleration.
You can try this with your current air box. Get a friend to WOT your car in free gear and watch the movement of the air box. The side which is not clipped will flex and open up slightly.
Reply #53 on that thread is interesting:
Yes mine is exactly like this however the box is completely closed due to the lip inside the box and where the takeda box attaches. I m still surprised that they didn't do a cross brace and notice how the intake pipe connection looks pulled apart slightly....I wonder if we re loosing anything there....Also not sure if I should tune it cause my mpg gauge is freaking out and I m not getting what I got with the factory setup. It could also be my ecu is still learning it though...Idk ideas?
Inconsistency. If the box opening up during your driving your intake isn't gonna be working like it should. So your ecu is trying to compensate for the fluctuating AFRs.
Reply #63 solves the fitment issue.
As I see it, the fix involves bending a plastic tab.Problem solved, and I will say this. The fit could be better (like I said before, by making the Takeda box a little taller), but if they adjusted the tab to give the clip a better fit, then the second clip really is not needed.
Now I'm not discouraging anyone but I think the whole story proper.
There are some holes and the opening in the box, that is a given due to their design:
and from
Reply #73:
I would think, from the design, that it's only going to suck in warm air if you aren't getting enough air pushed in from the snorkel. Might get warm air at idle without cool air being pushed in from the front.
That is the significant difference from getting the Injen CAI.
It would seem the company producing these Takeda Intakes (AES) are now changing the design due to the points raised about fitment:
Reply #82:
Well, their tech told me to keep in touch, and if they make a change, he will make sure I get a new version.
I also saw one of their supporters trying to ensure that they sell this batch:
Reply #83:
AFE said they would contact Flam to work on this. However, I personally think this has been blown way out of porportion, with certain people, who arent even purchasing the intake, stirring the pot, which is annoying.
With that said, I dont think this issue will require anything more than a simple fix, that may not even be necessary for most of the intakes. Keep in touch with their tech dept, and they will help as much they can.
Keep in mind, that AFE has been more than accomodating, considering most companies would laugh at you and say tough sh*t.
It's brought about so much debate, a 2nd thread started:
Dont blame AFE for the clip issue:reason why plus my install expirence
It would seem like a member there called Stealth Bombing is really AFE's mouth piece and has spoken out about criticizing the design a few times.
So caveat emptor on the part.
On pricing,
the RRP is listed as US$311.25
the producer now has it at
US$261.45
while our favourite reseller Advanced Speed Shop has it at
US$199.20
All with the part number TR-4203
So not a fixed set yet bearing in mind they will probably tweak the design.
Postage will be about US$80 to get it individually shipped. With each item I suspect being at least a box of the same size as the Injen CAI, I don't hold much hope in group shipping but I will try.
So we'll be looking about the US$280 mark to get these here.
How much does the group buy need to knock off this??
Let's start an EOI list first
So 4B12 or 2.4L people only:
1.
