Subaru Impreza cruising noise

Subaru Impreza cruising noise

Author
Discussion

texaxile

3,291 posts

151 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
Hi,
If you're near Ipswich drop me an email and you can see what mine is like on the local A roads at 70 odd. It's an 07 WRX, bog standard. One thing I've noticed is that the soundproofing isn't particularly brilliant , I do get a bit of road noise from the Falken FK453's I'm running and they seem a tad louder to the previous Toyo's that I put on the other year , however saying that in standard form it's not much different to the Mazda we own.

I've read that those decibel apps aren't that accurate tbh.

corvus

431 posts

153 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
How far will you be travelling on the motorway? To be honest I would look for something more refined if you're doing big miles. I have a Forester - the road and wind noise is pretty bad, and would become tiring on long journeys. I've soundproofed the doors because I uprated the speakers, and this has worked well, but it highlights the noise coming through the floor. The carpets are thin and there is no soundproofing underneath.

I would add that a lot of my driving is on the A12 which probably has one of the worst surfaces in the country for noise.

The engine is lovely with the standard exhaust, just a distant thrum. I think that the Forester is slightly higher geared though.

Trouble is I've looked at other cars like Volvo V50 T5 or Skoda Octavia VRS(which is also supposed to have road noise), Saab 93 estate, Audi A4, and I know that I'm going to miss things about this car if I sell. It's always the way though.

If you really want the Impreza, maybe think about stripping out the seats and carpet and doing a proper job with soundproofing.

AntiLagGC8

1,724 posts

113 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
corvus said:
How far will you be travelling on the motorway? To be honest I would look for something more refined if you're doing big miles. I have a Forester - the road and wind noise is pretty bad, and would become tiring on long journeys. I've soundproofed the doors because I uprated the speakers, and this has worked well, but it highlights the noise coming through the floor. The carpets are thin and there is no soundproofing underneath.

I would add that a lot of my driving is on the A12 which probably has one of the worst surfaces in the country for noise.

The engine is lovely with the standard exhaust, just a distant thrum. I think that the Forester is slightly higher geared though.

Trouble is I've looked at other cars like Volvo V50 T5 or Skoda Octavia VRS(which is also supposed to have road noise), Saab 93 estate, Audi A4, and I know that I'm going to miss things about this car if I sell. It's always the way though.

If you really want the Impreza, maybe think about stripping out the seats and carpet and doing a proper job with soundproofing.
My Impreza classic (RB5) is dreadful on the motorway, its far too loud (its running a 4' miltek exhaust & a lot of other mods) but the wind and road noise is bad too!

Still Impreza's can be quiet, over the years I've known lots of owners who have made them or kept them very quiet whilst improving their performance. An Impreza doesn't need to be loud to be ballistic but it is much easier to make a loud fast Impreza.

You can have a fast quiet Impreza (as long as its not a classic) without too much hassle so I'd recommend you go for it!

AntiLagGC8

1,724 posts

113 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
morgrp said:
geg1992 said:
Hi All,
Looking at maybe buying a Subaru Impreza WRX.
Hopefully find one all standard including the exhaust.
I have tinnitus so have to be careful with loud noises - this probably puts a decent exhaust system out the window.


My main question is: what are these like with road noise? say on the motorway?
Are they noisy? My current car is about 80-90db which is on the limit really. I assumed these would be quieter standard as they're a saloon and probably better built.


If anybody is able to get a decibel reading that would be fantastic, as many iPhones have apps etc.


Any other fast cars for under 6-7K people would recommend that aren't too noisy?
Personally I think these are great:

300bhp, AWD, ultra comfortable and very refined but sound great
They are good cars and I like them too but they aren't in the same league as an Impreza.

I think the Volvo is a good cross over car where you have a car that's more discrete and has more comfort at the cost of some of the performance.

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

142 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
Hi mate

I've got a classic shape impreza, standard spec with prodrive exhuast, so a little louder than usual. Also being a classic, less sound proofing. I've got a proper Decibel meter, so I'll take a reading this afternoon if it helps? You can assume that a newer shape will be quieter inside.

Also, if your budget will stretch to it... find a 'Spec D' Impreza. They have additional sound proofing and are generally a much nicer daily drive.

OldGermanHeaps

3,837 posts

179 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
If you dont mind stripping the interior aftermarket sound deadening is very effective, i have done my last 2 vans dueto long motorway journeys aggrivating my tinnitus.
It'll be nice to see a subaru not chavved up with a fartcannon, its quite unusual. Subarus seem to be the only car capable of wakening me up in my double glazed bedroom, or maybe they are one of the few nousy cars driven at full chat down my 30 limit street.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Saturday 14th March 12:31

AntiLagGC8

1,724 posts

113 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
OldGermanHeaps said:
If you dont mind stripping the interior aftermarket sound deadening is very effective, i have done my last 2 vans dueto long motorway journeys aggrivating my tinnitus.
It'll be nice to see a subaru not chavved up with a fartcannon, its quite unusual. Subarus seem to be the only car capable of wakening me up in my double glazed bedroom, or maybe they are one of the few nousy cars driven at full chat down my 30 limit street.

Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Saturday 14th March 12:31
You do realise allowing an Impreza to breath is quite important to its performance?

As for driven down your road at full chat, then they must be going some speed to do that. I'd recommend reporting anyone driving dangerously in your street, anyone driving a fast car flat out in a built up area deserves to get caught.

I personally never exceed 30 in a 30 zone and I usually find other cars all over my bumper as a result.

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

142 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
So a uk turbo 2000 with prodrive extras including removal of two out of three cats:

70-75mph cruising came in at around 82-85dB

Full throttle acceleration was around 95-98dB although its not consistant, the readings jump around a lot in this situation.

If you're cruising at say 90mph then it tends to sit around 87-90dB.

The highest i saw was around 100-102dB, full throttle acceleration and window open a bit :-D they sound great. Perhaps a pointless test though :-D

Whilst these readings are more accurate then a phone app, it was hardly a scientific test. But hopefully offers some insight. I reckon a newage spec d will cause you no problems.


Edited by Jazzy Jefferson on Saturday 14th March 13:52

geg1992

Original Poster:

98 posts

138 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
Jazzy Jefferson said:
So a uk turbo 2000 with prodrive extras including removal of two out of three cats:

70-75mph cruising came in at around 82-85dB

Full throttle acceleration was around 95-98dB although its not consistant, the readings jump around a lot in this situation.

If you're cruising at say 90mph then it tends to sit around 87-90dB.

The highest i saw was around 100-102dB, full throttle acceleration and window open a bit :-D they sound great. Perhaps a pointless test though :-D

Whilst these readings are more accurate then a phone app, it was hardly a scientific test. But hopefully offers some insight. I reckon a newage spec d will cause you no problems.


Edited by Jazzy Jefferson on Saturday 14th March 13:52
Thanks for the feedback! That's not actually too bad at all. If I get the new job and get a subaru, it will only be short journeys anyway, maybe 20 mins run into town at most then the odd long trip to the airport etc which I could use ear plugs for:

Thanks for getting the readings 82-85 won't damage your ears!

wombleh

1,794 posts

123 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
My 06 wagon was pretty terrible for road noise. Exhaust/engine was surprisingly quiet with the stock exhaust but it had no soundproofing. I put loads of matting in under all the carpets, on doors and boot too which made a huge difference. Still had a lot of road noise from tyres so was planning to paint the arches with thick tarry soundproofing gunk but sold it before I got around to that.

geg1992

Original Poster:

98 posts

138 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
texaxile said:
Hi,
If you're near Ipswich drop me an email and you can see what mine is like on the local A roads at 70 odd. It's an 07 WRX, bog standard. One thing I've noticed is that the soundproofing isn't particularly brilliant , I do get a bit of road noise from the Falken FK453's I'm running and they seem a tad louder to the previous Toyo's that I put on the other year , however saying that in standard form it's not much different to the Mazda we own.

I've read that those decibel apps aren't that accurate tbh.
That wold be great, cheers! I'll probably drop you an email soon as I need to find out if I get a new job first!

geg1992

Original Poster:

98 posts

138 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
quotequote all
texaxile said:
Hi,
If you're near Ipswich drop me an email and you can see what mine is like on the local A roads at 70 odd. It's an 07 WRX, bog standard. One thing I've noticed is that the soundproofing isn't particularly brilliant , I do get a bit of road noise from the Falken FK453's I'm running and they seem a tad louder to the previous Toyo's that I put on the other year , however saying that in standard form it's not much different to the Mazda we own.

I've read that those decibel apps aren't that accurate tbh.
That wold be great, cheers! I'll probably drop you an email soon as I need to find out if I get a new job first!

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

142 months

Sunday 15th March 2015
quotequote all
geg1992 said:
Thanks for the feedback! That's not actually too bad at all. If I get the new job and get a subaru, it will only be short journeys anyway, maybe 20 mins run into town at most then the odd long trip to the airport etc which I could use ear plugs for:

Thanks for getting the readings 82-85 won't damage your ears!
No worries, It was an interesting experiment. smile

Although, for that driving style, is an impreza for you, These cars appreciate a good proper drive, rather than the shorter journeys.

APHarris

39 posts

112 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Hi Greg1992

not sure how much help this is, but should give you an idea

according to the previous owner, my ( classic ) Impreza Type R with a 3" Hayward & Scott, straight through, stainless steel exhaust measured in at 103db at 3,000 RPM

but as mentioned previously it is the lack of sound reduction that causes the main noise !

so i imagine a 'softer' car should be abit quieter, if you can ever call a impreza soft !