With regard to end tank type - the only advantage you might get with plastic is that you might take less time to cool it back down again after heatsoaking at traffic lights etc - but even then, the difference will be marginal and I bet you'd have a lot of trouble even measuring it.
People often fail to realise the reality about just how much air an engine actually ingests... compared with the heat capacity of the air being sucked through the engine, and the heat capacity of the air moving through the intercooler core, the heat capacity of the end tanks is very small.
However, the big advantage of aluminium end tanks is that you know you'll never have a leak there, or blow them off if you are running high boost pressures.
The THS copy one looks like a really good buy!
IMO, the 'upgrade path' for intercoolers (on VAG cars atleast) is diminishing returns these days, as the engines are quite highly tuned in the first place now, and hte factory bits are great.
A few more years and I wouldnt be surprised if its 'twintercoolers' or nothing!
re-karma - if you believe in luck, isnt it bad luck not to believe in karma? 
Last edited by gldgti; 10-01-2014 at 10:03 AM.
'07 Touareg V6 TDI with air suspension
'98 Mk3 Cabriolet 2.0 8V
'99 A4 Quattro 1.8T
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