RE: PH Blog: noise matters

[Andy_sx]

aarondbs said:

Had a Bravo HGT and have to agree. Its what made me choose this over any other warm/hottish hatch in 1998.

Same here, looking at all the options and the styling / noise just won me over anything else in the market, plus I knew the Bravo in and out by that point

[andyg109]

+1 for engine noise been a significant factor in choosing a car. After a string of Type-R Honda's (which sound great at high revs!) I have now gone for a MkV Golf R32. I tried a few (arguably faster) turbo cars like the S3 and Cupra R but when I test drove the R32 I just got out with a bigger smile on my face. Unlike the Honda, the R32 V6 sounds great everywhere in the rev range - from low down burble to high revving howl!

[pistonpie]

DanDC5 said:

Agree 1000000% that noise is important. It's one reason why I love Honda's VTEC engines so much. Now I just need a completely unsilenced system on the Integra now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_LmFqwwfqw

I saw an unsilenced Integra Type R (DC2) yesterday...the sound was loud! lol

[otolith]

Martin 480 Turbo said:

This thread is useless without sound files:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drsj32iR0BQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DR77VlYTqE

I can almost smell the exhaust fumes from that second one

[AndySA]

I am finding this thread very interisting. I am in the process of specing up next car, one of these www.harpersportscars.com which is a mid engined kit car but can take either a transverse or longitudinal engine layout depending on version. So my choice is dictated to by budget more than anything. Ideas so far are, Toyota 20v, Honda Vtec, Alfa twinspark, Alfa V6.

I would love to hear any opinions that you may have, with a min of 150bhp and the noise is very important to me for this car.

[Andy_sx]

AndySA said:

I am finding this thread very interisting. I am in the process of specing up next car, one of these www.harpersportscars.com which is a mid engined kit car but can take either a transverse or longitudinal engine layout depending on version. So my choice is dictated to by budget more than anything. Ideas so far are, Toyota 20v, Honda Vtec, Alfa twinspark, Alfa V6.

I would love to hear any opinions that you may have, with a min of 150bhp and the noise is very important to me for this car.

If the fit 5 pot wasnt such a bloater I would say that, the pre VIS version. Could slap a supercharger to it to get over the anchor issue I love the Alfa twinnies, had a couple now, and in a kit car with the exhaust they should give a nice tune.

Personally I would be torn between the Alfa V6 and a 5 pot (fiat / audi / volvo)

[MiseryStreak]

I agree with the Ferrari 360 CS too, utterly perfect engine noise, makes you yearn for the car before you've even seen it.

70's Cosworth BDA in Escort Rally Car of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0orA-AaIiQY
Supercharged Austin Seven: http://freespace.virgin.net/john.lovelock4/prfile3...

Two of my personal offerings: Honda Integra DC2 Type-R with the lid of the airbox removed, I found this out by accident after replacing the filter, then had to go for a drive with the lid off. For some reason, the harmonics are just perfect and when it hits VTEC at 6,000rpm at full throttle opening it has the most glorious induction sound I've ever heard on a road car.

Lotus Twincam with twin Weber 40s and virtually straight through exhaust, the pops and crackles on a closed throttle and the whole raw induction and exhaust combination through a zero soundproofed fibreglass body are all consuming. Sounds like it has 500bhp rather than 126.

[CarlosV8]

My last few cars have been V8s and part of the appeal is definitely the noise. Ihad a Chimaera up until a few weeks back, and its now been replaced with a Monaro - you can't always use the full performance, but you can always appreciate the noise and that just makes them special, whether you're stuck in traffic or blasting down a B road.

The Chimaera is without a doubt the loudest car I've owned though. I once made a small girl cry due to the noise as I accelerated under a bridge she was also walking under. Luckily her dad was smiling though

[mikey k]

I used to have a 420 BHP supercharged Honda S2000 that spate flames and popped & banged on the over run.
I loved the sound of that thing.
But the 9k rpm redline made it sound manic when you pushed it and attracted alot of the wrong attention.

I moved to a MY09 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster.
That thing sounded great when you first started it, but got quieter and quieter as the thing warmed up
(even with the valve fuse pulled )
I've now got a Vantage S roadster (with the Sports Exahust option) that also has the fuse pulled.
it pops and bangs even at idle
Tunnels, walls & narrow streets are fantastic, it's never attracted any looks

Sounds appreciation is very subjective buy V8's just seem to hit the spot.
In a roadster its even better as you get the full effect with the roof down

Oh look its sunny outside might go for a

[andreas542]

Lots of lovely videos that have had me grinning from ear to ear!

I'll try my best to add to that:

http://youtu.be/js5QyYsH7Nw

http://youtu.be/A_PkswoXMx0

http://youtu.be/oCQN1993wTE

[356Speedster]

Noise matters.... a lot! I love the sound my Focus RS MP350 with full Mountune / Miltek exhaust makes, propper 5-pot warble, coupled with much popping & banging.

However, my Ultima's LS3 V8 with full custom exhaust was woken for the first time recently and sounds fantastic. Muscular, but not obnoxiously loud..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpOGVPR5yKY

[robinandcamera]

I thought the fact that the new M5 pipes in fake noise was shameful when I first found out about this, and still do.

The noise is part of the driving experience; hearing is one of the major senses and needs to be factored in if you are driving for enjoyment. Its like going for a beer and then ordering an alcohol free pint, the experience is impaired, it needs to be there for the best experience.
Noise is a huge factor in why I enjoy my car so much, an s2000 with induction kit and complete exhaust system including the manifold. The noise gives me a huge grin every time I decide to be a bit silly, tunnels actually make me laugh out loud. Its not the fastest, and its not got a lovely burble like a v6 or v8, but it has character and sounds like a small race car. I could never move to a car that has a dull engine note now, no matter how much better the car is, for me ‘can it make a good noise’ is now equal with things like looks and performance.

[robinandcamera]

Mikey - How did you find the superscharger affected the sound of the s2000?

I'm tempted to stay na just to keep the intake note. I guess you lose most of that when putting a supercharger in the middle of it all?

[plfrench]

Fully agree with this, noise does matter. I followed a Ford Racing Puma along some country lanes yesterday, and found myself chuckling at the way it popped and spat on the over-run. Noise adds so much character to a car.

[boardinscotland]

There are so many good sounds that come from cars. I love my Dads Dax cobra (Ford 302 and cherry bomb exhausts) in a different way to the sound of my Tuscan (CCC's on it), the pops and bangs just add to the experience.

However if I had loads of money then this would be it. 275 GTB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfty8MSPtiY


Lumpy as hell then the howl

G

Edited by boardinscotland on Friday 2nd March 12:29

[Oakman]

MiseryStreak said:

I agree with the Ferrari 360 CS too, utterly perfect engine noise, makes you yearn for the car before you've even seen it.

70's Cosworth BDA in Escort Rally Car of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0orA-AaIiQY
Supercharged Austin Seven: http://freespace.virgin.net/john.lovelock4/prfile3...

Two of my personal offerings: Honda Integra DC2 Type-R with the lid of the airbox removed, I found this out by accident after replacing the filter, then had to go for a drive with the lid off. For some reason, the harmonics are just perfect and when it hits VTEC at 6,000rpm at full throttle opening it has the most glorious induction sound I've ever heard on a road car.

Lotus Twincam with twin Weber 40s and virtually straight through exhaust, the pops and crackles on a closed throttle and the whole raw induction and exhaust combination through a zero soundproofed fibreglass body are all consuming. Sounds like it has 500bhp rather than 126.

To continue from my earlier post re my old Porsche (see below)




and another higher up this page re the R32.




Below the previous old smoker to the R32 - equipped with a K&N 57i Induction kit and Magnex stainless exhaust (minus one extra silencer section compared to VW item = near TVR sound from the VR6)



I must have a very serious case of 'Aural Intoxication' - obviously not cureable ;-) !

Presently owning the aforementioned 993 C4S, a MkIV R32 ( which is for sale on here now) and an above mentioned 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint with exactly that specification !

"Noise Matters"........ Nuff Said

Cheers 'Oakman'

[Numeric]

Of course we are ignoring the noise at different moments thing. So a V8 rumble is amazing at low speeds as per MGSV, but I can't argue with the scream of a 10 or 12 at full chat or something from Ferrari at the top of the rev range, when a big yank style V8 has run out of noise perhaps. So round town a V8 and in the Alps a Porsche GT or Ferrari 458 with a few tunnels?

[MJRL]

Well seems that lexus got the idea well in hand does it not ?

The LFA makes a truly wonderful noise, F1 used to sound better too, thank god there is still a focus on a wonderful engine note out there prob half the reson Ferrari and Lambo opted for v12's still, cant' wait ot hea the berlinetta coz the 458noise is top shelf material.

TVR's sound amazing, I honsetly couldn't give a fig how they drive or how reliable, I will get 4.5 Cerbera and sometimes I will just sit in it and turn it on and go nowhere.... and you know what I think it will make me happier just sitting there listening to it than knowing " my car is bezt coZ it does the nerdburg ring in 5 mins flat and has the fastest 0-60 time Evar !!

[richb77]

I cant help loving almost any american V8.

The alfa GTV of the early 80's was a dream of an exhaust note.

An i have to admit a fond loving of the Maserati on last weeks top gear in setting 11. Sounded awesome.

Edited by richb77 on Friday 2nd March 13:02

[PoleDriver]

Must get some recordings of the Cerb done soon!

Doeas anyone know where I can get a microphone which won'tlimit and distort too easily?