Pod filters arent as good as what their manufacturers make out.  A pod filter on a NA will make sweet f*** all difference to a NA engine. They are usually installed in the engine bay where they suck in hot air. Mounted in the guard they can suck up water if you drive through puddles.

If you want better air flow than the factory panel filter, get a drop in K&N filter and keep the airbox.

Is yours a GEN2 or GEN3?

2 things u should do

1. buy a hks panel filter, ther bout $80 and ther a dry filter so no afm probs
2. remove the resonator from inside the guard (search for CAI in the forum search n u will find it in more detail), and if u want to sacrifice sum cold air for noise then drill sum 50mm holes in the bottom part of ur airbox

other then that the only thing left to do is find a gen 2 series 1 intake which has no resonators

btw im assuming ur car is a gen 2, if its a gen 3 then do what regashi said..

jn dyno testing in most cases you will loose 5 hp with a pod over a stock air box if in the engine bay

hiclone yo