Discussion
GravelMachineGun said:
aka_kerrly said:
So in summary when YOU want the world to be quiet it should be quiet, when YOU want to hear noise it is acceptable.
Double standards!
Well when I'm sat in a restaurant eating a nice meal and then a stupid Civic Type R drives past in first gear so everyone can hear him yes it annoys me. Double standards!
When it is on a race track I like it extremely loud.
In all seriousness though a Civic Type R with a Martelius Exhaust is extraordinarily loud, but it also sounds brilliant to my ears, and if I was sat eating a meal and one blasted past at high revs, it would make things even better!
I could say that if I saw a BMW 318 sat outside this restaurant it would annoy me that this person hasn't bought an M3 for me see out of the window and look at, and that it is annoying that this person hasn't bought something to please a complete stranger.
See how silly that sounds?
For me, it is a question of degree. Fairly loud doesn't bother me, whether it sounds good to me or not. Some sound great; others less so (4 cylinder cars, generally) but, hey, it's their road too and I raise no objection.
A handful of cars out there are antisocially loud. That's quite selfish. There is a new Mercedes C63 AMG which 'lives' quite close to me. I don't know what he has done to it, but it is truly, ridiculously loud. Selfishly so. The owner delights in flooring it every time he sees someone walking down the pavement. It sounds like a hard, sharp, farty howitzer. Maybe it sounds like a muscle car inside the cabin.
In the late summer, I parked my car on the road to measure the transmission fluid (my driveway slopes). The C63 passed me, flooring it with the usual crescendo. It was so loud it made a large dog jump off the pavement in fright, dragging its owner into the road and into the path of an oncoming car. Luckily the driver was concentrating and did not hit her. I appreciate many on PH will laugh at this, but there is such a thing as an exhaust which is too loud for the road.
A handful of cars out there are antisocially loud. That's quite selfish. There is a new Mercedes C63 AMG which 'lives' quite close to me. I don't know what he has done to it, but it is truly, ridiculously loud. Selfishly so. The owner delights in flooring it every time he sees someone walking down the pavement. It sounds like a hard, sharp, farty howitzer. Maybe it sounds like a muscle car inside the cabin.
In the late summer, I parked my car on the road to measure the transmission fluid (my driveway slopes). The C63 passed me, flooring it with the usual crescendo. It was so loud it made a large dog jump off the pavement in fright, dragging its owner into the road and into the path of an oncoming car. Luckily the driver was concentrating and did not hit her. I appreciate many on PH will laugh at this, but there is such a thing as an exhaust which is too loud for the road.
billy939 said:
I could say that if I saw a BMW 318 sat outside this restaurant it would annoy me that this person hasn't bought an M3 for me see out of the window and look at, and that it is annoying that this person hasn't bought something to please a complete stranger.
See how silly that sounds?
Difference is the 318 isn't screaming at you See how silly that sounds?
I'm not a fan of cars that artificially augment the exhaust note. There was a PH blog/article post about it at the end of last year, commenting on the pops and bangs from a Porsche when they weren't needed.
That being said, I wouldn't complain one jot if my car sounded like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa5ivpJwmIQ
That being said, I wouldn't complain one jot if my car sounded like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa5ivpJwmIQ
GravelMachineGun said:
Isn't there a DB law? Or have I made that up.
I'm sure there is. I imagine the legal noise level is set quite low though - probably well below that which I would personally regard as acceptable. This particular car is as noisy as Concorde and about as pleasant to listen to!
Im not a huge fan of chav exhaust's. I'm not against fitting a better system to your car. I, myself have a Milltek fitted to my S2. The difference with a good exhaust manufactures is, that they don't sound much louder with normal driving. I live in a small town, and when ever I hear a loud exhaust, I think knob. They are either a chav, or they are speeding. This goes for bikes and cars.
grumbledoak said:
I think anything with less than six cylinders should be silenced completely. It is never going to be a pleasant sound. Pure inconsideration to make it any louder.
