Okay, I've been thinking about installing a cold air intake system on my 98 cherokee sport, i6 4.0. I found the kit which comes with the Generation II K&N FIPK kit. About 200 bucks. Do you think it is worth it to replace the factory air sytem with this? It is nice to have the extra power, mostly I want better performance and some improved gas mileage. Also, I do not want it to sound like a rice rocket, I don't like that go cart sound. Also, on average how much horse power can one of these add?

I have an '88 six cyl and put on a K&N and intake tube (not cold air tho, just the adapter tube and filter) and yes, it was worth it (got mine on eBay for under $40 new, but $200 for a cold air sys, well... not sure it's worth that much). There is a noticable difference in the "feel" of the engine although I couldn't give you any definite numbers on increased torque and HP. An added benefit is that it also opened up space for a second battery and it looks cool too and no, it sounds nothing like a rice rocket, good Jeep noises!!

Yeah, the kit I found was on eBay as well. I found some for 40-50 bucks as well, but the one I found was a K&N complete kit, so not just the cheap aluminum tubing, but the whole kit was K&N. I would probably be spending money on the name K&N though. Here's the link to it
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/K-N-FIPK-AIR-INTAKE-KIT-1996-00-2001-JEEP-CHEROKEE-4-0L_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ38634QQitemZ80070555 59QQrdZ1

That "HONDA" sound comes from the muffler, not the engine. more or less, the honda people are using a 4cil and a 2 1/2 in pipe and goung to a 1 1/2 in inlet to a 4 in open. If you put a preformance muffler on the jeep, dont worry about any weed wacker sounds, it will sound great with what you put on there. thats what i think.