Are noisy ICE cars becoming embarrassing?
Discussion
kambites said:
It's been years since loud cars have been anything other than embarrasing, IMO, the modern trend for carefully orchestrated pops and bangs being particularly cringeworthy.
In a funny sort of way, a car which has to be loud in order to be fast can be a wonderful thing. A car which is loud purely because people associate speed with loudness is a bit pathetic.
Well said.In a funny sort of way, a car which has to be loud in order to be fast can be a wonderful thing. A car which is loud purely because people associate speed with loudness is a bit pathetic.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 17th April 17:58
The VAG 4 cylinder fake farting popping amplified exhaust sounds even at tick over ie S3/R/RS3 etc just sound pathetic, do the owners really get in start them up and think yeah, that sounds good? I dont know where this trend has come from but it sucks. Maybe send the VW/Audi engineers who have come up with this crap to some race meetings to see what nice sporty exhaust notes sound like.
pti said:
I have a relatively dreary sounding 4 cyl engine to which I've affixed a massive decatted exhaust. It's obnoxiously loud without the bung fitted, and it makes all manner of unsolicited pops and bangs.
I'm 32, and I f
king love it.
I do like the sound of some of the WRC cars of old, 4-cyl turbo. Very purposeful sound... Just not in the city centre at 1am... I'm 32, and I f
king love it. Hairymonster said:
A couple of motorcycle-related noises - both from triples.
When in my teens, a nearby pub was visited most nights by a gentleman by the name of 'Big Sim' who rode a Kawasaki KH500 with expansion pipes on it. That two-stroke triple popped and farted on tickover when he started it, then we'd all listen out for the exit. Out of the carpark, up the road, get to the tee junction, cross when safe, then open her up. By Christ that thing sounded like the world was ending. I loved it and would hang out of the bedroom window listening to the bike making its way home. That thing hitting the powerband with the expansion pipes was just amazing.
Some decades later, I had a Triumph 900 Trophy - see pic. Even on the standard pipes, this four-stroke triple sounded incredible when accelerating through the revs. Above about 6000 rpm up to the red line, there's something intoxicating about a triple cylinder engine revving it's heart out. Always my favourite engine on a bike.
Triples sound great, but for me, the V4(not the one I’ve got now oddly, sounds too V twin low down) has always been the best sounding bike engine:When in my teens, a nearby pub was visited most nights by a gentleman by the name of 'Big Sim' who rode a Kawasaki KH500 with expansion pipes on it. That two-stroke triple popped and farted on tickover when he started it, then we'd all listen out for the exit. Out of the carpark, up the road, get to the tee junction, cross when safe, then open her up. By Christ that thing sounded like the world was ending. I loved it and would hang out of the bedroom window listening to the bike making its way home. That thing hitting the powerband with the expansion pipes was just amazing.
Some decades later, I had a Triumph 900 Trophy - see pic. Even on the standard pipes, this four-stroke triple sounded incredible when accelerating through the revs. Above about 6000 rpm up to the red line, there's something intoxicating about a triple cylinder engine revving it's heart out. Always my favourite engine on a bike.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jvSAnRbA2Rg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IwcN68F325w
Walter Sobchak said:
Hairymonster said:
A couple of motorcycle-related noises - both from triples.
When in my teens, a nearby pub was visited most nights by a gentleman by the name of 'Big Sim' who rode a Kawasaki KH500 with expansion pipes on it. That two-stroke triple popped and farted on tickover when he started it, then we'd all listen out for the exit. Out of the carpark, up the road, get to the tee junction, cross when safe, then open her up. By Christ that thing sounded like the world was ending. I loved it and would hang out of the bedroom window listening to the bike making its way home. That thing hitting the powerband with the expansion pipes was just amazing.
Some decades later, I had a Triumph 900 Trophy - see pic. Even on the standard pipes, this four-stroke triple sounded incredible when accelerating through the revs. Above about 6000 rpm up to the red line, there's something intoxicating about a triple cylinder engine revving it's heart out. Always my favourite engine on a bike.
Triples sound great, but for me, the V4(not the one I’ve got now oddly, sounds too V twin low down) has always been the best sounding bike engine:When in my teens, a nearby pub was visited most nights by a gentleman by the name of 'Big Sim' who rode a Kawasaki KH500 with expansion pipes on it. That two-stroke triple popped and farted on tickover when he started it, then we'd all listen out for the exit. Out of the carpark, up the road, get to the tee junction, cross when safe, then open her up. By Christ that thing sounded like the world was ending. I loved it and would hang out of the bedroom window listening to the bike making its way home. That thing hitting the powerband with the expansion pipes was just amazing.
Some decades later, I had a Triumph 900 Trophy - see pic. Even on the standard pipes, this four-stroke triple sounded incredible when accelerating through the revs. Above about 6000 rpm up to the red line, there's something intoxicating about a triple cylinder engine revving it's heart out. Always my favourite engine on a bike.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jvSAnRbA2Rg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IwcN68F325w
I just have to make do with a straight 6 petrol in the car now!
Mr Tidy said:
Walter Sobchak said:
Hairymonster said:
A couple of motorcycle-related noises - both from triples.
When in my teens, a nearby pub was visited most nights by a gentleman by the name of 'Big Sim' who rode a Kawasaki KH500 with expansion pipes on it. That two-stroke triple popped and farted on tickover when he started it, then we'd all listen out for the exit. Out of the carpark, up the road, get to the tee junction, cross when safe, then open her up. By Christ that thing sounded like the world was ending. I loved it and would hang out of the bedroom window listening to the bike making its way home. That thing hitting the powerband with the expansion pipes was just amazing.
Some decades later, I had a Triumph 900 Trophy - see pic. Even on the standard pipes, this four-stroke triple sounded incredible when accelerating through the revs. Above about 6000 rpm up to the red line, there's something intoxicating about a triple cylinder engine revving it's heart out. Always my favourite engine on a bike.
Triples sound great, but for me, the V4(not the one I’ve got now oddly, sounds too V twin low down) has always been the best sounding bike engine:When in my teens, a nearby pub was visited most nights by a gentleman by the name of 'Big Sim' who rode a Kawasaki KH500 with expansion pipes on it. That two-stroke triple popped and farted on tickover when he started it, then we'd all listen out for the exit. Out of the carpark, up the road, get to the tee junction, cross when safe, then open her up. By Christ that thing sounded like the world was ending. I loved it and would hang out of the bedroom window listening to the bike making its way home. That thing hitting the powerband with the expansion pipes was just amazing.
Some decades later, I had a Triumph 900 Trophy - see pic. Even on the standard pipes, this four-stroke triple sounded incredible when accelerating through the revs. Above about 6000 rpm up to the red line, there's something intoxicating about a triple cylinder engine revving it's heart out. Always my favourite engine on a bike.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jvSAnRbA2Rg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IwcN68F325w
I just have to make do with a straight 6 petrol in the car now!
T-195 said:
Inline Sixes sound better than most engines.
Yes, it could be worse! A previous owner of my Z4 had it fitted with a custom cat-back system so it does sound pretty good! Saying that I went to a classic car meet on Sunday and heard quite a few 4 cylinder engines that sounded great - Mk1 Escort Mexico stood out, and my mate's Mk1 Escort twin-cam on twin Webers for example. Why can't anyone make a 4 cylinder engine that sounds good anymore?
I suppose it's down to emissions, etc.
Mr Tidy said:
Interesting posts - I'm definitely in the 2 stroke triple fan club as I had this KH500 with Allspeed expansion chambers 20 years ago - just wish I still had it!
I just have to make do with a straight 6 petrol in the car now!
Never heard a 2 stroke triple to be fair.I just have to make do with a straight 6 petrol in the car now!
My last 2 stroke was a CR250 so a single, did sound good and of course the smell
.Walter Sobchak said:
Never heard a 2 stroke triple to be fair.
My last 2 stroke was a CR250 so a single, did sound good and of course the smell .
I grew up on 2-strokes - I had 5 RD Yamaha twins before I got the KH500.My last 2 stroke was a CR250 so a single, did sound good and of course the smell
.When I had my first RD250D a former class-mate from school lived on Box Hill Road and had an RD250C - his younger brother had a KH250!
We used to have some great rides, and the smell was a major part of the experience - well and the sound!
irocfan said:
EVs will have to be regulated to produce noise. Can you imagine the (rightful) furore when blind person is knocked over because he couldn't hear the approaching car (or because blind people aren't cute enough a handful of school-kids)
Yep, I'm always surprised at how many blind people either spring out from behind parked cars or randomly step out into the road Have to dodge them constantly I tell you
SOL111 said:
irocfan said:
EVs will have to be regulated to produce noise. Can you imagine the (rightful) furore when blind person is knocked over because he couldn't hear the approaching car (or because blind people aren't cute enough a handful of school-kids)
Yep, I'm always surprised at how many blind people either spring out from behind parked cars or randomly step out into the road Have to dodge them constantly I tell you
as far as I care my loud single exit on my s2000 is all about safety, just so people know there is a car coming and don't step out seems to work really well.
does upset many of the older generation who have nothing better to do with their lifes than complain about anything and everything.
seems to work really well.does upset many of the older generation who have nothing better to do with their lifes than complain about anything and everything.
Riley Blue said:
It's not only blind people who use their ears to tell when when something potentially dangerous is approaching.
Don't you remember, "stop, look, listen and think" ??Not being able to do one of those doesn't mean it trump's the other aspects or free people from the responsibility of personal safety.
On the driver side, watching out for vulnerable road users/pedestrians is part of driving.
If both parties adhere to their basic responsibilities then we're all good. If not then, the noise of an engine will make almost no difference at all.
SOL111 said:
Don't you remember, "stop, look, listen and think" ??
Not being able to do one of those doesn't mean it trump's the other aspects or free people from the responsibility of personal safety.
On the driver side, watching out for vulnerable road users/pedestrians is part of driving.
If both parties adhere to their basic responsibilities then we're all good. If not then, the noise of an engine will make almost no difference at all.
We need to bring back the Tufty Club Not being able to do one of those doesn't mean it trump's the other aspects or free people from the responsibility of personal safety.
On the driver side, watching out for vulnerable road users/pedestrians is part of driving.
If both parties adhere to their basic responsibilities then we're all good. If not then, the noise of an engine will make almost no difference at all.
rallycross said:
The VAG 4 cylinder fake farting popping amplified exhaust sounds even at tick over ie S3/R/RS3 etc just sound pathetic, do the owners really get in start them up and think yeah, that sounds good? I dont know where this trend has come from but it sucks. Maybe send the VW/Audi engineers who have come up with this crap to some race meetings to see what nice sporty exhaust notes sound like.
RS3 is not a 4 cylinder, it's got 5 and it sounds absolutely fantastic.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff