both have advantages. The short intake wont take in water.. The longer intake will get more fresh air, but the ram intake, is kinda like a double intake. It pulls fresh air in through the ram, into a box, and then into the filter. If you live in an area that gets alot of rain or snow, then i would get a short intake, but if your weather is reasonable, then a long intake will be fine. Now being said, a longer intake will generally get your beter performance, because if your sitting at a stop light, you are breathing in fresh air, but if you have a ram intake, instead of bringing in fresh air, you will heat the box, thus increasing the temp.i hope this explains it.