Fake exhausts

[Monty Python]

I was following an Evoque this morning and noticed it's got the fake exhaust exits in the bumper like the Civic. Can't say I'm I fan - I think it looks a bit naff.

Anyone else agree?

[Defcon5]

Definitely

Especially when you can clearly see an inch inside the fake exhaust the real one is pointing down towards the floor!

[kambites]

No better or worse than "real" exhausts which are solely there for show, IMO. Arguably better, in fact; a bit of plastic trim is a lot lighter and less prone to failure than a whole load of metal pipe-work.

ETA: I suppose things like on the Evoque are best viewed as styling accessories on the bumper rather than exhaust tips, much like the fake diffusers and vents that manufacturers love to fit.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 29th January 09:07

[Mr E]

The merc has fake tips built into the bumper. It's a bit naff, but it's what the buyer wants I expect.

[Falsey]

A load of newer cars have these things. Cant say I like them very much.

Plastic mouldings finished in chrome to look like sporty pipes, until you look in the hole and see a little peashooter poking through.

Doesnt the R8 have fake round holes in the bumper too?

[cerb4.5lee]

I have noticed on some of the new Volvo`s that they have a massive exhaust surround and then a tiny pipe in the middle of it and it just looks wrong to me. The Jag XF is similar as well but the surround is a fair bit smaller.

[cerb4.5lee]

Falsey said:

A load of newer cars have these things. Cant say I like them very much.

Plastic mouldings finished in chrome to look like sporty pipes, until you look in the hole and see a little peashooter poking through.

Yes that's the type of thing I have noticed a fair bit recently and it just doesn't look right.

[Tickle]

IIRC does the MK2 focus RS have fake wing vents? Not really a fan of this type of thing and does it equal extra sales? ....I doubt it!

[W00DY]

Why bother with a fancy exhaust when your stereo makes all the engine sounds.

[cerb4.5lee]

W00DY said:

Why bother with a fancy exhaust when your stereo makes all the engine sounds.

Good point!

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

Yep - fake exhaust trim is naffer than a naff thing if you can see the round pipe just behind the trim.

[Dodsy]

My Merc SLK 300 has the same - not built into the bumper but actually attached to the end of the exhaust. Sodding great exit pipe but look inside and theres a peashooter hiding in there.

Reminds me of those chrome tail pipe things people used to stick on escorts in the 80's

[DaveCWK]

I notice this all the time at night when pulling up behind stuff - they look so crap with the tiny shonky looking pipe hidden away behind a huge stylistic gape.

The absolute worst is the LR Freelander - OEM chrome oval tip right on the end of a pointy down diesel style outlet!!!

[rouge59]

Both my cars manage 0-60 in 6 seconds or less with a paltry single exhaust pipe.

I can't possibly imagine how fast these new cars with 2, 3 or 4 shiny pipes are.

[Falsey]

W00DY said:

Why bother with a fancy exhaust when your stereo makes all the engine sounds.

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

No better or worse than "real" exhausts which are solely there for show, IMO. Arguably better, in fact; a bit of plastic trim is a lot lighter and less prone to failure than a whole load of metal pipe-work.

Not a chance. A manufacturer going through the hassle of designing a car for two+ pipes and then engineering a solution to actively utilise that design decision is miles better than designing a car for two pipes and clipping on some plastic trim.

Anyway, at what point is an exhaust pipe 'purely for show'? Are we talking one pipe per bank or what?

Fake exhausts are a clear sign of petty one-up-man-ship and blingy, fake crap that seems to be needed to shift (MY car has TWO exhausts, has 20" Wheels, is the AMG-Line M-Sport GTI Bluemotion R model , etc, etc).

[stephen300o]

But then 'real' large exhaust tips are very boomy things, it is all for the looks anyway, probably why they avoid the noise and put pretend ones on.

[kambites]

279 said:

Not a chance. A manufacturer going through the hassle of designing a car for two+ pipes and then engineering a solution to actively utilise that design decision is miles better than designing a car for two pipes and clipping on some plastic trim.

Each to their own. Assuming they have the same engineering merit in terms of gas flow, I'd take whichever is lighter.

[dbdb]

cerb4.5lee said:

W00DY said:

Why bother with a fancy exhaust when your stereo makes all the engine sounds.

Good point!

These fake exhaust tips are a bit sad and embarrassing, but fake engine noises are fully tragic!

[vikingaero]

Followed a BMW X1 with twin exhausts. One of the exhausts has a butterfly valve that opens and closes according to load.