Are noisy ICE cars becoming embarrassing?
Discussion
I like all these binary definitions of what sounds good, based purely on number of cylinders. It's absolute nonsense. Singles, twins, triples, fours, fives and sixes can all sound awesome in a variety of configurations (not actually heard a seven yet, although they do exist).
Probably one of the least memorable experiences I've had was a ride in a V10 Audi S8, it went all right but was quiet and unobtrusive. Ditto my father in law's 5.4 V8 Fairlane.
Probably one of the least memorable experiences I've had was a ride in a V10 Audi S8, it went all right but was quiet and unobtrusive. Ditto my father in law's 5.4 V8 Fairlane.
phil4 said:
I find it amusing the OP used a Golf R as an example of a loud petrol car... compared to it's competition (eg. M140i, A45 AMG etc) it's pretty quiet.
I wasn't saying the Golf is a loud car per se, but compared to a EV it's considerably louder.phil4 said:
Back to Noisey cars though... provided it's not "all show and no go" or "all mouth but no trousers"... then yes, I love a tuneful car, whether it's a I4 or V12. There's something in each that makes it sounds good to me. Oddly the same goes for motorbikes. There's nothing better in my head than hearing a superbike scream down the local bypass in the distance at 10pm.
And there in lies my point; the Golf was louder than the EV (as all ICE cars will be), but was slower. Therefore, the Golf was all show and no go.I'm really conflicted; I've had a few loud cars over the years and some fruity sounding bikes. My last car was a Monaro V8 which sounded sublime to my ears. I really enjoyed driving that car hard when I was on my own, but felt a bit silly in it when starting it early in the morning, or when pootling through down and the car decided to chuck a load of unburnt fuel through the exhaust and cause an almighty pop pop bang (and these were random old school pops and bangs rather than the current electronically controlled ones).
I personally loved the noises it made, but I guess the direction society is going made me more acutely aware that what I did for my personal enjoyment (ie. loud exhaust) was increasingly pissing off the majority.
The fact that a quiet EV or comparatively quiet Golf R could out accelerate me may also have been a factor that started to diminish the enjoyment of my snarling V8. Oddly, I now drive a slower quieter car, and feel a lot more discreet and happier to drive quickly
Ultrafunkula said:
I know it would be irritating to provoke it in built up areas but I can drive sensibly until I'm away from houses. The sound is an integral part of the experience of driving for fun IMO.
Totally agree with this. The sounds, smells, and the non-linear nature of power and torque delivery is what I love about internal combustion engines. Just need to enjoy them responsibly, which is where the noise question comes in. People are now starting to get used to the idea that cars don't have to be loud to be fast.sambucket said:
Maybe I am on the wrong forum. I couldn't really care less about classic cars or marque, and genuinely do drive with noise cancelling headphones. But there isn't a 'quitelikedrivingheads.com' I'm afraid.
How do you get on with emergency vehicles etc ? can you hear them through the NC headphones, I know they are good at contant, droning noises but I would struggle without full hearing, same reason I dont like loud music when driving.Edited by sambucket on Monday 15th April 12:02
J4CKO said:
sambucket said:
Maybe I am on the wrong forum. I couldn't really care less about classic cars or marque, and genuinely do drive with noise cancelling headphones. But there isn't a 'quitelikedrivingheads.com' I'm afraid.
How do you get on with emergency vehicles etc ? can you hear them through the NC headphones, I know they are good at contant, droning noises but I would struggle without full hearing, same reason I dont like loud music when driving.Edited by sambucket on Monday 15th April 12:02
I couldn't even imagine trying to drive with NC headphones on.........way too distracting.
Actually, I'd be in favour of it being a driving offense to wear headphones while driving.
aeropilot said:
J4CKO said:
sambucket said:
Maybe I am on the wrong forum. I couldn't really care less about classic cars or marque, and genuinely do drive with noise cancelling headphones. But there isn't a 'quitelikedrivingheads.com' I'm afraid.
How do you get on with emergency vehicles etc ? can you hear them through the NC headphones, I know they are good at contant, droning noises but I would struggle without full hearing, same reason I dont like loud music when driving.Edited by sambucket on Monday 15th April 12:02
I couldn't even imagine trying to drive with NC headphones on.........way too distracting.
Actually, I'd be in favour of it being a driving offense to wear headphones while driving.
Meant I could listen to music and also take phone calls (worked pretty well actually!) and yet I still could hear cars, sirens etc without an issue.
Not sure about "head phones" but yeah........
aeropilot said:
I couldn't even imagine trying to drive with NC headphones on.........way too distracting.
Actually, I'd be in favour of it being a driving offense to wear headphones while driving.
Codswallop said:
And there in lies my point; the Golf was louder than the EV (as all ICE cars will be), but was slower. Therefore, the Golf was all show and no go.
I'm biased, clearly, but I was thinking more the old Corsa 1.0 with loud exhaust on. I'm talking all show no go in general, not something that loses against another car. The Golf does a 0-60 sub 5 seconds, and bar the DSG farts, isn't as noisey as say a Ferrari 355 which is about the same. A Corsa 1.0 with load exhuast isn't anywhere near either, but makes similar if not more noise. That's what I was on about.Codswallop said:
I'm really conflicted; I've had a few loud cars over the years and some fruity sounding bikes. My last car was a Monaro V8 which sounded sublime to my ears. I really enjoyed driving that car hard when I was on my own, but felt a bit silly in it when starting it early in the morning, or when pootling through down and the car decided to chuck a load of unburnt fuel through the exhaust and cause an almighty pop pop bang (and these were random old school pops and bangs rather than the current electronically controlled ones).
I personally loved the noises it made, but I guess the direction society is going made me more acutely aware that what I did for my personal enjoyment (ie. loud exhaust) was increasingly pissing off the majority.
I think it's a personal thing... some people (me, and my kid) like it... some couldn't care less, some hate it. You'll never get agreement. Also while I think the cars are moving towards white goods, and the biggest selling point of an EV is it's silence, ICE will be come more conspicuous. Does that mean you're wrong to have some of what you like? No. No doubt in time you'll just not have the choice.I personally loved the noises it made, but I guess the direction society is going made me more acutely aware that what I did for my personal enjoyment (ie. loud exhaust) was increasingly pissing off the majority.
Electronically-added farting and popping is not and never has been cool.
Something relatively fast with a very throaty sound is always going to sound awesome and will always capture attention for the right reasons.
Woll our children tolerate such exhuberance? That's for them to decide.
Something relatively fast with a very throaty sound is always going to sound awesome and will always capture attention for the right reasons.
Woll our children tolerate such exhuberance? That's for them to decide.
I guess I'm lucky I don't get irritated by someone who can.sambucket said:
Too distracting from what? Arguable there are less distractions! You can still hear external events, just not your own engine. It's not total deafness and you can tweek the settings to ensure safety.
Ok, fair dos, have never tried, only ever wear mine on long flights and they are great but I tend to be listening for motorbikes, engine noises, emergency vehicles as mentioned, horns, human voices etc. I tend to lower my windows sometimes as well for a bit more info.Works differently for different people I guess, passengers probably make more difference in terms of noise.
sambucket said:
aeropilot said:
I couldn't even imagine trying to drive with NC headphones on.........way too distracting.
Actually, I'd be in favour of it being a driving offense to wear headphones while driving.
aeropilot said:
sambucket said:
aeropilot said:
I couldn't even imagine trying to drive with NC headphones on.........way too distracting.
Actually, I'd be in favour of it being a driving offense to wear headphones while driving.
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