RE: Enough exhaust noise already: Tell Me I'm Wrong

[JetskiJezz]

What an utter load of drivel this article really is.
If you don't want the noisy exhaust simply don't buy that car or just don't drive it.

I haven't were driven both the current Boxster S with the switchable active exhaust and the Jaguar F type again with the switchable active exhaust - both cars sounded in my opinion fantastic and I love the idea you could switch the exhaust noise down to reasonable when you are driving round town.

[ellisd82]

TimLambert7 said:

The Boxster sounds fecking awesome

BUT

is that it in completely 'normal' driving mode? If so, I can understand how it'd get a bit annoying. If that's it in the Sport modes then I'm all for it.

+1 The pop and crackle could get annoying. But the overall sound is like a classic sports car, but will all the refinement and reliability of a modern car.

Not keen on the Jags sound though. That is a bit too much.

Edited by ellisd82 on Thursday 30th October 11:15

[mph]

You're not wrong.

For anyone preferring artificially created exhaust noise then PlayStation is always available.

I hear the next generation of "Performance cars" will have a speaker hidden under each wheel arch to simulate tyre screech while cornering.

Should keep a lot of people happy.

[Europa1]

Exhaust noise is good. I had a sports exhaust fitted to my S1 Elise and my Europa, and it added a definite extra something to the experience. My Evora S came with a shouty exhaust as standard, which got shoutier in sport mode - made what would otherwise be "the engine out of a Camry" sound quite epic.

What I do struggle with is the cars that pipe the exhaust noise into the cabin via the speakers. That seems odd.

[spoodler]

Sounds like it resulted from a joint "brainstorming session" between the Porsche corporate image engineers and the producers of the "Fast and furious" franchise... I love engine/exhaust/mechanical noise in the right place and at the right time but for an old chap like me it has to be real.

[NGK210]

You're not wrong.

The mk1 Vanquish was spot on: a by-pass valve for when you're on it and, IIRC, accelerating at over 4000rpm. The rest of the time, its V12 had a pleasingly muted burble.

The Boxster et al are the exhaust equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Lame, and sad

[gmw9666]

Personally the sound has to be authentic......real and pure :-)

Here's my 129.2 db contribution on what a car has to sound like (click to view video)

[Oddball RS]

I say again. I don't think this has anything to do with ECU tuning, this Boxster has a sports system fitted, which will be freer flowing and the exhaust path on Boxsters / 911's is short so there is the cause. If you don't want it buy a normal Boxster.

[Scott_Mac]

If it does only do it when enticed, i.e. in a sport mode then i've no real issue with it, provided when in 'normal' mode it doesn't do it. Otherwise it could become rather draining.

When i had my somewhat modified Elise with various exhaust upgrades it used to sound stunning on overrun, especially coasting down hill off throttle straight outside my work - it sounded like the apocalypse was coming, but that was entirely natural. It only did it at other stages when it was being worked hard, again when you want it to.

[HorneyMX5]

I think you're right. When pottering about town it should be nice and quite, perhaps a little burble on throttle. Sport mode engaged and a B road and it should sound like the apocolypse is coming.

I've been messing about with the MX5 over the last couple of weeks and reached a stage where round town the charger whine is pretty muted and the exhuast burbles. Open the taps and the charger screams like a toddler missing it's pacifier and the exhaust pops, bangs, crackles and spits 3 foot flames. The perfect combination.

[jmorgan]

gmw9666 said:

Personally the sound has to be authentic......real and pure :-)

Here's my 129.2 db contribution on what a car has to sound like (click to view video)

Wedges always bonkers mental on full tap.

Popping and banging away on street is rather dull, the long majestic howls from an unfettered V8 on the open road is where it is at. Or tunnels

Mind you, some exotica seem rather hobbled in the noise department, manufacturing restrictions I suppose.

[Tuvra]

Your Wrong!

Also, that Boxster looks amazing

[clarkey]

The Boxster sounds great.
Flames and noise are even better though - I used to have a Superlight R that would split flames out at pedestrian ankle height if you lifted off at 20mph in first gear. So childish, but so enjoyable.

[SamR380]

Some insufferable youth in an A45 has taken to nailing it round our estate, the noises it makes are frankly ridiculous. Exhaust pops should be a reward for making an effort.

[iloveboost]

MogulBoy said:

You're not wrong.

P.S. Do we know how all these pops and crackles are created? Is it unburned fuel being allowed through and ignited in the cats or something else? If it is fuel then how can they get away with it when every ml counts?

I imagine an initial 'pop' could be made by quickly retarding the ignition whenever the throttle is quickly closed. I think the crackles are, like you you said, small amounts of injected fuel combined with a retarded ignition. It's only a tiny amount of fuel and I think in this Porsche it only does it when you tell it to in a certain mode.

I don't think I'd want artificial pops and crackles as it sounds a bit silly and fake. A genuine pop is fine! Also from inside the car you hear intake noise much more and I prefer hearing that. I don't mind any intake noise 'sound tube' or 'resonator' for that reason, as they only let a bit of real intake noise into the cabin.

[Jaroon]

I agree with the article. The Boxster doesn't sound great under acceleration and sound stupid on over run.

AMGs seem to get it right imo (ahem biased) but it's easy to get it wrong, like in this example. So much more "look at me" than wind down the window, I want to hear this.

[redroadster]

Noise is one of main reasons I like a car bolster sounds great, writer get a life or write for woman's realm.

[KarlMac]

Focus ST/RS seemed to do it right. Burbles and pops on over-run as fuel was dumped on cool cylinders, get the gear change just right (i.e. At full boost with the right timing between lift and clutch) and you'd get an almighty crack.

My mk5 golf gti sound a bit poo in comparison. The DSG burps just didn't have the meat to sound credible.

Current 02 scoob (with prodrive exhaust) has a habit of having no pops/crackles, then occasionally at idle after a hoon it'd parp one out. Great fun.

[corporalsparrow]

You're not wrong.

It's a contrivance. Created to amuse teenagers.

Next they'll rigging a Kia to play a V12 through the speakers and calling it enhanced driving pleasure.

If it ain't real, it ain't real. The exhaust should be designed to get rig of exhaust gasses as fast as possible, nothing more. Then, if it sounds good, it's because it is the real deal, not something to engineered to sound that way.

[BoxsterEtype]

A bit of snap. crackle and pop is one thing. But wet farting your way down the high street is plain rude. As for faking it inside with speakers. That would defo stop me from buying the car unless I could turn it off.

I want it to sound like I'm caning it when I am but not when I'm not. People might think you were driving a baseball capped ass about Face Corsa or Lupo till they look around, see a decent motor and then they will think you are right knob ponce git.