i recently fitted my pipercross to my car.. thinking bout exact same things u are 2bh
(is K&N any better than my pipercross one?)
neways.. im using the standard hard plastic cross over pipe for same reason u sed,, bannana pipe seems bit weak. but im lookin to change the flexy piping that connects from cross over bit to the MAF sensor coz is quite bendy and and want something a bit more internally smoother ( im after a small section ov samco/roose hosing if any1 has any lying bout

) think it wud look nice
at first i took the whole standard air box out ov engine bay and just had the pipercross filter resting in the gap where existing box used to be. but them reaslised im guns be suckin in the crap from under car. so put the bottom ov standard air box back in to act as a mud and sort ov a heat sheild. and as ova guy sed.. its got the small cold air feed feeding to it.
im thinking of doin cold air feed form fog light so do i have to droll hole in the slam panel ( think thats wat its called

) ?? advice on that please
Cheers, Grant