Lusso silencers on an FF
Discussion
I mentioned in the "FF prices" thread some time ago that I was going to try and get hold of some Lusso back boxes to fit on my FF. Well I did, rather than post in that thread (and it get lost) I thought I'd start a new one for any FF owners that would like a bit more comfort.....
I finally got around to getting the Lusso back boxes fitted on my FF. They were done on Tuesday this week and I’ve covered around 600-700 miles since.
Physically they are identical in every respect to the FF boxes, a straight swap (subject to rusty nuts and bolts!) so the difference can only be internal to give them a different part number.
Now all of this comes with a caveat. Sound I have discovered, is very subjective. What annoys one person, another may simply not hear. So if you own an FF and are wondering what on earth I’m whittering on about as it seems perfectly fine to you – then this “solution” is entirely irrelevant to you. Also if you use your FF as a weekend toy and want it to scream like an F1 car with full Novitec enhancement, then the idea of what I’m doing will be alien.
If like me though you find sitting in crawling traffic and long distance journeys a little more tiring than they should be then you might find this of interest.
So did they work? Did they reduce the drone I was struggling with?
In a word Yes. I’ve made my FF sound like a Lusso (unsurprisingly!).
I got KHPC to fit the exhausts. The bonus of using these guys is the owner, Roger, daily drives an FF as do I. So I can compare notes with someone who uses the car as I do and is far more knowledgeable in all things Ferrari. Interestingly Roger is very happy with the standard system. But just to put this into perspective, there was a time when Roger’s daily was an F40!
After the tech fitted the boxes Roger wanted to come out and do the first start. Immediately we both noticed the same change in tone. It’s probably slightly quieter but there’s little in it, which would lead me to believe most of the cabin sound reduction in a Lusso is sound deadening material.
There was an obvious change in tone. Deeper, the idle and valve closed tone was more like a deep rumble than the higher pitch standard FF boxes.
Valves open, same thing. You still get the beautiful V12 sound but it has much more depth, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it bass, but it’s just a more full note.
On a long motorway run the difference was quite noticeable. It was a far more comfortable cruise, less intrusive cabin noise and simply a more comfortable environment sat at 70 mph and 2,000 rpm.
In creeping traffic the increase in volume I was struggling with between 900-1200 rpm before power kicks in is still there, but the frequency has changed. It seems that’s the key. My ears were struggling with the particular frequency created by the standard system. So it wasn’t volume that was the issue.
It’s astonishing how this small change has altered the character of the car (for me). I’ll be racking up another 1000 miles or so over the next fortnight and I’m looking forward to it more than ever now.
I’m in Kent (nr Sevenoaks) if you live in the UK, own an FF and would like to do a back to back with your own car, experience it in person then I’m sure we can grab a coffee and go for a drive.
I’ve had a friend ride in the car today who was instrumental in getting hold of the Lusso silencers. He was very surprised at the difference, he genuinely thought I was wasting my time and they’d sound no different. But he said when I pulled up at his house the car simply sounded different.
After a 10 minute drive we both felt this was the sweet spot and it’s how the FF should have left the factory.
I do still want to get one thing checked, I’d like to make sure I’m not increasing back pressure and possibly causing long term damage to anything mechanical. I think I need a rolling road session to tell me this. So if any of you out there have any theories on that point I’m all ears.
Overall though I’m happy. It was an outright experiment of unknown outcome but I’m very happy with the result.
I finally got around to getting the Lusso back boxes fitted on my FF. They were done on Tuesday this week and I’ve covered around 600-700 miles since.
Physically they are identical in every respect to the FF boxes, a straight swap (subject to rusty nuts and bolts!) so the difference can only be internal to give them a different part number.
Now all of this comes with a caveat. Sound I have discovered, is very subjective. What annoys one person, another may simply not hear. So if you own an FF and are wondering what on earth I’m whittering on about as it seems perfectly fine to you – then this “solution” is entirely irrelevant to you. Also if you use your FF as a weekend toy and want it to scream like an F1 car with full Novitec enhancement, then the idea of what I’m doing will be alien.
If like me though you find sitting in crawling traffic and long distance journeys a little more tiring than they should be then you might find this of interest.
So did they work? Did they reduce the drone I was struggling with?
In a word Yes. I’ve made my FF sound like a Lusso (unsurprisingly!).
I got KHPC to fit the exhausts. The bonus of using these guys is the owner, Roger, daily drives an FF as do I. So I can compare notes with someone who uses the car as I do and is far more knowledgeable in all things Ferrari. Interestingly Roger is very happy with the standard system. But just to put this into perspective, there was a time when Roger’s daily was an F40!
After the tech fitted the boxes Roger wanted to come out and do the first start. Immediately we both noticed the same change in tone. It’s probably slightly quieter but there’s little in it, which would lead me to believe most of the cabin sound reduction in a Lusso is sound deadening material.
There was an obvious change in tone. Deeper, the idle and valve closed tone was more like a deep rumble than the higher pitch standard FF boxes.
Valves open, same thing. You still get the beautiful V12 sound but it has much more depth, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it bass, but it’s just a more full note.
On a long motorway run the difference was quite noticeable. It was a far more comfortable cruise, less intrusive cabin noise and simply a more comfortable environment sat at 70 mph and 2,000 rpm.
In creeping traffic the increase in volume I was struggling with between 900-1200 rpm before power kicks in is still there, but the frequency has changed. It seems that’s the key. My ears were struggling with the particular frequency created by the standard system. So it wasn’t volume that was the issue.
It’s astonishing how this small change has altered the character of the car (for me). I’ll be racking up another 1000 miles or so over the next fortnight and I’m looking forward to it more than ever now.
I’m in Kent (nr Sevenoaks) if you live in the UK, own an FF and would like to do a back to back with your own car, experience it in person then I’m sure we can grab a coffee and go for a drive.
I’ve had a friend ride in the car today who was instrumental in getting hold of the Lusso silencers. He was very surprised at the difference, he genuinely thought I was wasting my time and they’d sound no different. But he said when I pulled up at his house the car simply sounded different.
After a 10 minute drive we both felt this was the sweet spot and it’s how the FF should have left the factory.
I do still want to get one thing checked, I’d like to make sure I’m not increasing back pressure and possibly causing long term damage to anything mechanical. I think I need a rolling road session to tell me this. So if any of you out there have any theories on that point I’m all ears.
Overall though I’m happy. It was an outright experiment of unknown outcome but I’m very happy with the result.
Edited by 21ATS on Friday 13th October 20:38
Thanks for reporting back.
So the Lusso boxes are identical to the FF’s from the outside? Presumably the differences will be down to the piping and wadding on the inside.
I’ve seen YT videos for porsche exhausts where the stock and sport exhausts have been opened up to reveal somewhat different innards.
Good on you to have had the desire and perseverance to try the Lusso boxes on the FF. And most importantly, I’m glad to hear that the swap has solved your irritation with the low rev drone.
So the Lusso boxes are identical to the FF’s from the outside? Presumably the differences will be down to the piping and wadding on the inside.
I’ve seen YT videos for porsche exhausts where the stock and sport exhausts have been opened up to reveal somewhat different innards.
Good on you to have had the desire and perseverance to try the Lusso boxes on the FF. And most importantly, I’m glad to hear that the swap has solved your irritation with the low rev drone.
ANOpax said:
Thanks for reporting back.
So the Lusso boxes are identical to the FF’s from the outside? Presumably the differences will be down to the piping and wadding on the inside.
Yes, completely idistinguishable from each other bar the part number. It can only be internals.So the Lusso boxes are identical to the FF’s from the outside? Presumably the differences will be down to the piping and wadding on the inside.
Interestingly KPHC had done the reverse - FF boxes on a Lusso - with which the owner was very happy.
I'm 1000 miles in now having fitted the lusso boxes and they're staying. The car is more comfortable on long runs, whilst the "drone" still exisits at traffic speeds, the frequency change has made it far less tiring for me.
The car is still loud however you paint it. Cold starts are anti social. But everything is now at a deeper tone.
The car is still loud however you paint it. Cold starts are anti social. But everything is now at a deeper tone.
Gassing Station | Ferrari V12 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff