I also had a question about intakes. I was at a couple Toyota dealers asking about the AEM full cold air setup & was told Toyota no longer offering because they make the check engine lights come on. Toyota is only going to be selling the TRD setup. Can anyone back this up with personal experience?
Spend your money where you will, it's yours to spend but please consider it's only 130hp on it's best day. And even still engine horsepower is only a small part of the whole performance equation.
The Corolla [doesn't really matter what model, vintage or otherwise] is in reality a low priced car that is expected to perform as such...for the masses who want a reliable vehilcle that gets good fuel mileage. The S and yes XRS models are simply cosmetic marketing tools designed to attract a larger base, that being a younger buyers swayed by badges, ground effects, and gauges.
Cold air packages very often suggest their use with an oil treated filter...it is all too often that the owners servicing these filters OVER-OIL them in effect causing fouling critical air intake components [MAP, TB, etc] then wonder why they keep getting CELs and spending 15% of their gross monthly income in sensors, troubleshooting costs and alike. If you feel compelled to install a cold air intake, IMHO would shy away from oil treated filters and stay with DRY type.
In my "personal experience" [as requested] the time it takes from HOOD UP to HOOD DOWN [with oil treated filters] is very unproductive as it often holds up driving for quite a while [i.e they take too long to clean, dry, re-oil/treat/soak prior to reinstalling]
I'm sure your ride is important to you, as mine is to me...but for different reasons...but don't forget...it's just a corolla...not an RS4, S60R, AMG, or even one of Leno's Duesys. That's not to say it can't be personalized, but if it's performance your after, you may want to consider the fastest Toyota for the 2007 model year [take a guess ?]... go figure...RAV4 with V6 @300bhp and even does a 60-0mph in 120ft.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's ok to be [as your username would suggest] an "asian lover" but try not to get caught up in visions of grandeur of a vehicle that just isn't capable [or for that matter "worth"] if the performance level you hope to one day achieve rivals that of some of the models mentioned earlier...for if it is, you might end up spending a TON of dough and you're still left with a corolla.
Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike corollas, cripes I've owned several...I just drive them they way they were intended and designed.
Hope that was enough personal experience for ya.