Changing the air filter is a PITA with the design of the stock air box. Are there any aftermarket air boxes/intakes that use the paper filter or mods for the stock air box? Looking for something that just makes changing the paper filter simple and quick. I don't really care about performance/CAI type stuff, though that may be all that's available...

 

Try taking it off as a single unit, unbolt it from the throttle body, unplug the MAF, remove the single support screw near the MAF, unbolt the filter housing and take it all out as one piece.

Honestly though I don't think it's that bad to replace the filter in these cars compared to some vehicles on the road.

 

OP seriously? It takes 5 minutes to pull the box, replace the filter and re-install the box. Wow, just wow if this is the direction the forum is headed in the future. I haz the sadnezz.

 

Yeah I'm serious. It takes more than five minutes to pull the box out. It SHOULD only take five minutes to swap out an air filter. I've got other more important sh*t to spend my time on...

 

Just drop a couple hundred on a CIA then you wont have to worry about taking it apart

 

Remove the filter completely.... Moar Powaaaaa!!!!!!

 

Then you're doing it wrong.

 

OP, I'm not trying to be an ***, but how much is your time worth that you can't be bothered to spend a few extra minutes changing a filter? If your time really is that valuable, then call a mobile mechanic and pay them to change it for you.

In my opinion, a slightly harder-to-change filter is well worth the trade-off of having a well designed, efficient intake.

Regardless let's run the numbers. We'll assume your time is extremely valuable at $100 per hour.

If this new airbox you find saves 4 minutes in filter change time but costs $120, it'll take 18 filter changes to make up the cost of that intake. If you change your paper filter every 10k miles, well before the standard recommended interval (15-30k), that's 180,000 miles before you make up the cost of that intake. This is all before mentioning that your new design will likely be less efficient, reducing your fuel economy if you stretch the legs of that glorious VQ every once in a while.

Save your money, pick a new battle.