Tell me I'm wrong... 911s sound a bit gash!
Discussion
It may just be the cooking models (or just me...) but I was reading the Time Capsule Cars article that talks about how good a 911 sounds, and I just don't get it. To me they sound tinny and high pitched, like a heat shield is loose.
I can see they might sound ok at high revs, although I don't remember being particularly excited by the sound when I've had passenger rides or been passed on track.
I can see they might sound ok at high revs, although I don't remember being particularly excited by the sound when I've had passenger rides or been passed on track.
Given that you can't get people to agree on music, I always find it slightly odd the extent to which engine sound is treated as an objective quality on which cars can be ranked as objectively better or worse.
I think that what sounds 'good' or 'bad' is quite personal, like styling, and depends among other things on your personal formative experiences.
I think that what sounds 'good' or 'bad' is quite personal, like styling, and depends among other things on your personal formative experiences.
the ones I think sound good are
old models 993 and before generally
996 with PSE (which i owned)
997 and 991 gen 1 with PSE
GT models
ones that don't
Turbos
997 Gen2
991gen2
992
the 991 turbo is particularly disappointing - probably one of the best cars with the least dramatic sound, sounds like a hoover!
I also think for the 911 most of the sound is from the exhaust. The flat 6 itself doesn't have much induction noise compared to something like an E46 M3 CS
old models 993 and before generally
996 with PSE (which i owned)
997 and 991 gen 1 with PSE
GT models
ones that don't
Turbos
997 Gen2
991gen2
992
the 991 turbo is particularly disappointing - probably one of the best cars with the least dramatic sound, sounds like a hoover!
I also think for the 911 most of the sound is from the exhaust. The flat 6 itself doesn't have much induction noise compared to something like an E46 M3 CS
I completely agree. They make very good cars, but I think pretty much all Porsche motors sound naff. Apart from:
The Carrera GT (fantastic but not a 911) and possibly a newish 911 GT3 RS (not completely sure) that was downshifting alongside me as we slowed for the M6 toll area a few weeks ago.
The Carrera GT (fantastic but not a 911) and possibly a newish 911 GT3 RS (not completely sure) that was downshifting alongside me as we slowed for the M6 toll area a few weeks ago.
Bill - I sort of agree with you but each to their own really.
I’ve never quite got the ‘Porsche’ thing and agree with the tinny-ness, for me there is a lack of theatre as well.
Having said that, everyone who owns them loves them… and having been out in a mates gt3, they are fantastic cars.
I’ve never quite got the ‘Porsche’ thing and agree with the tinny-ness, for me there is a lack of theatre as well.
Having said that, everyone who owns them loves them… and having been out in a mates gt3, they are fantastic cars.
PSE???
*I once saw someone post that they didn't get the fuss about how V8s sound. The weirdo!!
samoht said:
Given that you can't get people to agree on music, I always find it slightly odd the extent to which engine sound is treated as an objective quality on which cars can be ranked as objectively better or worse.
I think that what sounds 'good' or 'bad' is quite personal, like styling, and depends among other things on your personal formative experiences.
Fair point*, but it seems to be something people say on a regular basis that isn't challenged. I'm curious to know if it is just me.I think that what sounds 'good' or 'bad' is quite personal, like styling, and depends among other things on your personal formative experiences.
*I once saw someone post that they didn't get the fuss about how V8s sound. The weirdo!!
Roboticarm said:
You are wrong !
964 and 993 were the peak but I've never heard one which didn't sound good
But then I love the burble of an Impreza and alot don't, I also think a VW up GTI with an aftermarket exhaust sounds lovely
I'm with you on the Impreza, and the Subaru flat 6 I had with stainless exhaust and too small back boxes sounded epic. I think because it was a deeper note.964 and 993 were the peak but I've never heard one which didn't sound good
But then I love the burble of an Impreza and alot don't, I also think a VW up GTI with an aftermarket exhaust sounds lovely
Bill said:
It may just be the cooking models (or just me...) but I was reading the Time Capsule Cars article that talks about how good a 911 sounds, and I just don't get it. To me they sound tinny and high pitched, like a heat shield is loose.
I can see they might sound ok at high revs, although I don't remember being particularly excited by the sound when I've had passenger rides or been passed on track.
Probably right. They'll never catch on.I can see they might sound ok at high revs, although I don't remember being particularly excited by the sound when I've had passenger rides or been passed on track.
Bill said:
I can see they might sound ok at high revs, although I don't remember being particularly excited by the sound when I've had passenger rides or been passed on track.
I've always found they sounded worse at high revs tbh. With some rare exceptions. I slightly changed my mind when sampling a friend's 996 c4s with a pse. It actually sounded spot on. My brother in laws 997 c4s with pse, on the other hand, just sounded a bit lame.
Edited by Ice_blue_tvr on Saturday 14th January 10:12
They always sound either broken or over tuned to me, like they've tried to push everything too far and it's struggling to breathe properly. I have a great respect for the cars and their heritage but they just sound wrong to me.
But then I'm a fan of subtle engine noise regardless if the engine. Shouty things just don't interest me, much prefer a quiet burble even on full throttle to the 'look at me!' noises a lot of performance cars make.
But then I'm a fan of subtle engine noise regardless if the engine. Shouty things just don't interest me, much prefer a quiet burble even on full throttle to the 'look at me!' noises a lot of performance cars make.
Bill said:
PSE???
Porsche Sports Exhaust I think. It's a switchable exhaust that has been an option from the 996 onwards.I don't like the sound of the PSE exhausts on 996/997 cars but maybe that's because i never heard them at high revs. You'd hear them a lot back in the 2000s in London and at low revs they just sounded farty to me. I would happily avoid PSE if I was buying a Carrera.
A couple of modded 996s came to a Goodwood track day I recently attended - at Goodwood there are few cars on track and you can hear the louder ones around nearly half the circuit - and I wasn't a fan of the sound at all.
They need exhaust tuning to sound good just like every other car. I'm lucky to have a 997 GT3 and they sound amazing at high revs but in the 2000-4000rpm range, maybe not so much?.
Bill said:
Fair point*, but it seems to be something people say on a regular basis that isn't challenged. I'm curious to know if it is just me.
*I once saw someone post that they didn't get the fuss about how V8s sound. The weirdo!!
I think my 996 with sports exhaust sounds great, my V8 BMW E39 sounded gash. *I once saw someone post that they didn't get the fuss about how V8s sound. The weirdo!!
(To be fair I haven't noticed that era BM either way.)Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff