Aftermarket cold air intake. Worth it?

I kept my stock airbox but threw in the TRD Airflow Accelerator (

$33 PTR03-34079 Intake Flow Accelerator

PTR03-34079) with a K&N intake tube (57-9036). Combined, they cost me about $215.



The idea being that the TRD CAI is basically the stock intake but with the sound baffling removed from the intake tube and a different piece of plastic that connects the box to the fender. I think the realistic thing to expect from a CAI is basically just more noise, which I got while trying to save pennies anywhere I could.

 

I didn't expect anything other than different sound from my TRD CAI but I like to keep the engine bay clean and it helps with that

 

aFe used to make a piece (a scoop) that grabbed air from the grill. Doesn’t seem like I can find it anywhere.
Without casting stones at people in this thread I’ll give my $.02…
Combustion is oxygen + fuel + spark. There’s a MAF sensor in your intake tube to meter the amount of incoming air, and “tell” your injectors to actuate based on that amount of air. If that air is cooler (more dense/more O2), you’ll have more efficient combustion.
I wish aFe still made that scoop…