I want to get a new intake because it is time for me to change my filter. Right now, I have a large cone-type filter on my stck plastic intake tube.
Does anyone with an ST have any recomendations to wheter I should go with a CAI or just a short ram? Is the really that big of a difference between the 2?

try doing a search

there are 4 topics on this on the 1st page of threads in this forum

to answer your question yes the CAI intake is better

obviously it gets colder air into your engine which increases horsepower.