Are noisy ICE cars becoming embarrassing?
Discussion
schmalex said:
My wife has a 5.0 Mustang. It sounds bloody gloriius when she opens the taps wide
Having just spent 10 days howling (and burbling, growling etc) around Utah and Arizona in a V8 Mustang convertible I couldn’t agree more. I’ve got a V8 at home but it’s an old BMW 645 so is a lot quieter, I felt genuinely disappointed when I got home and fired it up.
For me a large part of performance vehicles (cars and bikes) is noise, I’m less concerned by hard performance figures than the driving experience.
The silent but hugely fast cars like Tesla’s don’t really hold much interest for me to be honest.
To be honest, the majority of ICE cars with noises that are noticable and embarrasing aren't down to induction or exhaust - IMO, Most induction / exhaust noises can sound nice - It's the whining / squealing aux / timing belts, badly blowing exhausts, or being a generally crappy s
theap.
theap.Turn7 said:
Speed addicted said:
The silent but hugely fast cars like Tesla’s don’t really hold muchANY interest for me to be honest...
I feel you pain brother 
Pica-Pica said:
Turn7 said:
Speed addicted said:
The silent but hugely fast cars like Tesla’s don’t really hold muchANY interest for me to be honest...
I feel you pain brother Baldchap said:
I drove a mate's 355 the other week. Sounded great and 9000rpm from a low-slung V8 is always going to be an event. But 0-60 takes longer than my Golf.
I'm sure we all agree a noisy Ferrari is OK, but a noisy Golf isn't. However, in this situation, the Golf is the faster car, so surely the Ferrari needs to pipe down and the Golf can speak up?
I'm playing Devil's advocate to a degree, but how does a noisy car qualify as being 'worthy'?
Don't be silly.I'm sure we all agree a noisy Ferrari is OK, but a noisy Golf isn't. However, in this situation, the Golf is the faster car, so surely the Ferrari needs to pipe down and the Golf can speak up?
I'm playing Devil's advocate to a degree, but how does a noisy car qualify as being 'worthy'?
grumbledoak said:
They already are. Anything with less than eight cylinders sounds dull, moving to tragic when made intentionally louder. I really don't see why anything built and sold for use on the road isn't damn near silent. And big single cylinder trail bikes should be crushed with the pillock still sat on it.
Nowt on Earth sounds better than a straight 6 to me. As for sound elsewhere I always favour function over form. A road car that's been specifically modified to make a sillier sound always seems deeply tragic. If it's a by-product of greater performance then that's a different matter.
The difference between an XR3 with a hollowed out dustbin tacked on the back and a mk2 with a BDG under the bonnet is rather radical.
I love a noisy car. There's obviously a time and a place for it - I daily a pretty quiet diesel Merc, which I can start up and leave idling on the drive while I have a shower and a bite to eat. On the odd occasion when I use the Subaru or the Jag to get to work, I make sure I start up and drive off immediately. The neighbours recognise quite easily when I'm using one of the noisy cars (particularly the F-Type) but they appreciate that it's not very often and I always start up and go.
I live quite close to some empty NSL A-roads, which is where I like to make a racket.
I live quite close to some empty NSL A-roads, which is where I like to make a racket.
Perhaps it's because I'm an old man of 30 but these extra loud economy cars are a bit st.
Folk just want to go shopping for frozen chicken livers or Easter eggs without hardened ear wax reverberating around their ear holes.
My V6 Jaguar sounds good when revved but I wouldn't dream of making the exhaust louder than standard.
t. Folk just want to go shopping for frozen chicken livers or Easter eggs without hardened ear wax reverberating around their ear holes.
My V6 Jaguar sounds good when revved but I wouldn't dream of making the exhaust louder than standard.
A colleague has a Lexus IS250 with aftermarket back boxes, and (even with a V6) it is fking obnoxious.
Last year, he offered to drive us to a site meeting which involved a stretch of motorway. Even though it has a 6-speed 'box, he had to use 5th at 80mph as using 6th created a resonance through the cabin that was almost painful.
By contrast, yesterday afternoon we were overtaken by a Griff 500 on the A5. As it started it's pass, Mrs O, bless her, wound down the windows. On standard pipes it was wonderful; loud enough, but cultured.
I think there will always be a place for ICE cars that sound great, even if they aren't as quick as modern stuff. I remember a few years ago sitting outside a pub next to the A41, and a lorry was turning right into a junction just opposite. Behind it was a Jag XJ-S. When the lorry had turned, Jag driver floored it, and the V12 howl was sensational.
king obnoxious.Last year, he offered to drive us to a site meeting which involved a stretch of motorway. Even though it has a 6-speed 'box, he had to use 5th at 80mph as using 6th created a resonance through the cabin that was almost painful.
By contrast, yesterday afternoon we were overtaken by a Griff 500 on the A5. As it started it's pass, Mrs O, bless her, wound down the windows. On standard pipes it was wonderful; loud enough, but cultured.
I think there will always be a place for ICE cars that sound great, even if they aren't as quick as modern stuff. I remember a few years ago sitting outside a pub next to the A41, and a lorry was turning right into a junction just opposite. Behind it was a Jag XJ-S. When the lorry had turned, Jag driver floored it, and the V12 howl was sensational.
sambucket said:
100%. Whenever I hear a purposely noisy car I think tt.
Low noise is a premium feature. Premium computers are silent. I hate that ebike makes a slight whirr and would pay good money for a silent ebike. Ditto car.
No offence and genuine question, but why are you on this site? t. Low noise is a premium feature. Premium computers are silent. I hate that ebike makes a slight whirr and would pay good money for a silent ebike. Ditto car.
My zero cylinders makes a fantastic noise had a good blast through some B roads, pops bangs and flames
sambucket said:
Sorry I deleted that as soon as I posted it as it felt too provocative...
I love driving. I drove about 300 miles this weekend on tiny b roads going precisely nowhere. But I don't see what noise has to do with it? I don't really care about speed either, it's all about acceleration and handling. Which is one of the main reasons I live in rural scotland many miles from a motorway.
I don't see what noise has to do with anything at all other than showing off. I hate that stuff. I am the kind of wker who removes brand labels from expensive jeans.
Every time I have drop gear to overtake, or pass a walker on my emtb I cringe cause it's just unneccessary noise.
Fair enough each to their own, most quick cars with pistons comes with noise so just wondered why you decided Pistonheads was a good place :P I love driving. I drove about 300 miles this weekend on tiny b roads going precisely nowhere. But I don't see what noise has to do with it? I don't really care about speed either, it's all about acceleration and handling. Which is one of the main reasons I live in rural scotland many miles from a motorway.
I don't see what noise has to do with anything at all other than showing off. I hate that stuff. I am the kind of w
ker who removes brand labels from expensive jeans. Every time I have drop gear to overtake, or pass a walker on my emtb I cringe cause it's just unneccessary noise.
I dislike noise for noise sake and the new Jag/VAG fake pops and bangs does my head in
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