I disagree.Subaru Imprezas and Audi Quattros sound great with after market exhausts.
I on the other hand don't really like the big V8 American sound. I prefer the howl of a flat plane crank V8. The sound of an AMG Mercedes does nothing for me.
We're all different, there is no right answer. I know some people who even like the sound of their diesels.
Crappy econoboxes with fart cans are the main cause of noise pollution. They look and sound s
t and 99% of them are fitted with no other mods, or mods that give naff all benefit. There are some I4's that can pull it off but in the main I really dislike aftermarket exhausts on anything under 5 cylinders.
t and 99% of them are fitted with no other mods, or mods that give naff all benefit. There are some I4's that can pull it off but in the main I really dislike aftermarket exhausts on anything under 5 cylinders. I've inadvertently chavved up my own car.
I had a full stainless system fitted, which according to the dyno has given me about 15-20% more power, which made that endeavour worthwhile. Unfortunately it's now quite loud/bassy, pointlessly so since it's a boring, low power 4-pot, and I've become very self conscious about it.
So far, however, noone outside the car seems to notice.
Anyway, it wasn't quite what I had in mind. In time if it doesn't quieten down, it'll get more silencing.
I had a full stainless system fitted, which according to the dyno has given me about 15-20% more power, which made that endeavour worthwhile. Unfortunately it's now quite loud/bassy, pointlessly so since it's a boring, low power 4-pot, and I've become very self conscious about it.
So far, however, noone outside the car seems to notice.
Anyway, it wasn't quite what I had in mind. In time if it doesn't quieten down, it'll get more silencing.
yonex said:
I think I have heard enough chav's in Impreza's to last me a lifetime. I don't recall Richard Burns having a 4" backbox?
My recollection of standing out in the rain in Wales and Grizedale is that all of the cars were making a racket that would be pretty antisocial in a town centre.Mine has been modified a fair amount though is still quite civilised under normal conditions.
It does tend to get disapproving looks if I hammer it, (basically anything over 2,000rpm) though this doesn't happen often, and certainly not in built up areas. I like the noise it makes, just a deep throaty growl, though starting it first thing in the morning is a bit "hectic". Once it's warmed up and on the motorway it's just like driving with a normal, albeit slightly louder, system.
Video HERE
I used to have an XFR and that was also too quiet as standard, but Spires back boxes seemed to sort that out.
It does tend to get disapproving looks if I hammer it, (basically anything over 2,000rpm) though this doesn't happen often, and certainly not in built up areas. I like the noise it makes, just a deep throaty growl, though starting it first thing in the morning is a bit "hectic". Once it's warmed up and on the motorway it's just like driving with a normal, albeit slightly louder, system.
Video HERE
I used to have an XFR and that was also too quiet as standard, but Spires back boxes seemed to sort that out.
yonex said:
Crappy econoboxes with fart cans are the main cause of noise pollution. They look and sound st and 99% of them are fitted with no other mods, or mods that give naff all benefit. There are some I4's that can pull it off but in the main I really dislike aftermarket exhausts on anything under 5 cylinders.
This.t and 99% of them are fitted with no other mods, or mods that give naff all benefit. There are some I4's that can pull it off but in the main I really dislike aftermarket exhausts on anything under 5 cylinders. They're are certain 4 pots that can pull it off, thinking impreza'a and my old 156 t-spark had a lovely rasp to it. But in the main, no, they just sound boomy, especially a 1.2 corsa.
The only car I've ever put a decent exhaust on was my Alfa 156 2.5V6, I will also upgrade my Alfa GT V6 as well when the standard system goes. It's my way of bringing pleasure to members of the public who appreciate a great sounding V6 at full chat. Hell I think the government should make contributions to make cars like these sound their best. Would be a better place all round to hear proper engines on today's roads;). Oh and heavily tax s
t boxes with boomy exhausts to pay for it...Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff